Semester Reflections

Semester 2

Outside of Arts Scholars I was challenged to talk to more professors this semester. I went to office hour appointments and used my resources such as meeting with my advisors for information. I am still continuing to meet new professors and build relationships with professors in my major’s department. I have become more comfortable emailing professors and asking questions when needed. I have gained valuable information on how to improve in my classes, how to secure an internship, and what classes to take. The biggest challenge to developing these connections is remembering to continue to reach out and not being afraid to. I can overcome this by setting dates or reminders in my calendar to reach out to those professors or start going to more office hours when I have the chance.

Throughout this year in Arts Scholars I have made some incredible friends but I have also been able to build a community within scholars and outside of scholars. I was blessed with great floormates and the opportunity to meet many new people. My relationship with these students has given me study buddies, friends to talk to when necessary, and people to hangout with. The greatest obstacle with pursuing these friendships is trying to align our busy schedules to make time to see each other. Next year’s freshmen can utilize talking to their floormates, living on campus, and trying their best to maintain the friendships they created.

Arts Scholars fosters community and artistic engagement through helping us get involved in the arts on campus in multiple ways. Through Arts Scholars, I’ve been exposed to the arts through field trips, workshops, and guest speakers. One which I thoroughly enjoyed was the Vogue workshop done in the fall semester that enforced my interest in doing the popular dance workshop for the spring semester. I plan to contribute to the Arts Scholars community by hopefully becoming a teaching assistant my junior year or joining the media team.

I have become more appreciative of all art forms and want to continue to grow within the arts community. I have always stuck to dance because it is something I am familiar with and acts as my comfort zone. However, I was able to branch out of that bubble I set for myself. I was able to see the beauty behind other art forms such as theatre and the history of music. Future Arts Scholars can expand their definitions of art by actively engaging in arts events that cultivate their learning and participating in colloquium.

I think the field trips were beneficial in helping to expose me to the arts and the TRIathlons gave me a way to look forward to the arts while receiving course credit for it. Incoming Arts Scholars can get the most out of their experience by attending all the field trips, looking at events taking place at the Clarice, and speaking to their classmates.