FALL QUARTER
FRESHMAN YEAR • 2021-2022
Bracelets
Cherry Blossoms
quarter reflection
Mile 17 Drive
Game Day!
"Education is not preparation for life, education is life itself."
-John Dewey
thoughts
I began college not quite knowing what to expect. I knew that it was going to be a whirlwind of classes, socializing, and self-discovery, but had trouble picturing what my life would be like beyond that. Upon arriving at UW, there were a lot of things about college that were exactly what I anticipated - big lecture halls, mediocre dorm food, and the thrill of meeting new people. There were also aspects of college that I never would have expected. Something that shocked me was how much time I had. In high school, you are in school from 8 am to 3 pm, attend sports or other extracurriculars afterwards, and then spend much of the night completing homework. During fall quarter, I only had two to three hours of class a day, and the rest of my day was essentially free. I learned to utilize my time and head to the library after my classes to complete school work early. I was also surprised by the abundance of resources that UW has to offer, both socially and academically. I utilized Clue Tutoring and the Math Study Center to help with my difficult engineering classes in the first quarter, and I plan on continuing to do so. Since it has helped me immensely, I would be interested in tutoring in the future for these programs. Additionally, I hope to join The Daily at UW, as I was a member of my school newspaper in high school and I hope to continue engaging in journalism.
I was surprised at the depth of thinking that Honors requires. Most people think that being a part of the Honors curriculum simply means accelerated curriculum. Although this is true to some extent, Honors is truly about looking at things critically and challenging oneself to make connections across varying disciplines of knowledge. I took Honors 394 during fall quarter, which was focused on women in Greek and Roman antiquities. I was pleasantly surprised with how eager my classmates were to participate in class. Additionally, my professor was so passionate about the class, and it was obvious that she wanted all of us to succeed. It was a great class to begin my journey in the Interdisciplinary Honors Program.
There are many aspects about my future in the Honors Program that excites me. I am hoping to study abroad during my junior year of college, so I was excited to hear that I can simultaneously study abroad and complete the experiential learning activity requirement. I am also looking forward to the classes that I will take through the Honors program that investigate social and political issues, as I am passionate about these fields. By the end of my first year in Honors, I hope to have a better sense of what I would like to do with my Honors education and what Honors opportunities I want to take advantage of. By the time I graduate from UW, I hope I am prepared to enter the workforce as an educated, mature, and conscientious individual who makes a positive contribution to our world.
Courses Taken
FALL QUARTER PLAYLIST
HEAT WAVES by GLASS ANIMALS
C'EST LA VIE BY THE SURFACES
CHAPSTICK by COIN
woah man BY dayglow
feels like we only go backwards by tame impala
artifacts
I struggled with my first essay in college. Although I have always considered writing one of my strengths, the last time I had written a full length essay before ENGL 111 was in my junior year of high school. I lacked confidence in my writing abilities and had difficulty starting the assignment. My teacher, Ms. Chavez, provided me with guidance through the brainstorming, organization, and revision processes. Her assistance, as well as many hours spent in the Odegaard library, enabled me to complete the essay. I ended up with an essay and score that I was proud of. Overall, I gained confidence from this assignment, and it helped me appreciate how perseverance prevails when completing difficult tasks.
MAJOR PAPER #1 - ENGL 111
HATCHET BY GARY PAULSEN
I tutored Hana, a fifth grade student, in reading throughout freshman year. I had tutored students in other subjects, including math and science, but this was the first time that I had tutored reading. It was challenging at first as I figured out how to pick books that would challenge Hana, yet be at a level where she could still understand the characters and plot. One of the books that we read together was Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. Hatchet was a novel that I had enjoyed when I read it as a seventh grader, so it was nostalgic reading it again as an adult. We worked on her reading comprehension, vocabulary, and reading fluency. It was rewarding to see her improve as we continued our tutoring sessions.
BID DAY - ALPHA GAMMA DELTA
On September 18, 2021, I joined hundreds of other nervous girls as we "ran home" to our respective sorority houses. I joined the others who had pledged Alpha Gamma Delta as we cheered, danced, listened to music, and met our new sisters. Although I ended up dropping AGD and moving into the dorms, I still consider it to be an important part of my first year at UW. I learned what it meant to compromise and share a space with others. When I transitioned to the dorms, I essentially had to start over in terms of making friends and experiencing college in a new environment. It was difficult, but I am proud of myself for doing what was best for me.
