My Growth in the IUI Honors Program 2022-2026

I began my college career in 2022 at IU Indianapolis as an honors college student, and have evolved not only as a student but as a passionate individual, and the honors college experience has pushed me towards greater success. I will showcase artifacts that not only capture who I was, but also who I have become and my future goals. The supporting artifacts will show not only my growth, but also the experience I have gained as an honors student.

H200 Original Intention Statements

'I Am' Statement

A reflection of who I am as an individual and student

I have always been told that I am a very determined individual. My parents made sure I grew up working for what I have and doing whatever I can to achieve the outcomes I desire. The opportunity to attend school, learn new material, and engage with my peers has always been an escape for me from the hardships I've gone through. School reminds me to continue to work my hardest, so I can reach the life goals I've always dreamed of, such as traveling the world or even just being the first to graduate from college in my family. I am self-critical, but this isn't necessarily just a bad trait. Although being self-critical can be harmful to some extent, I always tell myself that "I can do better," which is why I am detail-oriented in not only my school work, but in my personal life as well. I am sometimes too hard on myself, which can cause me to feel hopeless during times; however, I am actively working on my mental health, as it is something I am passionate about and love to help others through when they are struggling with it as well. All of these characteristics that describe who I am are what have gotten me to the very fortunate position as an honors student at IU Indianapolis. I am using these traits to further my education, and I understand how to use them to the best of my ability, so I am able to achieve my academic and personal goals.

'I Want To Become' Statement

A reflection about who I want to become with goals

As an honors student at IU Indianapolis, I want to become the best version of myself that I can be. I will become the best version of myself by maintaining my goals of staying on top of my assignments, staying organized, and reaching out when I need help. A quality that I possess is determination, and when I want something, I do everything in my power to get the outcome I desire. I am very motivated by what lies in the future, which is what drives me to try my best. What causes me to stunt my growth in my education and overall life is when I let stress and anxiety overcome me and debilitate my ability to get tasks done. As I continue to further my education in the honors program, I know that I am going to have to overcome this feeling so I can reach my full potential and be the best student I can. I will do this by reserving time to study and get work done, writing down my assignments and due dates, and making sure I communicate with professors when needed. I value my time in the honors program as I am given so many resources to achieve the bright future that lies ahead, as well as building relationships with my peers and mentors. I want to become the best version of myself so I can keep a healthy relationship and balance between my school life, which directly correlates with my overall well-being.

Reflecting and Updated Intention Statements

2022

Who my Past Self Was

When I originally wrote the above statements, I was a freshman who knew my time in college was going to be challenging, but despite what was thrown my way, I was determined to get it done.

Since then, I have proven that my endurance comes from more than just persisting through. It comes from a built clarity, awareness, and a strong commitment to becoming a person capable of communicating thoughtfully, creatively, and creating meaningful work.

Journey Maps

This section presents the original journey map I created as a freshman in H200 and a newly updated journey map that shows the actual honors experience I had during my four years. These maps show the changes and understanding of goals, expectations, and growth during my college career.

H200 Original Journey Map

Created at a time when I was just beginning my college career
I had a clear goal of graduating with my bachelor's in Communication Studies
An outline of what steps I believed would lead me to that point
Chronologically ordered large goals

Actual Honors Journey Map

Freshman year

Start of honors journey
Created Podcast episodes for M150 Mass Media and Contemporary Society
Presented and taught Family Communication topics in Intro to Communicative Studies
Social Action Project on the implications of growing up in substance-abusive families
Dean's List in the Fall

Sophmore Year

Educational research video for my Rhythm and Revolution course
Volunteer for Future Farmers of America Convention
Enacted social change by creating a song surrounding mental health awareness in Rhythm and Revolution
Dean's List Fall & Spring

Junior Year

Built an educational tool video for the Human Communication in a Digital Age course
Built an infographic explaining IU Indy's split from Purdue in the Storytelling with Data Course
Submitted a research paper in American Feminist Rhetoric for an award
Deans list Fall & Spring

Senior Year

Built three infographics explaining family communication theories for the Family Communication course
Nominated as a top 100 student by past professors
Worked closely with Dr. Kim White-Mills and a real organization to build an organizational communication overview
Created a blog and podcast in my Finding your E-Voice course

Reflecting On My Journey

When comparing my original journey map with what my actual Honors journey looked like highlights how my understanding of getting to graduation and learning has changed throughout my experience

As a freshman, I was eager to list what I thought were the biggest accomplishments toward graduating, without considering how much time, effort, and adaptation I would need to make to achieve success. I have since learned that the applied projects, analysis/reflections, and creative work are what have driven my college career to success

My goal changed from merely graduating to creating intentionally and purposefully with the work that drives me to keep learning. My updated map reflects the impact-driven communication I strive to exhibit in all areas of my life and beyond graduation