Retrospective Reflection

From the time I started my college career, I was a strong student. This wasn't without a great deal of hard work and dedication. I spent hours learning how to study. Each class required a different way of learning, and I was the one who had to figure that out. I am lucky to have a great support system that I can go to whenever I need help. It didn't take long for me to figure out how to be a college student. I got into a groove within a few weeks. From there, it was pretty smooth sailing, but I wanted something more. I didn't want to just skate by in my education, I wanted to feel challenged and be in control of what I was learning. Luckily, I was invited to apply to the Honors College my freshman year, and I did so. 

I began my journey with the Honors College my sophomore year. I already had experience with a full workload, taking eighteen credits both semesters my freshman year. The new addition would be challenging and I knew that, but it was what I wanted. It gave me a chance to challenge myself. As a new Honors student, I was required to take the class Introduction to Honors (H200). One of our first tasks was to write an "I am" and "I want to become" statement to evaluate where we were and where we wanted to go in our journey. These statements helped me to realize what I valued in my academic and personal life. I valued hard work and pushing myself to work, but also spending time with my loved ones and taking care of myself. In my future, I wanted to join a research lab and maybe complete an internship. 

Once I got further into my education, I was able to complete more complex and challenging projects. In Instrumental Chemistry, I took a peer reviewed article and synthesized it in a poster format, presenting it in an online format. My honors project consisted of two papers: a critical review of the scientific article used for the poster and a profile on an instrumental technique that was not covered in class. For the critical review, I had to analyze a paper in a way that I was new to me. However, after reading through materials on how to do so, I was able to complete my critical review. The profile involved research on a topic that I had not learned about. I chose to write about electronic noses that are used in arson investigations. My profile included a summary of the current uses and mechanisms of electronic noses. Through these projects, I was able to understand and communicate using scientific language. 

My experiences, both in regular coursework and honors projects, align with the IUI Honors College goal of developing strong communication and problem solving skills. Many of my projects involved a presentational aspect, where I shared my work with peers. As previously mentioned, I regularly present my work to my research group. In addition to verbal communication, I have also developed my skills in written communication through the many papers, reports, and projects that I have completed, some of which can be found on this site in the previous tabs. My problem solving is most evident through my research, where I routinely encounter hurdles that I must overcome in order to complete my work. 

The Honors College goal of being an active participant in my intellectual experiences is seen clearly through the honors projects I have completed throughout the years. I developed most of these projects, working with my professors to tailor it to the class and my personal goals. The honors project I completed for Instrumental Chemistry was pre-set by the professor, however, I had the choice to develop a profile on whatever instrumental technique I chose. This theme is also reflected in the case studies I completed; as long as I met the basic requirements, I could investigate whatever case I wanted. I take pride in my academic performance. A part of this pride comes from the fact that I was the person driving my education. With the clear exception of required coursework, I was the person that decided what I studied.