Fall Quarter 2017 reflection
December 2017
Honors 100 asked us to reflect on our first quarter at UW–how our goals and self-perceptions have changed, how our horizons have broadened. I think what comes across in my reflection is a sort of…scattered enthusiasm, which is pretty accurate to how I’m feeling about college life so far. I reread my initial assignment for Honors 100 that I did in September, and (surprisingly) it seems like I’ve done a good job following through with the goals I outlined there. Additionally, lots of personal challenges cropped up during my first quarter at UW, which led to some necessary personal growth! I’m pretty proud of where I’m at so far, and grateful to be able to reflect on the quarter; even though I’m feeling a little disoriented, I’m only getting more excited to be studying English.
Reflection
I think, in some ways, it was good that I left my goals for myself a bit more open this quarter. Adjusting to life at UW was difficult emotionally, there were family issues that cropped up back home, and I was learning how to balance working a part-time job with all my coursework. Instead of setting broad, overarching goals for the entire quarter, it proved easier and more effective for me to set manageable goals week by week–like, “this week I will try to visit the gym 2-3 times,” or “attend a Hugo House writing class,” or “make sure all my homework is actually done the night before it’s due this week so I’m not scrambling to finish anything in the morning.” I’m glad that I discovered that this framework was more useful to me, and it helped me feel more accomplished. Also, looking back on my first assignment for Honors 100, I see that one of my goals was just to “write more”–which I’ve definitely accomplished through my weekly goal of visiting the Hugo House, journaling, and writing many many essays for all my classes. I feel good about the progress I’ve made during my first quarter, and proud of the ways I’ve grown as a person. My time management skills are already better than they were in high school, because I’m taking classes that I care about and that challenge me (no room for last-minute BSing). I also started going to the UW Counseling Center and am looking into therapists in the city for long-term help. It took me until November to do this, but this is also something I’m really proud of myself for finally doing. My mental health has been something I’ve struggled with since middle school, and I think it’s really important that I’m beginning to build a network of support for it here in college, in the midst of so many changes!
Academically, I’m really loving my classes, honors- and non-. Towards the beginning of the quarter, I was having a lot of trouble staying focused in class–both because I was a little burnt out already from Early Fall Start, and because I was still overwhelmed with adjusting to independent life–but now I feel really solidly engaged for the majority of my classes, even the one that lasts 2.5 hours. I feel confident enough to participate in discussion, attend office hours, and write bold papers. I’m really grateful for the opportunity to get to study so many super complex topics–not having to shy away from anything! And the deeper I get into my English coursework, the more excited I am to declare my English major. The prospect of declaring my major and getting to immerse myself even deeper in what I love has been one of the most motivating things about my time at UW. While I still feel kind of anonymous at this point, I’m really excited to carve out a niche for myself and form close working relationships with professors in my field. I’ve been reading some of the books my professors have had published, and have been really amazed and energized by them.
As for Honors 100 itself, it’s been…surprisingly helpful? I’ll be honest, I kind of went into it thinking it was just sort of a cursory requirement that you had to get out of the way before you were able to take the real interesting Honors classes. But, while the formatting of the class felt slightly contrived sometimes, I never felt like my time was being wasted. I was blown away by that session where we met the Peer Health Educators, and talked about self-care/suicide prevention/empathy. It was so earnest, kind and genuinely helpful. I also enjoyed all the in-class activities we did with our Peer Educator (it’s super helpful that she’s a sophomore, and not too far removed from the realities of freshman year!). And even though that “four year plan” assignment absolutely murdered me, it helped me realize I need to be super intentional in my scheduling if I want to be able to pull off Honors program/English major/ELA Teaching Endorsement, so I really appreciate it! It also gave me a kick in the pants to go visit the English advising department, after which I was incredibly excited to pursue a teaching endorsement.
Overall, the honors program does an excellent job connecting students with much-needed resources and people, and I’m glad I’m a part of it. I’m also really grateful for the opportunity to think deeply and write critically in all of my classes. While I haven’t…accomplished anything singularly stunning during this first quarter, I’ve kept myself alive, mostly healthy, have pursued resources to help me succeed, and poured my heart into my writing and schoolwork. Also, one of my personal goals is also to “be less hard on myself” so I think my lack of outstanding achievements is more than alright. I feel that I am learning, growing, and exploring, faster and with more passion than I ever have before. I know I need to establish a more concrete set of goals for the rest of my years at UW, but I’m really enjoying and savoring the process, for now.