My Growth as an IUI Honors Student
2022-2026
During my second semester of college (Spring 2023), I took HON-H200. In this course, I participated in goal-setting and self-reflection as a freshman in college. A couple assignments for this class was “I am/I want to become” statements and a journey map. Both of these helped me reflect on the accomplishments I have achieved up to this point and what goals I see for myself in the future. This page showcases my journey, including my growth as a student and reflecting on the growth that I have experienced throughout college.
I Am/I Want to Become Statements
The "I Am" statement assignment gave me a solid grounding in what it means to be an honors student. I spent time reflecting on values and qualities that I currently posses and what I believe matters most to me as an honors student. The "I Want to Become" Statement allowed me to set goals for who I want to become in the future as an honors student at IU Indianapolis and a future nurse. This allowed me to identify areas I want to grow in during my college career and how I can achieve my future goals.
"I Am" Statements:
2023 Statement: I am a person in the community who is kind and caring to other individuals. I find joy in challenging myself and by helping others succeed. I am motivated to learn from my mistakes and see myself succeed. I am inspired when I meet new people and learn about their life experiences.
2026 Statement: I am a compassionate and inquisitive individual who is driven by an interest of learning and meaningful connection with others. I value engaging with people from diverse backgrounds and find fulfillment in supporting their growth as well as my own. Through honors research, collaborative projects, and study abroad experiences, I have broadened my perspective, strengthened my critical thinking, and become more adaptable in unfamiliar settings. With the encouragement of my family, friends, and community, I approach challenges with purpose and resilience, committed to continuous self-improvement and contributing positively to the community
"I Want to Become" Statements:
2023 Statement: I have no idea what the future holds. From looking at the past I have learned that not everything goes as expected. However, I also learned that you can create goals and dreams to help achieve what you want in the future. From knowing this, I have a goal to graduate IUPUI with a bachelors degree in nursing. After graduating IUPUI, I want to work in a hospital setting to gain valuable nursing experience. Once I have two years of experience, I want to go back to college to get a nurse practitioner degree. This will allow me to work in my desired profession.
As I go along this journey, I also want to be a well rounded person. I want to be a caring individual who has a positive impact on the world around me. I want to help others in need by caring for their medical needs and be an advocate for their health. I want to be an active supporter to my family and friends, and encourage them to pursue their passions. I want to be a role model for younger students. I want to inspire people to go after their dreams and be a kind individual to the community.
As this journey proceeds, I want to continue evolving as a person in a positive light. I want to see how well I do in my classes that contributes to my nursing degree. I want to push my limits and see how well I do under pressure. I also want to build relations with other nursing students and faculty that help me succeed in my career.
2026 Statement: I want to become a knowledgeable, compassionate, and resilient nurse who embraces growth through both challenges and successes. While I understand that the future may not unfold exactly as planned, I am committed to setting intentional goals that guide my journey. My immediate goal is to graduate from IUPUI with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and begin my career in a hospital setting, where I can develop strong clinical skills and gain meaningful, hands-on experience. As I grow professionally, I aspire to continue my education and pursue a nurse practitioner degree, allowing me to expand my scope of practice and make an even greater impact on patient care.
Beyond academic and professional goals, I want to become a well-rounded individual who leads with empathy and purpose. I strive to care for others not only by meeting their medical needs, but also by advocating for their health, dignity, and well-being. I aim to be a source of support and encouragement for my family, friends, and peers, and to serve as a positive role model for future students entering the nursing profession.
As I continue this journey, I want to grow in confidence, adaptability, and self-awareness. I seek to challenge myself academically, perform effectively under pressure, and build meaningful relationships with fellow nursing students and faculty who contribute to my success. Through continual learning and reflection, I want to become a nurse who positively influences patients, communities, and the profession as a whole.
Reflection
When I first entered the honors program, I was eager to learn and driven by curiosity, yet still in the process of shaping my academic identity and understanding how my education could translate into purposeful impact. I had a strong desire to serve others and connect with diverse communities, but I was still learning how to turn that motivation into practical skills and meaningful experiences. Throughout my time in the honors program, I have experienced significant personal and academic growth. Through honors research, collaborative coursework, and leadership opportunities, I was challenged to think more deeply, communicate more effectively, and approach problems with both creativity and discipline. These experiences strengthened my resilience, adaptability, and cultural awareness, allowing me to grow not only as a student but also as a thoughtful and compassionate future healthcare professional.
This growth is reflected in my personal statement. I aspire to become a perceptive, empathetic, and patient-centered nurse who integrates clinical knowledge, compassion, and cultural awareness to make a meaningful difference for individuals and communities, particularly those who are underserved. My honors experiences have provided me with the skills, perspective, and confidence to pursue this goal. Through research and leadership experiences, I have developed strong problem-solving, teamwork, and advocacy skills that will guide my future practice. Looking back, I recognize how each opportunity to learn, serve, and lead has shaped who I am today. I am more confident, self-aware, and committed to using my education and compassion to create positive change.
Journey Map
During my Hon-H200 course (Spring 2023), I created my journey map. I created this map to plan out the rest of my college experience and identify my goals and milestones for my college and post college experience. It served as a guide and helped me stay on track with my goals as I worked toward completing my degree and preparing for my future career.
Journey Map Spring 2023
Updated Journey Map
Reflection
My journey throughout college has not gone exactly as planned, but I've learned to adapt and grow along the way. One of the first setbacks was not getting the patient care technician position I applied for. At first, I was disappointed, but now Isee that it worked out for the best. Without the extra responsibilities during my first year of nursing school, I had more time to build a good routine and study habits for the challenging coursework nursing school offered. This also allowed me to strengthen my skills and refine my interests, making me more confident when I applied again as a patient care technician the next year.
Another challenge was learning how to manage difficult coursework, attending clinicals, and working. I initially saw this as a significant challenge, but I ended up gaining valuable time management skills. Gaining these skills will be extremely beneficial for me when I am working as a nurse and have to balance caring for multiple patients at one time. Looking back, I realize that this unexpected challenge was very valuable and will make me a better nurse in the long run.
Most recently, I’ve been going through the new grad nurse residency application process. The unit I am applying for is one of the most competitive placements as a new grad and can be challenging to get a job offer in this unit. I have been practicing my interview skills to help my chances of getting the job. I am confident that the skills I have learned throughout nursing school and working as a patient care technician will set me apart from other applicants. I can also apply what I have learned through my set back of not getting my first patient care technician job to my advantage. I know that even if I don't initially get my desired position, I can reapply in the following years once I have more experience and confidence as a nurse.