Table of Contents:
Please click on an underlined section to jump ahead to the desired section.
Embedded Files
What is Honors?
The Honors College provides scholarship, support, challenges, and experiences for a diverse array of students of all academic disciplines. The Honor's College at IUI has the following goals for all students in the program:
1.Be active participants in their intellectual experience
2. Participate in at least four engaged learning experiences including research, international/cultural experiences, service, and experiential/applied learning
3. Develop strong communication, problem solving, and civic-minded skills
4. Reflect on their growth as a learner through classes and engaged experiences inside and outside the classroom
5. Develop a connection to the Honors College and their Honors community
Read more about the Honor's College at IUI using the link to the right:
H200: This was a course to introduce the honors program. I took in my 2nd semester of my 1st undergraduate year. The goals were to develop my identity as a Honor's Scholar, create connections with other people in the program (staff, peers, etc.), and make intentional plans about my honor's experience to reach my personal and professional goals.
H496: I am currently taking this course in my last semester of my 4th undergraduate year. This course focused on the development of ePortfolios and reflection on the undergraduate experience.
"I am/I want to become" : 2023 vs 2026
"I am/I want to become" : 2023 vs 2026
This section contains intention statements. In my first year as an undergraduate (Spring 2023), I developed an "I am" statement describing who I was at the time. I also had written an "I want to become" statement describing my goals in aspirations. Both statements are found below. There is also a reflection containing some context about what was happening in my life when the statements were written, a comparison of how I am now compared to then, and if any of my goals had been reached/changed. For the H496 class I am currently enrolled in, I have written new "I am" and "I want to become" statements.
H200 "I am/I want to become" statements
H200 "I am/I want to become" statements
"I am..."
I am an immigrant. I am anxious. I'm most inspired by my parents. I am caring and determined which is fueled from discrimination and injustice. I am joyful after spending time with animals and kids. I am happy after finishing projects, especially on my car.
"I want to become..."
I hope the family and friends around me are filled with love and happiness. In the future, I want to give my parents a relaxing life. I hope I’m living sustainably and able to be self-sustained in the ways that I choose. I hope I find the perfect house for me, and I make it into a beautiful home. I hope I have a car I’m super proud of. I hope I find connections with others. My life will feel balanced. I will connect more with my background: I will regain my accent, be more aware of my culture, and meet more people like me. I hope, in the future, I feel less lost and know myself more. I will have more confidence. My environment will fill me with peace. I will have the space to let my creativity flow. I will always remember where I came from and continue using it as motivation to do good and help. I will learn to be completely grateful for my past and appreciate all experiences I’ve had. I will make a difference with my Real Food project. I will create a composting system for my home. I will be successful in investing. My future holds incredible trips to beautiful places. My graduation from IUPUI will be a beloved memory; and my path to certainty of my career will be a beautiful one. I will be
surrounded by animals and live alongside them. The time I spend taking care of the earth will be the same time that I’m on the clock.
Reflection (Spring 2026):
Who was I then?
When I had written the two statements about, I had just started college and adulthood. With graduating highschool, I began exploring the faucets of freedom that can with being an adult. With this transition into adulthood, I was doing a lot of reflecting on my childhood and life before that point. I had just completed my first semester of college. I was beginning to learn about myself and who I was and wanted to become. I was obsessed with my car, which I had for about a year at that point, and all the different things I could do to it. The war in Ukraine, my birthplace, had made me hyperaware of my differences and pulled me to think about home more regularly.
Past self v. current self:
I am still an immigrant, that is not likely to change for as long as I live in a country other than the one I was born in. I still get anxious, but not often enough for it to be something I identify with. I think I am still caring and determined but now I don't have much reasoning behind it, just that it feels right to be that way. I still love spending time with kids and animals but I also equally love spending time with my friends and family. I still gain satisfaction from finishing things in general - projects, assignments, household tasks, creating something, etc. I have a different car now and I don't do much to it other than clean it, which is also satisfying.
My friends/family seem happy, I hope they continue to be full of love and happiness. I haven't ben able to give my parents a completely relaxing life just yet but I do little things for them as much as I can. I try to be as sustainable as I can. Looking back, I'm not sure what I meant by being self-sustained. I haven't found a house yet, I don't it's been the right time for me to get a house, but that is still a big goal for me. I have a car I'm happy with; being super proud of my car isn't a priority for me anymore. I've made so many short and long term connections my freshman year! I think my life is well-balanced but there's more work to be done in that realm. I think I'm less connected to my culture; I still wish to be more connected but it'll require more effort on my end and overcoming some internal barriers. I've gotten to meet many people since then that share my culture. I have gotten to know myself better over the years and I think getting to know myself will be a life-long journey. I wouldn't say I feel lost, but I think that feelings will come and go depending on my circumstances. I would say I've grown more confident. I have indeed created a peaceful environment for myself. I have began crocheting, knitting, coloring, using pastels, painting, and playing with makeup to express my creativity. I have grown very grateful for past good and bad events because it's shaped me into who I am today. I didn't make much of a difference with the Real Food Challenge, but I did get experience working with data. I did compost in my home for a few years, maybe I will start it up again. I've done a little investing in a variety of ways, but I'm not sure that I value being successful in that aspect anymore. I haven't taken too many trips, but I plan to this summer! I haven't graduated yet, but I am certain I will go to graduate school and I know I want to continue doing research. I'm live with my dog and go to the park often and see many different animals there.
H496 "I am/I want to become" statements
H496 "I am/I want to become" statements
"I am..."
I am a dedicated researcher. I am a scholar for life. I'm so inspired by the people around me. I am open-minded and excited. I fill my world with as much happiness, love, and positivity as I can.
"I want to become..."
I would like to publish many scientific articles. I'll fall more in love with research and it will feel more natural to me. I will be more involved with the Insect Welfare Research Society (IWRS). I will be excited for and proud of the work I do. I will be tired from traveling so much. I will go on many long walks with my dog. I will finish all my crochet/knitting projects and only have one in the works at a time. I will have read so many books about everything (romance, spirituality, health, meditation, classics, fiction, nonfiction, etc.). I will have bought the perfect house for me. My community of friends and family will be filled with inspirational, loving, kind, compassionate, fun, and intelligent people. I will have a permanent tan year-round from all the time I spent outdoors.
I will be a better listener. I will be grateful for all the incredible conversations I get to have. I will become a better conflict resolver and negotiator. Gratitude will fill me every second of everyday. My value for peace will be present with me in all I do. I will feel more like myself in my culture and language. Being open-minded will come easily to me. I'll get along better with myself. My life will be filled with peace and fun. I'll be appreciative of all the kindness, love, and success I have. I will get so many opportunities to see the people around me grow and succeed.
Visualizing my undergraduate years
Visualizing my undergraduate years
This section contains journey maps in the form of images. I will reflect on who I was in Spring of 2023, what my expectations were, and what I was hoping for. In the section below, I will include some images from Spring of 2023 onward to reflect what my journey had been since then. The images are accompanied by descriptions of what is shown. Below is a compare and contrast section and reflection. In compare and contrast section, I describe how my actual journey through college differed from what I'd thought it be. In the reflection, I look back at the experiences I had and how they've contributed to my growth.
Spring 2023
Spring 2023
This is a compilation of some images from my Spring 2023 semester. Image 1 - some goat friends that I used to see on Sundays. Image 2 - I began crocheting sometime during freshman year of undergrad and that image shows a flower top I was trying to making. Image 3 - Some flasks from experiments from chemistry lab. Image 4 - My doggie! Image 5 - Some dandelions I collected while doing some volunteering. I was doing some landscaping at the Cox Gardens as a way to give back to Jesse and Beulah Cox for their financial support for my undergrad. Image 6 - Me at the ALDPES induction. Image 7 - I tried tinting the windows of my car. Image 8 - I went to the Newfields Winterlights with my family. Image 9 - I was taking K103 lab and I did a frog dissection. Image 10 - My doggie! Image 11 - I started working at Chilis as a server. Image 11 - Me and other sustainability interns at the IUB Sustainability Symposium. Image 12 - Another image of a chemistry lab experiment, I thought it looked pretty. Image 13 - A starfish dissection from te biology lab I was taking, I was fascinated by what a starfish looked like inside. Image 14 - My puppy eating a banana.
Summer 2023 - Present (Feb. 2026)
Summer 2023 - Present (Feb. 2026)
This image compilation displays some images from Summer of 2023 to the present semester.
Image 1 - Ecology Lab (Fall 2024), invertebrate sample collection from White River.
Image 2 - Me and (majority) of the Barrett lab. I was presenting my Urban Ecology research at the 2025 IEL Summer Research Symposium.
Image 3 - Me, Dr. Gentry, and Sarah presenting a poster over the Urban Ecology Research at the Biology Research Day.
Image 4 - Summer 2024. First time successful capturing more than 2 blowflies at a time for Urban Ecology Research Project
Image 5 - Sarah, Dr. Gentry, Alexys, and me.; Oral presentation Spring 2025 about the Urban Ecology Research at the Research and Creative Activities Day. Image 6 - Fall 2025, learned GIS
Image 7 - Summer 2024. Expansion of Urban Ecology Proejct, attempt to capture mosquitoes
Image 8 - Crocheted pumpkin octopus I made!
Image 9 - Me and Sarah presenting our Urban Ecology Research during the summer 2025.
Image 10 - A blowfly under a microscope. I had so many images of flies in my camera roll. I took these during the Urban Ecology Research.
Image 11 - Presented at the IU Sustainability Symposium in Spring 2024 at Bloomington
Image 12 - School of Science Honor convocation 2024 Image 13 - Solar eclipse. I got to see it with my friend Lindsey at her farm.
Image 14 - I got a tattoo of my dog November 2023. Image 15 - Halloween 2023, Special effects makeup to make me look like a zombie.
Image 16 - Summer 2023, Office of Sustainability at IUI honey collection from bees on campus
Compare/Contrast + Reflection
Compare/Contrast + Reflection
Compare/Contrast:
I never expected that I would fall in love with research. I never thought the research I would be doing would be so fun nor could I imagine I would be working so much with insects. I didn't realize there was so much field work in science that I ended up enjoying quite a bit. I definetley didn't think I would ever go into the White River, I didn't ever know what waders were in Spring '23. I'm really proud of myself for doing presentation so often when I used to hate speaking in public/to groups. I didn't think I would get to experience an eclipse and that it would feel so euphoric. I realized I stopped taking as many silly pictures of my dog as the years went (I still take a bunch all the time). I never thought I would get so close to the honey-making process, and I'm grateful I got to be a part of it. I love special effects makeup; I haven't done it since 2023 but mostly because I don't really have a reason to.
Reflection:
I'm really proud of myself for exploring fiber arts. I even started knitting throughout the years; I really enjoy it. I'm so grateful for all the opportunities I've had at IUI: my internship and both research projects. I found something I really love doing and looking back I can see I even enjoyed the labs I took as a freshman. It's so beautiful that I loved experimenting since I started and have just fallen in love with it more and more. I think it's good that I stayed creative as a science student by doing makup and fiber arts.
K357 Honors Assignment 3 Design Your Own Experiment.pdfDeveloping Experiments, Developing Scientists
Developing Experiments, Developing Scientists
This section displays and contextualizes one of my most relevant honors experiences as evidence of my growth and skill development while in the Honors program at IUI. This honor's experience best aligns to my career goals. I developed my own experiment in Microbiology Lab and carried it out. Microbiology lab works with bacteria and safety around working with these organisms. Different medias are used to grow these different bacteria, which provides information about different species. This lab also explores methods like staining and additional tests to differentiate between species and verify the identities.
Context: I predicted that facial skin areas with imperfects (blackheads, whiteheads, cysts, acne) present would result in more abundant yeast/fungus growth on YPD agar plates. Some acne and pore clogging can be attributed to bacteria/fungus, however there are also other reasons for the listed skin imperfections to appear. YPD agar is used to culture fungus. I used DI water as a negative control. I dipped a sterile cotton swab in DI water before swabbing it across the region of interest then swiping the swab on a section of the plate. The different regions were examined on the day of swabbing and any imperfections were noted. The different regions examined were the forehead, right + left temple, nose, right + left eyelid, right + left cheek, right + left jawline, and chin. I watched the growth of the plates over several weeks.
I didn't necessarily find a relationship between fungal growth and skin condition
Skill Development: Experimental Design, Aseptic Technique, Scientific Writing, Hypothesis Development, Creative Thinking, Scientific Communication, Data Analysis
Significance: The skills I used here provide a baseline for exactly what I will be doing in graduate school as I do research. I have been able to grow my confidence in experimental design. These skills will help make the transition to graduate school more smooth. I was able to practice innovation and creativity in science.
Developing expertise in scientific research
Developing expertise in scientific research
Area of emerging expertise: Scientific Research
Artifacts shown below
Reflection: I have included the following 3 artifacts: an end of semester PowerPoint from the Fall 2024 semester that gave an update on summer + fall progress, a link to a website called Zotero - which is where I uploaded some data I analyzed over a few month for my capstone, and the link to the research section on my ePortfolio that includes presentations and posters I've done over the years displaying my capstone work.
All of these artifacts have grown my confidence as a scientists, especially in how I communicate what I'm doing, the results, and the significance of the work/results. Much of the work improved of previously made posters and presentations so I've been able to refine my wording and precise ovr the semesters I've worked on my capstone. This skill development has helped prepare me well for graduate school where I will be doing more research, scientific communicating, poster, poreentations, and data analysis.
Research in Progress FA 2024.pdfHonors Topics: Honors Research, Capstone
Honors Topics: Honors Research, Capstone
Here is one of my end of semester research in progress presentations
Urban Ecology Research
Urban Ecology Research
Click the button below to check out some data analysis I did for my capstone
Research Overview
Research Overview
Click the button below to check out the research section of my ePortfolio
Retrospective Essay
Retrospective Essay
This section contains an essay that reflects on honors experiences and classes which I think best represent the person I have become as an Honors Scholar. I have included growth and skills I've gained from the experience, the connection to my career goals, and the connection to the Honors College Learning Goals.
Click the buttons on the right to see how I was able to apply the scientific skills I learned during my Honors Experiene!
My entire experiene as an undergraduate student has supported my development into the person I am today. And who exactly is that? I have developed into a Labraory Teaching Assistant where I can not only explore biology more but I get to share tips with my peers and I've began to enjoy the role of a teacher. I have developed into someone in love with science, every single aspect of it. I have developed into a soon-to-be graduate student.Some experiences have have been profoundly more impactful in terms this development than others. I have particpiated in a variety of honors laboratory courses and an independent research project that I will delve deeper into.
The honors laboratory classes I have taken have contributed the most to my development as a scientist. These courses were Honors Experimental Chemistry II, Honors Genetics and Molecular Biology, and Honors Microbiology labratory. I was introduced to laboratory settings here at IUI. I gained a lot of experience in labs through a variety of experiments. I also got practice with designing my own experiments and protocols. I learned a lot outside of the typical coursework in topics relating to biology and chemistry. I was able to see my notes come to life right in front of me. The honors add-on to these courses allowed me to delve deeper into these courses and do extra projects in addition to the typical coursework. For example, in Microbiology Laboratory, I designed my own mini experiment and performed it alongside the regular class experiments. I came up with it on my won, showed my results, and looked at some literature that would help me explain and interpret my results. My engagement in these courses allowed me to later be a TA and teach others. This growth connects to the Honors College Learning Goals of Engaged Learning and Academic Excellence. Laboratory work in itself is already very engaging and experimentation engaged me more in the courses I was taking because I was able to see biology and chemistry being done in front of me by me. By applying the material I was learning in my courses, I was able to excel academically. My laboratory courses gave my experience and excitement to excel in doing more lab work, like in a research project.
I enjoyed my laboratory courses so much that I wanted more of it. I began working on my capstone in my sophomore year and have been doing it ever since. I received some credit for this work thorugh HON-H 398 Independent Study. I was able to do an independent research project with Dr. Patrick Gentry. I explored the use of insect DNA and camera traps to monitor biodiveristy in different regions across Indiana (urban, suburban, and rural). I experienced doing an ongoing experiment for longer than a semester. This was similar to the expeirmetns I was used to doing in class, but on a much larger and longer scale. I was also able to get paid for the work I did -which was really exciting for me because I realized this could be a career. The growth that resulted from this capstone research made me want to go to graduate school to get a PhD in biology and have the opportunity to dedicate more of my time to doing research. I learned to excel in genetic laboratory techniques for extracting, amplifying, adn sequencing insect DNA. I became proud and confident in my use of certain machines through repeated use. I organzied, analyzed, and interpreted large amounts of data. I got a lot fo experience presenting and talking about my research, as well. Also, I have gained a decent amount of proficiency in biological techniques and methods that have allowed me to teach others as I TA for different biology laboratories, and will continue doing in graduate school. This capstone research I completed is an example of engaged learning: I engaged in my IUI community through presenting my research and teaching others about my findings and the proejct in general.
The Honor's college has supported my development in a scientst and upcoming graduate student through engaged learning opportunities focusing on laboratory work. I completed honors sections of various laboratoy courses I had to take which developed my confidence, skill, and exictement about laboratory work. These laboratory experiences led me to pursue indpendent research, in which the Honor's college supported me through. Altogether, these experiences have contirbuted the moot into making me into the student and scientisit I am today I am today.
IU INSPIRE Showcase
IU INSPIRE Showcase
I attended the IU INSPIRE showcase. This was an event showing e-portoflios, research posters, and more. I got to see how students in different areas of study approached the different assignments. I enjoyed seeing so much creativity. It was very inspirational to see all the different things that could be done with e-Portfolios and seeing the different approaches people took to sharing their work.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse