an introduction to honors
REFLECTION/DOCUMENTATION:
Just like all first year University Honors students, I took the “Gateway to University Honors” class, or HNRS1010, to satisfy a program requirement. My teacher just so happened to be my Honors Advisor, Erin Alanson, and our class met on the 800 level of Swift Hall every Monday morning. In great part because of the class, and as my first Semester as a college student is drawing to a close, I am beginning to truly understand and appreciate what it will mean to be an Honors student at the University of Cincinnati.
To say that the class has exceeded my expectations, unfortunately, is not difficult, as I believed on the first day of class that the one credit-hour seminar was most likely going to be a colossal waste of time. To say now, then, that I have learned more than I hoped from the class is both a relief and a promise of great things to come. My new awareness rests not on a discovery of repressed passions – for I already have a clear goal for my career that lines up with my deepest interests – but on the awakening of new hopes that I did not even consider when I made the decision to join the Honors Program. Foremost among these: that I want to travel. The possibility of receiving an Honors grant has allowed me to consider, for the first time, that I could realistically travel abroad. Accordingly, I hope to use the opportunities, which I now know the Honors Program provides, to further my awareness of the world around me.
“Gateway” has not profoundly impacted my worldview or changed the way I think. However, it has (as the name would imply) opened the door to the rest of what I’m sure will be an exhilarating college experience, and I could not have asked for anything more.
Just like all first year University Honors students, I took the “Gateway to University Honors” class, or HNRS1010, to satisfy a program requirement. My teacher just so happened to be my Honors Advisor, Erin Alanson, and our class met on the 800 level of Swift Hall every Monday morning. In great part because of the class, and as my first Semester as a college student is drawing to a close, I am beginning to truly understand and appreciate what it will mean to be an Honors student at the University of Cincinnati.
To say that the class has exceeded my expectations, unfortunately, is not difficult, as I believed on the first day of class that the one credit-hour seminar was most likely going to be a colossal waste of time. To say now, then, that I have learned more than I hoped from the class is both a relief and a promise of great things to come. My new awareness rests not on a discovery of repressed passions – for I already have a clear goal for my career that lines up with my deepest interests – but on the awakening of new hopes that I did not even consider when I made the decision to join the Honors Program. Foremost among these: that I want to travel. The possibility of receiving an Honors grant has allowed me to consider, for the first time, that I could realistically travel abroad. Accordingly, I hope to use the opportunities, which I now know the Honors Program provides, to further my awareness of the world around me.
“Gateway” has not profoundly impacted my worldview or changed the way I think. However, it has (as the name would imply) opened the door to the rest of what I’m sure will be an exhilarating college experience, and I could not have asked for anything more.
ARTIFACTS:
REFLECTION ON PERSONAL PASSIONS/INTERESTS
"Describe your passions and interests; why are they significant and how do you anticipate exploring them in the future."
For me, this assignment served as an exploration of my professed passion for dance; if it was really something I wanted to do for the rest of my life and if I had ever truly asked myself the question before. Thankfully, I'm fairly certain that the answer is an enthusiastic "Yes," on both counts.
MOCK SELF-DESIGNED EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROPOSAL
"Design an experiential learning project that falls within one of the five thematic areas for Honors experiences. Then write a mock proposal, being as specific as possible, in what you "plan" to do. (See the first two pages of the attached file for a full description of the assignment and thematic areas.)
Since I hope to use a Summer Intensive - although definitely not the SAB Intensive- for one of my Honors experiences, this assignment was a great exercise in what I need to think about before committing to an experience of this type.
REFLECTION ON PERSONAL PASSIONS/INTERESTS
"Describe your passions and interests; why are they significant and how do you anticipate exploring them in the future."
For me, this assignment served as an exploration of my professed passion for dance; if it was really something I wanted to do for the rest of my life and if I had ever truly asked myself the question before. Thankfully, I'm fairly certain that the answer is an enthusiastic "Yes," on both counts.
MOCK SELF-DESIGNED EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROPOSAL
"Design an experiential learning project that falls within one of the five thematic areas for Honors experiences. Then write a mock proposal, being as specific as possible, in what you "plan" to do. (See the first two pages of the attached file for a full description of the assignment and thematic areas.)
Since I hope to use a Summer Intensive - although definitely not the SAB Intensive- for one of my Honors experiences, this assignment was a great exercise in what I need to think about before committing to an experience of this type.