Seattle's Best Vegan Ice Cream becomes a Staple in EFS Class
This past August, I had the pleasure to attend Food!, an Early Fall Start class. Here, we dove into food's past, present, and future and detailed the food companies that monopolize everyday lives. As a student still contemplating different majors, this class introduced the idea of a nutrition or public policy minor working for the FDA. This way, I may help others (and myself) with their nutrition and understand the lobbies and policies that control our food industry.
Inner-stability, Socialization, and Kickboxing
Participating in UW's Rec Pass was one of my best decisions this quarter. I've not only grown physically (stairs no longer hurt my knees), but I've also reached an inner-stability that is achieved solely through endorphins and exercise. The Rec classes are also like my social hour. I've met many people across campus whom I would not know otherwise.
Cold-Emailing and the Dread of Unprecedented Communication
Now, I understand cold-emailing is a task I must grow accustomed to—but that doesn't necessarily mean I'll ever be at peace with it. Maybe it's the message's cliché-worthy formalities or my indecisiveness in choosing a closing line ("Best wishes"? or "Thank you"? or "Sorry for disturbing you with such unimportant matters"?) which makes me feel like I should apologize for existing. That being said, I took up my sword (in this case, an email draft) and faced my monsters. I had the absolute pleasure of emailing and interviewing Tara Young about her research experience on campus. The interview was an assignment for Research Exposed!, so I chatted with Tara about her work-life balance and the topics she is researching. Of course, I asked her for advice on getting into a lab, and what did she recommend? Cold-emailing professors.
To say bluntly, what surprised me the most about Seattle was the amount of sunshine this autumn. I know I shouldn't grow accustomed to shadows and blue skies, but my south-texas heart finds it very comforting. This isn’t a reflection of the weather so much as myself. Watching the sunsets and stars is something very grounding to me, and so during the following winter quarter, I think I may need to purchase a sun lamp and a rain jacket to go on runs.
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Taking the time to go outside and run is a new activity I’ve picked up since moving to college. It’s a part of my effort to be a human first and a student second—not that I’m deprioritizing my education. Instead, I’m building the idea that my education comes second to my physical and mental health. This was a philosophy I did not employ in high school (much to my detriment) and would like to develop during my time in college. During this Autumn Quarter, I’ve been able to balance my health with my academics swimmingly. I’m happy I’ve come such a long way (both physically and mentally) from my high school self.
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Another I expected of myself this quarter was to pick a major. Ha! Rather than selecting a field of study, I lengthened my list of possibilities. That being said, I did decide that a major in the data science realm with a taste of biology or chemistry is most likely where I’m heading. Either way, I will most likely not meet that expectation until the end of my sophomore year, and I’ve grown to be thankful for that. Taking this beginning to explore my interests while finding a field that will challenge and satisfies me is very rewarding.
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Honors 100 has also lent a lot of insight into the Honors Program and how I may apply it to my current and future interests. For instance, the study abroad opportunities excite me, and I’m currently working on a presentation to share with my family and convince them to let me leave home a little earlier this summer.
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Thanks to my Research Exposed! class, I met Tara Young, an undergrad researcher who gave me advice on applying to different labs, major ideas, and overall information on her experience in a research lab. I’ve learned to take advantage of the Undergraduate Research Program in my journey into research. My hope to participate in a lab is why I wish to study abroad this summer rather than next; I want to spend the time between my sophomore and junior year in an internship/research lab.
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By the end of my first year in the Honors Program, I hope to have a better understanding of possible majors, cold-emailed at least one professor about research opportunities in a lab, and continue to care for my health as much as my education. By the end of my time at UW, I hope to graduate with a degree I’m proud of and scamper off on a summer road trip around the National Parks, or maybe if I rack up my courage, around the world.
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Biochemisery
Going into university, I was gunning to be a biochem major. However, this chem class really opened my mind to the multiple other majors available at UW. That being said, there were some pros from this experience; I realized I loved working with data, specifically the kind we collected in the chem 152 lab. With that in mind, I turned my major direction toward the Math, Comp Sci, and Stats realm.
I'd be runnin' up that road, be runnin' up that hill, with no problems
Photography has always been a passion of mine. Shooting, Editing, and Sharing my projects bring me such joy, and I had the wonderful experience of doing this with my friends. Of course, Adobe Photoshop is too expensive for any university student, I relied on Apple's generic photo editing. I miss Adobe. But I still had so much fun, and seeing my friends' reactions to the final product gave me a lot of joy. .
The Stunning Stutter of a Presentation
Okay, I'm just gonna say it—I have a stutter. It isn't very noticeable, in fact, it hides itself away most days. However, on the days that I am sleep-deprived or in front of an audience, I can't get through a whole sentence without tripping over my consonances. It's a little embarrassing. So, my blood ran cold when I discovered that my Honors class this quarter was presentation-based. Although I was terrified, I found that my stutter eased with each slideshow.
Dear Evan Hanson, the Train Station is on Fire
We didn't start the fire, and Evan Hanson didn't either.
Watching an off-broadway musical with my friends; it reminded me a lot of the production I did back home and how much fun I had with the cast and the music. One thing this experience taught me is that I need to explore UW's drama opportunities so I don't lose my connection with theater.
Now, an explanation of the title: we were trying to make it back to the dorms via the light rail when we discovered that it was closed—you could smell the smoke from the fire. Alas, people were still calmly walking into the station. We chose to bus instead.
To say bluntly, autumn’s sunny days did not last. Seasonal Affective Disorder settled heavily on me, that Chem 152 class I took still stands as the lowest grade on my transcript, and I learned an important lesson about the relationship between friendship and boundaries. Winter Quarter was a humbling experience, but I am a better person for it.
After announcing that I would be attending the University of Washington for college, the most common response I encountered was, “I hope you like rain.” I thought I did. Although the sound of raindrops pattering on the window makes for a good study environment, they do not make an easy trip across Red Square. The rain proved hard to adjust to, but walks in the Arboretum moved to treadmills in the gym, and time with friends outside adjusted to movie nights; what I’m trying to say is things change and people adapt. Although most Texans would think that they could never live in such an environment—sunshine is too addicting—the truth is that they would earn to make the most of it. And personally, I’ve grown to love the rain.
Looking back, I probably should have let the rain lead me to the library rather than movie nights; I took the hardest classes of my freshman year, and I faced a big issue—I had no idea how to study. High school only taught me how to cram. After my second Chem 152 midterm, it was evident that I needed some innovation in my old study habits. My friends and I formed a study group where we would meet up during the week of a test, do practice exams together, and review important material. To everyone everywhere, I recommend forming study groups. Not only is it a great way to polish your knowledge, but it also humanizes your education. It is very easy to allow classes and perfectionism to bog you down. Studying with friends becomes a support group for both your grades and your mental well-being.
Another lesson I learned occurred within said study group. Often, study group shenanigans turn into friendships. And those friendships grow and bloom into something beautiful. But it can be very hard to maintain a friendship with someone who has difficulty setting boundaries. To be honest, I’m a bit of a hypocrite. I existed between other’s boundaries for so long that I assumed I had built my own. However, I understand the importance of letting someone know that they upset or hurt me. When it comes to friendship, it’s important not to hold a grudge, and the best way to do that is to reach out and advocate for your feelings. By doing so, you’re telling your friend that you value their company and want to create a comfortable environment for everyone. But apparently, not everyone shares this point of view, which saddens me. In the end, holding friendships with people who have difficulty setting boundaries harms both parties.
Now onto a less morose topic: next quarter. This spring, I cannot wait to take my biology class. Maybe chemistry wasn’t my cup of tea, but I refuse to give up on natural science classes. I am also looking forward to Math 126; my math grades have only increased since fall quarter, and I am excited to devote myself to more math. I am also taking an honors class about music. Music has always held an important place in my heart and I cannot wait to explore the community’s connection to music.
Here’s to spring quarter!
You can only say "music fosters community" so many times
My honors class on music did an amazing job of getting students out of the classroom and exploring concerts, festivals, and performances around Seattle. Thanks to the professor, I had a way to attend shows at Meany hall for free! I even brought my Ukulele to class and played along to the traditional Fandango style of music. This class was such an amazing experience.
A Pitch Perfect Prom
One class that flew out of left field for me was choir. Continuing this quarter's music trend, a couple of friends encouraged me to join UW's treble chorus. It was an amazing opportunity to practice my sight reading and musical ear. I will definitely be retaking this class whenever my schedule doesn't look too crowded. They also host an end-of-year formal where I took this stunning picture of my friend Berlin, who got me into choir, and her friend Phil.
Ice cream, you scream, we all scream after midterms
I took this picture after my Math 126 midterm when I treated myself to an ice cream sandwich and watched a pick-up soccer game on Denny Field. I am very proud of this midterm, as I had only missed one question and got a 92. The positive trend in my math grade continued as I finished with class with a 3.9. Maybe I should think about becoming a math major.
To say bluntly, the cherry blossoms brought some much-needed color after the winter gloom. This quarter is truly a time for blossoming and growth. I spent more time hitting the books, but I also found an avenue for my music skills, figured out I’m in love with math, and had so many opportunities for photoshoots. In between it all, I attended and helped organize many hall council events. Spring quarter may not have been the sunniest of seasons, but the sunshine in my life sure was brightening.
I would like to sincerely thank my friend Berlin for getting me into choir. I cherished singing and choir class throughout high school, it was nice to find a similar company here. My favorite piece we sang was Hoi Hura Hoi, a Czech piece mimicking echos drifting across a mountain range. It was stunning, and the dissonant harmonies, which work with one another to impose a fake reverb, gave me chills. Choir was the perfect creative outlet this quarter, and being able to tie my soul to an art form was very relaxing. I found the same outlet in my honors class, Community in Music. This class had students trucking all over Seattle to watch small folk and cultural artists perform. It was a perfect excuse to see Seattle and some amazing artists.
Okay, guys, I give up. I love Math. I tried chemistry, but it wasn’t my thing. I tried biology, and it was all right, but my favorite part of class was when we used Excel in labs. So, it’s decided. I will shoot for a Statistics major with an option in Data Science. I think this is the perfect degree for me because—not only did I excel (haha) in Math 126—but Stats is so applicable—it traverses across academic disciplines. If I wish to rethink Chemistry or Biology, I can use Data Science in those fields. If I wish to go the Sociology or Psychology route, I can use Data Science in those fields. (I recently read Everybody Lies by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, can you tell?)
My dream job would be to work for the USDA, analyzing their agriculture and food so that we may live in a healthy and environmentally friendly future. Working for the government is a bit daunting, but I think that’s what I want to do. I would also love to eventually work on policies concerning agriculture and food, but that sounds like more of a Law degree. I have to be honest; a stats and law degree mis sounds like the ultimate duo for me.
Enough about the future; let’s talk spring. Maybe it was the gorgeous cherry blossoms or the nicer weather, but I got in the mood for photography. I believe I took some of the best photos during this time. From Gasworks to the Physics Women in STEM Workshop, I honed both my photography and photo-editing skills. Hopefully, this hobby will follow me for the rest of my life. No one has to worry about poor memory when everything is on an SD card.
Hall council was my social outlet this quarter; it was also where I made some of my best friendships. Together, we planned Earth Day, Craft Time, and Prom events for Terry Hall residents. The team and I brought the Terry Hall community together over something as small as ice cream and earthworms, or Stuffed Animals (this one proved to be a bigger event than we anticipated). I look forward to joining the Mercer Court Hall Council next year and contributing to more togetherness
Now, we enter summertime sadness as I travel back home, but I cannot wait to see what I have in store next year.
Cheers!