Fall quarter of my freshman year has been the busiest, most exciting and most stressful time in my life. Looking back at this last quarter seems surreal. I can’t believe I accomplished all that I did in such a short time. Coming into the UW as cocky freshman, I thought I knew exactly what I was getting into. I had a set life plan that I thought I would stick to through thick and thin. People told me “You’re going to change your major and then you’re going to change it again and again”. I foolishly scoffed at them, thinking, “Nope, that won’t happen to me. I’m dedicated. I won’t get weeded out of those introductory courses.” Then within the first week of my early fall start class with Professor Moody, I changed my major. I realized it had nothing to do with “dedication” or getting “weeded out”. It had to do with me thinking I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life without really experiencing life at all. This is where I think I will benefit the most from the interdisciplinary focus of UW Honors. Next quarter I’m taking an honors class about this history of cows. If current me were to tell 6-month ago me, the 6 month ago me would have laughed at me and asked “Why?” The honors program has truly opened my mind to what is interdisciplinary and why it’s important to glide across the disciplines, taking what you will from each. I wouldn’t say my expectations for myself have lowered; they’re just a lot more realistic now. I realize that I won’t get 4.0s in every single class I take at the UW and I shouldn’t beat myself up too much for that. Coming from a straight A past like most people in the honors program, it’s hard to accept this fact.
My first experience with a college professor couldn’t have been a better one. People told me I would get lost in such a university and that professors don’t care about you, they only care about their research. However my experience with the faculty, and especially the Honors faculty, has been nothing but warm and helpful. It feels like a road is being paved for you, but you have to be the one to walk down it. This also leads into my next experience concerning resources. I was really surprised how many resources are available to Honors students as well as UW students in general. Honors 100 showed me a lot of different resources and ways to get the best out of them. I reached out to a few of ones at hand and couldn’t believe how beneficial they were. I currently wouldn’t be passing without the Math Study Center and the advisors, both in honors and Biology, have been inviting and helpful.
My ultimate goal is still the same as it was when entering the UW and that is medical school. The advisors have helped paint a clearer picture of what I need to do to get there so it’s up to me to keep going and make it happen. I think in my first assignment I didn’t really encompass the true purpose of the task. I talked too much about what brought me to UW Honors and not enough about what I want to go while I’m here. I think that’s somewhat because I wasn’t confident with my understanding of the true Honors’ purpose. We’re here to create well-rounded scholars and I understand that better now due to Honors 100. Even though I haven’t quite picked out what I want to do, I’m excited to start participating in my experiential learning. Honors 100 shows me that there are so many options and ways you can do this requirement. Currently one of my plans is to do an honors study abroad program in the summer. I’m very interested in the Berlin, Germany trip.
Looking into the future, my hope for myself is to continue to fearlessly engage in new, educational experiences. I aim to stay driven and passionate about my dream career in medicine. And most importantly I want to make the most out of my 4 years at the UW and within the Honors Community. Overall, I’m very pleased with my first quarter at the University of Washington and can’t imagine going to school anywhere else.