If my parents’ generation was “the greatest generation” and mine “the luckiest generation,” what might you call your generation?
I would considered our generation overwhelemed. I feel like we have been given so much technology, expectations, problems, etc. that it feels like too much to handle especially when I do not feel connected to everyone in my generation.
Life has taught me that nothing is guaranteed and you have to be flexible enough to accept change. I
I feel a connection to this quote because in the beginning of this year I was so routine focused that if anything went different than I had planned it would ruin my day. This was causing me to spiral mentally which negatively affected my wellbeing.
What does it mean for one to be an archive?
This is a very interesting question to ask. I can understand why it would cause someone to realize their aliveness. I feel like everyone is an archive because it represents everything we have done that has gotten us to this point.
here’s a Japanese proverb that says: fall down seven times, get up eight.
I really enjoy reading this passage because it puts a good perspective on life. I realize that as long as you get up more than you fall you will prosper in life.
Apparently, I was unapproachable, inflexible, and unwilling to accept suggestions
This is very interesting to read because it just shows how much our anxieties can get in our way. I relate to this because some times I come off as more shy but people might interpret that as rude, unapproachable, and mean. I really opens your eyes to how you much your doubts just put you behind.
On a piece of paper, I drew loops and arrows between my essays, looking for the thread that would connect them. I thought about the never-ending loop of discovery, the joy of researching places I had to look up on maps, the curiosity that compelled me to ask people to tell me their stories, the fascination I felt when I read how people understood love, or the stars, or history. The kinetic energy I felt every time I looked at the next semester’s schedule of classes, imagining myself immersed in Zulu, or Japanese mythology, or the diaries of Lady Montagu.
This reminds me a lot of a mind map that I do in my journaling. It is so important to sit with your thoughts and write them on paper and see where they come from and where they are going.
The ePortfolio that you are putting together in UNIV 301 is what we consider a “learning portfolio.” Rather than showing only the finest examples of your work, the learning portfolio memorializes the insights, challenges, breakthroughs, and questions that have animated your learning in Gen Ed. This ePortfolio — unlike earlier iterations of portfolios — allows a student to choose from many different media.
I really enjoy this part of the portfolio because it allows me to be creative. It isn't as restricting as the other assignments I have had to complete where theres only one right way. I enjoy being able to pick random assignments and explain what they represent in my education
When I started at the UA, I began as a mechanical engineering major. The College of Engineering organized tours of all the engineering disciplines to help students see the available options, so I went to a talk on chemical engineering: I found the material dreadfully boring — no offense to those pursuing chemistry or chemical engineering. To me, studying the design of chemical production plants wasn’t overly exciting. Afterwards, on a whim, I followed a crowd of students to a talk at the College of Optical Sciences. There were lasers, lenses, cameras, solar panels, and LEDs. It was riveting! Learning how camera systems work and hearing the principles behind lasers producing photons was something new and fascinating.
This reminds me of myself a couple years ago. I spent my whole life focused on becoming a dermatologist. The skin interested me but I realized not enough to go through all that schooling. After taking a Dave Ramsey finance course I realized how much I wanted to help others financially. The bonus was that it only required 4 years of school.
Looking back, many of my undergraduate experiences, including my general education courses, were transferable to my future roles. If it weren’t for my general education courses in improv or professional ethics, I would not be as confident with public speaking. My Close Relationships course for my Psychology degree provided me with active listening and conflict management strategies that I use when things get tough at home and at work. And the Honors general education courses that I completed during a summer in Poland helped me understand the ways that public squares can facilitate participatory engagement in democracy, and my responsibility to engage in such efforts in my own community.
I have many classes that I know are going to play a role in my future. For example, my personal finance class taught me important money management skills and my Nutrition class taught me how to fuel my body properly.
What happens to all this material? Within days, I’ll have forgotten about most of it.
I completely agree with this statement because I always feel like I have so much on my mind that I forget about the tools I can use to help me. Not only this but sometimes I simply do not have the time.
llow me to let you in on a little secret: school almost never, ever teaches you what you’re actually going to do in your job.
This concept sometimes makes me very mad. I feel like I am wasting so much of my time and money on learning information that is not going to be used in my future. However, I realize that all the schooling I have been through has taught me life lessons even if the context of them is useful. I will always appreciate the friendships and memories I have made throughout my life in school.
Once you start questioning, you can actively pursue new or other routes without cutting out the old ones.
This is such an interesting concept because I think most people are too lazy or unmotivated to try and learned new ideas. Personally, unless I have learned something that makes me confused I never go in and research more. After reading this paragraph I definitely want to start questioning more of the things I learned growing up so I can form my own beliefs.
Most of those I come to know are often from out of state or from different countries and I imagine that when first settling into a new and different environment
As an out-of-state student, it is refreshing to hear that someone made an effort to recognize those who are far from what they know. Although I do not feel judged for being where I am the transition was something that was very difficult to do. I love to here that there are people out there who want to make me feel more comfortable.
For example, students need to take care to avoid plagiarizing the works of others, even if it is not intentional, and to properly credit the creators of the information they use. Using work that is not your own without attribution is wrong and unethical.
In my general education experience, I have learned about plagiarism in English 102 but it was never talked about it any other general education classes which makes it hard to put it into practice. Why do the other general education classes seem to not focus on plagiarism since it is such an important skill to have?
Being attuned to what is happening on stage means being present in the moment and not letting the mind wander.
This closely relates to what I am working on in my life right now! I always struggle with either thinking about the future or thinking about the past. This is really eye-opening to see that this is the only way to be successful in improv. Since life feel like one big improv I find it perfect that this is something to think about.
How does the new story you’re shaping — the story of your ePortfolio — look from their point of view?
Personally, this makes me want to be more descriptive with my story so people truly understand what I am trying to say.
Eventually, writing in a journal became what running or exhausting my body had been. Journaling became a way to release the pent-up weight of emotions, and when I placed some of these feelings on a page, it cleared my head, and helped me to find a way forward
Journalling is a great way for me to release everything that has been stressing me out so I agree with this statement.
Moving away from home as allowed me to truly realize who I want to be.
We invite you to engage in active, ongoing reflection throughout this course
I am super excited to reflect because it can help me understand everything that I have learned during my general education experience.
Like many first-year college students, I felt very eager to fly away from the nest — but I also felt lost
I relate to this a lot because this is also how I felt when I first came to school.