Representative Photo
As I was thinking about what kind of photo would best represent my experience in this course, I first thought about what the course meant for me and what its purpose was. I thought about the word "gateway." Its connotation is one of a beginning, or the way to something (hopefully good). I then asked myself what Gateway was supposed to be the beginning of, and after taking this course, I learned that it's not only a preparatory class for a road that will eventually end in an honors degree, but also one that will take us on many adventures, whether its a trip abroad or a seminar on a unique and interesting subject that we might not otherwise have the opportunity to take advantage of. After considering all this, one image in particular jumped to mind: the start of the Yellow Brick Road from the Wizard of Oz. The Yellow Brick Road took Dorothy ultimately to the emerald city so she could then go home, which was her goal, but also took her on an adventure, where she made some great friends and had some fun and some struggles along the way.
Photo source: http://www.internetmonk.com/wp-content/uploads/8066-mchoice_WizardOz_42909.jpg
Photo source: http://www.internetmonk.com/wp-content/uploads/8066-mchoice_WizardOz_42909.jpg
Reflective Essay
The purpose of this course was to help us understand the basics of the honors program and how to succeed within it. The first couple classes were spent explaining program requirements, such as GPA, coursework, and honors experiences. Then we moved on to discuss the process of reflection and how to write reflective pieces, which was an important skill to learn for the e-Portfolio, our next project. We learned about the importance of e-Portfolios and how to use iWebfolio as part of the honors program or any other aspect of our lives. We then discussed self-designed honors experiences and how to write a proposal for one, and uploaded it to iWebfolio.
This course was very useful and applicable to my academic coursework. As a student in the University Honors Program, it is important for me to understand how everything works and what is expected of me, if I am to succeed. It also helped with my professional development. Working with a group of my peers to read and revise my writing helped me understand the need for outside help to create a better product. By having open, group discussions in class, it helped make concepts clearer when so many different perspectives combine to make one bigger picture.
This course was very useful and applicable to my academic coursework. As a student in the University Honors Program, it is important for me to understand how everything works and what is expected of me, if I am to succeed. It also helped with my professional development. Working with a group of my peers to read and revise my writing helped me understand the need for outside help to create a better product. By having open, group discussions in class, it helped make concepts clearer when so many different perspectives combine to make one bigger picture.