Semester Reflections

Semester 2

Overall, I had an amazing first year as a UMD student and College Park Scholar. Having the opportunity to be a part of Arts Scholars gave me the opportunity to meet people I would not have interacted with otherwise. Thanks to the program, I can now say I have friends across different majors with different interests that I never would have gotten to meet without the program. This past semester, I had the opportunity to engage in a workshop focused around a subject I had little knowledge of. Initially, I was nervous that the other people in my workshop would judge me for my lack of skills, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that everyone was extremely welcoming. By the end of the course, I had gotten to work with almost everyone and loved all of the different ideas and talents that each person had. Being in such an open and welcoming environment made me feel less alone and helped me break out of my shell in ways I did not anticipate. As someone who tends to get anxious around new people, I was worried I would not be able to connect with my peers, but I am happy to say that wasn’t the case. Some of the first steps were hard, but the rewards made the struggle absolutely worth it. I would encourage new freshmen to try something new that interests them, whether it’s a workshop, Craft & Chat, field trip, or anything else, and not be afraid of judgment from others - there’s far less than you think. Also, never be afraid to reach out to your TAs - they chose to come back to help the program for a reason! They all care deeply about the program and the students and, in my experience, are happy to be both mentors and friends. The Craft & Chat events they host are great ways to build your relationships with them and everyone else in the community. I am so excited for next year’s events to reconnect with everyone (and maybe if I get the opportunity to TA in the future I’ll get to host one of my own)!

Being in Arts Scholars has also helped me think about the art around me differently. Being in Scholars and seeing all of the different ways that other people define and interpret art has reminded me of how broad art can be. If someone had asked me at the beginning of the year to give examples of art, I probably would not have said tote bags or children’s books or furniture, but they are all outlets for creative expression just like any other form of art. I’ve loved every piece that’s forced me to reconsider what art is and help me expand my horizons. All in all, having an openness to new art I may not have considered before has been the best way for me to expand my own definition of art, and I would encourage others to try to do the same. 

While Scholars is a great community to be a part of that can provide connections, it’s also important to remember all of your other classes. Thankfully, the skills Scholars helps you build can make building similar connections in other fields easier. Just like in Scholars, the TAs in your other classes are there because they care and want to help you succeed. It can be intimidating to approach a professor, but going to a TA can help you bridge the gap. Your TAs are great starting points for any of your questions, concerns, or other class-related input, and they are always happy to help you connect with faculty when you need them. In one of my labs in the first semester, I was intimidated by the professor - she was warm and welcoming, but the idea of asking a “dumb” question to an expert made me nervous. The TAs for the class happily answered my questions when they were able to, and even when they couldn’t, they made me feel more confident when approaching the professor. By the end of the course, I felt I could ask the professor anything and am now looking forward to my future classes with her. It can still be challenging to forge these new relationships in the beginning, but they can help open up countless doors and provide you with new resources both inside and outside of the classroom - a trade off that is definitely worth the struggle.

As a whole, Arts Scholars exists to provide students with new opportunities and help them adjust to life at university that can seem utterly overwhelming. They provide a close-knit community of diverse and passionate peers and faculty and help you foster connections with them. I would encourage any incoming student to take advantage of all of the resources available- try something new for your TRYathlon, go on a field trip to a place you’ve never been, and join a workshop that excites you. College is the time to explore new things and Scholars provides the opportunity for students to experiment in ways they wouldn’t be able to otherwise. If you ever do feel stuck though, never hesitate to reach out to anyone in the program. Everyone wants to see you succeed and is willing to do what they can to help that happen. Your TAs, program directors, and even fellow students are always willing to lend a hand to anyone in need, and there’s never any shame in reaching out for help when you need it. Take advantage of every opportunity Scholars has to offer and remember above all to have fun and take care of yourself.