Gateway to Honors
I had no idea what to expect when I entered the classroom for my Gateway to Honors course at the beginning of the semester. But it has been one of the best hours I spent each week and I left it many times in tears, completely inspired by something Rich Robles showed us, a perfect example being the final lecture of Randy Pausch.
I have been brought up around people who valued intelligence and self development, of which reflection in an integral part, and Honors was simply a continuation of that. However, it showed me the step-by-step process, which helped me immensely, as I am a visual and hands-on learner.
We reflected on what we believe, what brought us to where we are, and what we have learned in college and where we plan to go with it all. The requirements, namely seminars or experiences are not meant to be a work load, but to broaden you as a person, and I know the study-abroad experiences I will partake in, will do just that.
I have been brought up around people who valued intelligence and self development, of which reflection in an integral part, and Honors was simply a continuation of that. However, it showed me the step-by-step process, which helped me immensely, as I am a visual and hands-on learner.
We reflected on what we believe, what brought us to where we are, and what we have learned in college and where we plan to go with it all. The requirements, namely seminars or experiences are not meant to be a work load, but to broaden you as a person, and I know the study-abroad experiences I will partake in, will do just that.
Self Portrait
My self portrait was the assignment for us to reflect on what made us who we are. I made a timeline/collage of sorts, with of the experiences and mostly people who have made me who I am today.
The story starts in the center with the first picture of me with my parents. This first section is titled by my name, with a matching subtitle of birth. The subtitle of the next section is death because my father passed away, under the title Family.
It moves on to Siblings in the upper left with the subtitle growing up. Here are pictures of my little brothers growing up.
The picture of all three of us backstage after singing Carmina Burana leads to the Music section with the subtitle performing. Piano, violin and voice are my instruments, and playing them has shaped me as a performer.
Change subtitled love, which is mostly dedicated to my grandmother. I included a picture of us when I was two, and another taken this summer, seventeen years later. These pictures being in Germany easily leads to the following section named Travel with the subtitle friends, because the way I see it - you can’t travel without making friends.
The portrait has kind of a snail shape as it loops around, with everything connected beyond the titles, subtitles and glitter connections I assigned to it. It is a connection of what shaped me. This is how I know what love is, and how my passion to learn has been nurtured – this then ties in the years of music education and performance, and traveling – how it broadens your view of the world, and provides another resource to learn.
The full detailed explanation of the portrait is in the document below.
The story starts in the center with the first picture of me with my parents. This first section is titled by my name, with a matching subtitle of birth. The subtitle of the next section is death because my father passed away, under the title Family.
It moves on to Siblings in the upper left with the subtitle growing up. Here are pictures of my little brothers growing up.
The picture of all three of us backstage after singing Carmina Burana leads to the Music section with the subtitle performing. Piano, violin and voice are my instruments, and playing them has shaped me as a performer.
Change subtitled love, which is mostly dedicated to my grandmother. I included a picture of us when I was two, and another taken this summer, seventeen years later. These pictures being in Germany easily leads to the following section named Travel with the subtitle friends, because the way I see it - you can’t travel without making friends.
The portrait has kind of a snail shape as it loops around, with everything connected beyond the titles, subtitles and glitter connections I assigned to it. It is a connection of what shaped me. This is how I know what love is, and how my passion to learn has been nurtured – this then ties in the years of music education and performance, and traveling – how it broadens your view of the world, and provides another resource to learn.
The full detailed explanation of the portrait is in the document below.
my_self-portrait.docx | |
File Size: | 158 kb |
File Type: | docx |
This I Believe
I believe – in open minds, in ever-present curiosity to learn, in high standards and expectations and in internal validation.
Open minds are crucial to understanding and learning new things. Trying to get to know someone, or something new, can only add to you as a person. When I meet new people, and spend time with them, it is something so important for me, to try and learn about the things they do and learn something new for me. Right now that means learning a new language, learning about a new culture, and a new genre of music and it’s creation. This adds to my existing collection of knowledge in those subjects and broadens my view and love of the world.
Being open-minded ties to my unending curiosity to find something new that I don’t know, and to learn about it. Life is so fascinating when you search to find something new about a person, or something in life you aren’t currently involved in. Or even search for the little things one doesn’t normally notice. The miniature forest that moss creates; looking up at the trees shading your walk, or the clouds overhead. That childlike awe of the world, and willingness to humble yourself into admitting that you do not know but want to learn, and to use common sense to understand it, makes everyday and the world around so much more beautiful. The
High standards and expectations provide a basis for goals, ambitions and quality in your life. As C.S. Lewis perfectly put it once: “Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither”. For any one that has tried it, they know it is true. Living, or trying to live with no regrets but with self-respect and values creates a much richer experience. You surround yourself with people that value the same things and are uplifted and pushed forward.
Internal validation may the hardest one of all however. To learn to care for yourself as you would for others; to set the time aside for yourself; to learn to cherish yourself for you, because of you. Not for or because of someone else. Not having the need to be validated through someone else’s opinion and thus being dependent on that opinion, creates and enormous sense of freedom, and a solid foundation for coexisting with others. It allows you to listen, and hear others, it allows you to look, and see, it allows you to be and actually live. The most important person for you is you, you are stuck with yourself, and if you can accept that, and love and care for yourself as you would for a dear friend, you find peace.
Open minds are crucial to understanding and learning new things. Trying to get to know someone, or something new, can only add to you as a person. When I meet new people, and spend time with them, it is something so important for me, to try and learn about the things they do and learn something new for me. Right now that means learning a new language, learning about a new culture, and a new genre of music and it’s creation. This adds to my existing collection of knowledge in those subjects and broadens my view and love of the world.
Being open-minded ties to my unending curiosity to find something new that I don’t know, and to learn about it. Life is so fascinating when you search to find something new about a person, or something in life you aren’t currently involved in. Or even search for the little things one doesn’t normally notice. The miniature forest that moss creates; looking up at the trees shading your walk, or the clouds overhead. That childlike awe of the world, and willingness to humble yourself into admitting that you do not know but want to learn, and to use common sense to understand it, makes everyday and the world around so much more beautiful. The
High standards and expectations provide a basis for goals, ambitions and quality in your life. As C.S. Lewis perfectly put it once: “Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither”. For any one that has tried it, they know it is true. Living, or trying to live with no regrets but with self-respect and values creates a much richer experience. You surround yourself with people that value the same things and are uplifted and pushed forward.
Internal validation may the hardest one of all however. To learn to care for yourself as you would for others; to set the time aside for yourself; to learn to cherish yourself for you, because of you. Not for or because of someone else. Not having the need to be validated through someone else’s opinion and thus being dependent on that opinion, creates and enormous sense of freedom, and a solid foundation for coexisting with others. It allows you to listen, and hear others, it allows you to look, and see, it allows you to be and actually live. The most important person for you is you, you are stuck with yourself, and if you can accept that, and love and care for yourself as you would for a dear friend, you find peace.