Project 5

Before this class, I did not feel a strong sense of belonging in the world of woodworking. The tools, nails, saws, and other equipment seemed intimidating, and I was afraid of getting hurt. Because of this fear, I was not very eager to participate in the Message Box Challenge, and I initially felt disconnected from the experience.

However, my perspective started to shift thanks to Kris's detailed explanations and encouragement. He made the workshop feel more approachable, and the hands-on sessions helped ease my initial fears. The Fimbel student staff were also incredibly supportive, guiding me through the use of different tools and making me feel more comfortable in the space. As my confidence grew, so did my sense of belonging. Now I feel excited about exploring woodworking further, and I am looking forward to my final project with a much more open mindset.

 When I first came to college, I was more interested in math than computer science. I had always loved taking math classes and even considered going to grad school for it. However, after taking Real Analysis, I decided that I would no longer be a math major. Coming into college, I already felt a low sense of belonging in the field. I had always been good at math, but the math majors around me seemed excellent. No matter how much effort I put in, I felt like I could never reach their level of understanding and passion. I also struggled with the realization that math would not come as easily as it had before, and I did not know how to handle that shift. Instead of seeing it as something I could work through, I let it shake my confidence.

I ended up switching from a math major, though I am still taking math classes today. Even now, I do not always feel confident in my understanding, which sometimes prevents me from engaging with professors or fully immersing myself in the subject. Looking back, I see how much the environment played a role in my decision. People constantly told me that Real Analysis was the hardest class, and hearing that over and over made me subconsciously believe I would not succeed. That mindset became a barrier to my learning.

If I were to revisit that class, I would approach it with a different perspective. Instead of being afraid of failure, I would remind myself that struggling with something does not mean I do not belong. I would tell my former self that growth comes from pushing through challenges and that I should not let fear hold me back from something I enjoy.