This semester, I have been feeling very positively about things. More positive than usual. (I like to think I’m a relatively positive person, in general, but school and life can be stressful and no one is perfect.) “Why is this semester different?” I keep asking myself. There are a number of answers to that question.
1. I’m a junior. As an upperclasswoman, there are lots of things that I finally understand and feel comfortable with, from how to read for class effectively to how to speak about sensitive gender issues. Wellesley is my home now in a way that it wasn’t when I first came to this campus two years ago. And as a result, I’m much more comfortable being myself and sharing my opinions. I’ve noticed that I speak up in class more and I reach out to underclasswomen who have problems and questions. It’s a very rewarding feeling to be helpful in such a way:)
2. I’m returning from abroad. This is my first semester back at Wellesley after my semester in Beijing. As a result, I am seeing Wellesley with new eyes. I realize now that during my first two years, I took a lot for granted. But participating in college level academics in a different location brought a few things to my attention.
Wellesley is beautiful. There are few places that can compare to the incredible ambiance of a liberal arts campus situated around a lake.
Wellesley’s rigorous academics have helped me to become an engaged critical thinker. In myself, I now see a significant difference from my writing and analytical skills of two years ago. I know a huge part of that has been a result of working with professors and peers on this campus who pushed me to work harder than I thought I was capable of. And now, I am confident in my abilities. I know that whatever I set out to do, I can and will do it to the best of my ability. I’m excited to face such challenges in life, and to prove to myself and to others what I’m capable of as a Wellesley woman.
The liberal arts education that I have thus far received has allowed me grow and explore interests I might never have discovered: astronomy, computer science, linguistics, and economics to name a few. It has also allowed me to build an interdisciplinary academic foundation that I know will serve me well in an increasingly globalized world. I find myself filled with an overwhelming excitement to apply skills that I’ve learned in the classroom inaddressing global issues. This is what a liberal arts education is all about.
This is what a Wellesley education is all about:)
P.S. Pictures from last Saturday’s meet! 🙂 Got BLUE!
