ARTIFACT 1A learning experience: Hoh Rainforest and Olympic National Park
The honors program at the University of Washington is defined by the importance of hands-on learning. Following the health and wellness lecture, as well as the Global Challenges seminar, it was of particular importance for me to be in nature. I visited the Hoh Rainforest and Olympic National Park not only to further understand why the preservation of our ecology (through combatting climate change and pollution) is so important, but also for my health. Our national parks allow for visitors to garner respect for the beauty of the outdoors while getting a break from the pressures of society. As such, the experience was two-fold - it gave me time for mental reflection and allowed for my education through real-world involvement. |
While this is the second assignment I completed for Honors 100, it was the first real reflection I had while at the UW. Before this point I had never truly done a self-reflection in a way which was so deep and yet facilitated a consideration for what I wanted my future to look like. Within the project, I asked myself what drew me to that particular moment in life. I asked myself, what do I want to get out of my education and the things I love about the world? While as of now that answer may not be completely clear, simply considering it allows me to grow as a thinker and as a learner. From this moment forward I desired to approach schoolwork and my time at this university in a way which was representative of my true self and work ethic, while further refining my understanding of the person I was.
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ARTIFACT 3A bit of humility
Academically, I excelled in high school. While math was always the most difficult subject for me, I was proficient even in my AP Statistics and Pre-calc classes. When I came to the University of Washington, the learning curve in mathematics was steep, to say the least. When I took my first graded quiz for my math class, I failed. In my mind I brushed it off, thinking this must have just been a difficult week, I'll improve next time. When I failed the next quiz, it became clear that the old strategy I had been using, of studying the night before tests and relying on booksmarts to get me through everything, would not suffice. So, I got a tutor, I blocked out specific study times throughout the week with a planner, and ultimately I improved. This general strategy has proved greatly beneficial in all my other classes. Initial academic struggle fostered my intellectual growth, and has shown me how to better succeed. |