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Retrospective Reflection Essay

As I sat in my H-200 Honors Seminar during the second semester of my freshman year, what initially seemed to be an introductory course quickly became a foundational starting point for my personal and academic growth at IU Indianapolis. The diverse classroom environment composed of peers, upperclassmen, and faculty fostered thoughtful discussion and encouraged me to reflect on my role within the Honors College and my future profession. Through this experience, I gained valuable insight and encouragement from Professor Yard, which gave me the confidence to apply for my first on-campus job and begin translating classroom learning into real-world application. This moment reflects how the Honors College actively fosters professional development by connecting classroom experiences to tangible opportunities. More importantly, H-200 introduced me to the Honors College’s core values of leadership, engagement, and experiential learning, which became guiding principles throughout my undergraduate career. Through this course, I began developing essential skills in communication, connection, and leadership, marking a critical transition from an unseasoned student to one beginning to define my emerging expertise.

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RISE: Research, International, Service, and Experiential Learning

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The Honors College highlights these four initiatives in its core values. Reflecting on my undergraduate experience, I have gained valuable insights from all of these areas, which I attribute to opportunities provided by this program at IU Indianapolis.

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One day in H-200, Professor Yard announced a job opening in a pathology lab and said anyone could apply. I got an interview and started working that semester. Even completing the exhausting list of trainings that first week, I was so grateful for the chance to work in research and have a secure part-time job I could rely on for the rest of my four years. I was fulfilling the dreams of the high-school student who once fantasized about one day pursuing research on campus, and getting paid to do it!

Through the Honors College’s H-398 Research Experience courses, I was able to formally integrate my lab work into my academic curriculum, transforming a job into a structured honors learning experience. This reflects the Honors College’s emphasis on undergraduate research as a pathway to deeper academic engagement and professional development. My most memorable projects have been my poster presentations. I have presented at eight different conferences, either directly through my research or through work I have conducted with connected professionals in various fields, including infectious disease, pathology, cancer cell biobanking, and medical history. Attending these prestigious events, like the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting, IU Cancer Research Day, or the Undergraduate Research Conference at Butler University, has strengthened my connections and communication skills.

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My first research poster presentation at Butler!

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When preparing to present my research, I consider my audience by writing contextual information and creatively organizing my poster to appeal to the minds of scientists and students. This has led to success when people are drawn to my work, and allows me to then practice pitching ideas and content effectively and engagingly. Though I have made countless errors while presenting, I can confidently say that my confidence and public speaking skills have grown through receiving feedback and encouragement from judges and peer-presenters. When reflecting on my poster experiences for my assignments, I realized that the growth I experienced was achieved through endurance. I was able to spend countless hours working with researchers, putting together and drawing conclusions that could be used to inspire further research and conversation, and finally culminating all of this effort into a 2-to 3-minute speech. Looking back, the community I had in that H-200 class had started to prepare me for this task. I was in a group of bright-minded students all in separate fields, communicating about ideas and strategies for success. Then at the poster sessions, I was able to utilize those skills to talk with people from all different backgrounds and get them excited about my ideas. Ultimately, the amazing opportunity that I have had to grow in knowledge and interpersonal skills emerges as a highlight from this experience.

Remembering some of the most important parts of that H-200 class, I felt that not only research but international experience was marked as an invaluable opportunity that I should take advantage of. I felt encouraged to utilize my study abroad stipend to enhance my cultural awareness while growing my depth of knowledge. I elected to go to Ecuador for this trip, studying Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well Being while shadowing different departments of medicine. This aligned with my goals of pursuing medical school, learning Spanish, and broadening my worldly perspective. Working with the Honors College pushed me to go deeper into the culture, interviewing people, asking questions, and thoughtfully portraying my findings and ideas in a paper. I am grateful that I could capture this special experience through this lens and am proud of the work I accomplished that demonstrates my attention to detail and understanding of big issues.

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Taking a ride through the Andes Mountains on Marshmallow!

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Concluding Reflection:​

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Finally, my H-200 class also emphasized the importance of taking advantage of my honors projects to connect more with professors on campus. Every honors class or assignment I work on is facilitated by a faculty member who advises and supports me. I have felt more connected with my campus because of these connections and am more prepared to meet expectations in the workplace. These relationships have become easier to establish through my honors experiences because of my growth in confidence, communication, cultural awareness, and depth of knowledge. Collectively, these experiences have become the foundation from which I can take my next step in my professional journey