It’s difficult to condense what I’ve learned this year into a short reflection, so I will just share one small lesson: generalizations are made quickly and often… and they usually are not the best for communication. It has been my observation that other students will find out a few facts about someone else and immediately group them in with another set of people that share those qualities. People think that all engineers are the same or that one honors student is like all of the other honors students that they’ve met. It is hasty generalizations that lead to misunderstandings. These misunderstandings make it difficult to connect with others and interact honestly. I have learned to actively get to know someone rather than making assumptions in order to figure out what their story is. We all have reasons as to why and how we are. It’s more difficult to take the time to listen to others and how they describe themselves, but it ultimately leads to a more accurate depiction of who they are. I plan to carry this with me as I interact with new people in everyday life, school, and eventually my occupation.
My advice going into this year is to get enthusiastic, and sustain it! Last year I started out very eager and passionate about involvement and work ethic. As the year progressed I lost some of the vigor and I think that it contributed to a less-than stellar second half of my freshman. This is not to say that I didn’t enjoy my time – I definitely did. I simply think that I could have had a wider range of experiences, both academically and socially, if I had kept some of my energy that was so prevalent in September.
One goal that I have set for myself for the upcoming school year is to expose myself to events and experiences outside of my major. There are so many exciting opportunities that the University of Cincinnati has to offer, but I will admit that my first year was slightly more health-centered than I would have liked it to be. This year, although it may not be directly helpful in furthering my career, I plan on taking a course and joining clubs that incorporate my creative and more artistic side. It is still important to me to grow as a healthcare professional, but I need to remember that I also have time to explore other aspects of the university.
My thoughts have changed this year as to who I am. This year I have grown closer to the idea that I am not as important as I think I am. My spring honors seminar helped to expand my thoughts and to help me think of the world around me in a different way. “How Art Makes the World” allowed me to grow more as an individual than any of my nursing-centric courses. This class was a way for me to try out new philosophies and test what I thought I knew about myself. It helped me to transcend my ego a little more, which in-turn helped me to feel more comfortable in my major choice. I feel more confident than ever going into a field that asks that my needs come second to several others’: a concept that I was only mostly okay with going into my freshman year.
My advice going into this year is to get enthusiastic, and sustain it! Last year I started out very eager and passionate about involvement and work ethic. As the year progressed I lost some of the vigor and I think that it contributed to a less-than stellar second half of my freshman. This is not to say that I didn’t enjoy my time – I definitely did. I simply think that I could have had a wider range of experiences, both academically and socially, if I had kept some of my energy that was so prevalent in September.
One goal that I have set for myself for the upcoming school year is to expose myself to events and experiences outside of my major. There are so many exciting opportunities that the University of Cincinnati has to offer, but I will admit that my first year was slightly more health-centered than I would have liked it to be. This year, although it may not be directly helpful in furthering my career, I plan on taking a course and joining clubs that incorporate my creative and more artistic side. It is still important to me to grow as a healthcare professional, but I need to remember that I also have time to explore other aspects of the university.
My thoughts have changed this year as to who I am. This year I have grown closer to the idea that I am not as important as I think I am. My spring honors seminar helped to expand my thoughts and to help me think of the world around me in a different way. “How Art Makes the World” allowed me to grow more as an individual than any of my nursing-centric courses. This class was a way for me to try out new philosophies and test what I thought I knew about myself. It helped me to transcend my ego a little more, which in-turn helped me to feel more comfortable in my major choice. I feel more confident than ever going into a field that asks that my needs come second to several others’: a concept that I was only mostly okay with going into my freshman year.