Introduction to Honors Intention Statements:
Showcase 1 Artifacts:
My Freshman Year Intention Statement:
I am Statement:
I am passionate and focused about helping others in any facet of my life, whether that be volunteering at Riley, or helping support my friends and family. I am able to organize a schedule that allows me to stay engaged in my classes and continuously learn, while also staying active in my community and serving others in need. My organization and hyper-fixation has aided me in completing all of the tasks in my life as a college student.
I Want to Become Statement:
I want to do well in my classes throughout my time at IUPUI and to end with at least a 3.5 GPA. I want to graduate with honors and get accepted into a PA program. I want to stay active in my community while continuing my studies. I want to be a well-rounded person: to be educated, kind, compassionate, and intellectually driven. I want to continue growing as a person, both academically and personally. I want to find a specialty that I enjoy and to love what I do. I want to find a place I can call home. I want to surround myself with the right people. I want to experience all that life has to offer during college, and after. I want to be successful, but most importantly, happy.
Reflection Freshman to Senior Year:
I entered into the IU Indianapolis Honors College in August of 2022 excited to see the opportunities that the program could provide and the connections that I would make. While my first semester at IUI I was relatively involved in the honors college space and met many people within the cohort, I truly understood the importance of the honors college during the First-Year Experience course, that took place second semester of freshman year. This First-Year Experience course thoroughly explained how honors students could utilize the resources provided to them, how to earn honors credit, and how to get involved with the community and the school. This honors course also gave students the opportunity to reflect on who they want to become as an honors student, as well as who they want to be professionally.
The Artifacts below show the progression I have made between this First-Year Experience Course, and then as a second- semester Senior.
My Senior Year Intention Statement:
I am Statement:
I am still extremely passionate and focused on helping other people, whether that be through volunteering at the local food pantry or tutoring kids in my neighborhood. I am also resilient, as being diagnosed with a chronic illness has not diminished my need to care for others. Lastly, I am continuing to love learning and enjoy gaining knowledge in all aspects, whether that's through academia or via traveling aboard.
I Want to Become Statement:
As I stated previously, I still want to be successful, well-rounded, compassionate towards others, and active in my community; however my career choice has shifted. While I originally wanted to help people in the medical space, I have ultimately decided to help people via the legislative space. Through coursework alteration and field experience, I have found that I want to get a Master's degree in Public Policy. I want to become a policy analyst and create systematic change in the world of public health and social justice. I want a career that I am proud of, not just in terms of social or financial status, but by positively impacting others.
Just simply through reading my statements from Freshman to Senior year, it is evident that I have changed as a student and my perspectives of career choice has altered as well. As a freshman I was adamant about a career in the medical field and working towards that goal as a scholar; however, while gaining field experience and completing courses, I realized my true passion for helping people was through the legislative process. After finding a major that worked for me, I have thrived as a student and with a change in volunteering mission. Similarly, the honors contract and credit opportunities I've had, have made a significant difference in my ability as a researcher and communicator, as well as prepared me for these roles in my future field of policymaking. Lastly, I believe the most significant contributor to my progression as a student and in career would be the ability to study abroad my junior year. Through the honors college stipend, I was able to study in Norway and Sweden with the School of Public Health. This particular opportunity solidified everything for me in terms of career choice; public policy, specifically public health, was the best way for me to combine my love for helping others and my passion for the healthcare space. After all of these experiences via the honors college and on campus, I feel confident in my ability to take all that I've learned and apply it my future career.
Freshman year Journey Map
Reflection of Journey Maps:
During freshman year and when completing Honors H200, we were assigned a "journey map" to explain what had led us to this point as students and what we hoped to accomplish throughout our time at IUI. This exercise was specifically to allow us to visualize our journeys and to have intention in our future steps as students. This Artifact displays the differences between my original journey map (Freshman year) and my current journey map (Senior year).
Senior Year (New) Journey Map
Fall 2022 (Freshman)
Started IUI as a biochemistry major with the goal of going to Physician's Assistant (PA) school. Completed two honors labs and a research experiment in one of the labs.
Spring 2023 (Sophomore)
After completing shadowing honors and continuing to volunteer at Riley Hospital, I decided to switch to Psychology and Political Science, then gain experience in healthcare policy.
Spring 2024 (Junior)
Went to a study abroad program through the O'Neil School of Public Health in Norway and Sweden. Started volunteering at a local food pantry and becoming a social advocate, while researching Public Policy Master's programs.
2025-Spring 2026 (Senior)
Shadowing an executive at United Way, while applying for their summer and fall internship. Applying to graduate school in Gothenburg, Sweden for a Public Policy Master's degree.
Reflection Freshman to Senior Year:
When I started IUI and became an honors scholar, I knew I was passionate about helping others. While I originally believed that my calling was to become a medical professional and aid people through their journeys via medical intervention, I quickly realized that I prefer and am more passionate about helping by means of policy work. Through public policy and the public health sector I am able to influence the side of healthcare that fascinates me most, while also actively changing lives via positive legislation. The field work I have been able to witness, through volunteering and shadowing, has only sparked further interest for me in terms of public policy career options. Continually, the coursework that I have completed, specifically during my time abroad, has assured me of my decision to pursue a career as a policy analyst. While I am aware that my journey was not necessarily linear and I shifted my focus, I believe that this journey and my time as a student has prepared me for the uncertain obstacles that life and jobs have to offer.