Have you ever wondered who takes Honors classes? I mean, you may have taken some and met some people - but what sort of person is attracted to these classes? There's the topic, of course...that's definitely a draw. But then, there's something else, too. The Honors Studies student does not have a specific GPA or academic program or inclination. The students who gravitate towards Honors Studies come from a variety of different walks of life, but they all share one thing in common: curiosity. The following is a scenario that many of our students find themselves as they enter into their Honor Studies experience.
It's the first day of class. You walk in to the familiar nervous
silence that always accompanies the first day, but there's something different
this time. First, everyone is sitting in a circle. You find a seat and sit,
taking out a notebook and trying to casually appraise your classmates as you're
sure they are doing the same with you. You expect the nervousness and
awkwardness, but something feels different. There's an excitement in the room
that you don't remember in your other classes. There's that same sense of
waiting, but it feels eager and deeply curious. Everyone is impatient. You
think about it for a minute and realize that you're feeling the same thing.
But, why? The answer dawns on you in a moment of suppressed enthusiasm for the
semester ahead.
Just like you, they all want to be here.
Thus begins your exploration into the world of Honors Studies. In these
classes, you will experience all the joys and challenges of academics, but they
will be driven by your own enthusiasm for learning, your own curiosity, and
your own interest in the pathways of learning. Your classmates will share that
same drive and excitement for the topic at hand, and your instructor's passion
for it will match your own. This will be a shared journey of learning and
self-reflection where you can celebrate who you are and who you might become.
Along the way, you will be encouraged and expected to push yourself and your
classmates through active participation and discussion. And it is our fondest
wish that you will thrive here. This is a place where you can find the support
you need to achieve your academic dreams, a place where you will be accepted
and understood, and a place where we will help you reach your full potential as
a learner.
So, the Honors Studies student is
one who is willing to take their education into their own hands, explore
themselves and their learning as well as the content of their courses, and
really delve into the academic and educational experience. Honors Studies is a place where students will
find community, camaraderie, challenge, and contemplation. From math to psychology and English to music,
the topics are wide and varied, and so are the faculty who teach the classes.
If you want a more specific demographic - well, that's a bit tougher. What I can tell you though, is that you will often find students who ARE academically inclined. You are also likely to find a fair number of students who have been home schooled. And, for better or worse, you'll find students who have been called geeks and nerds, you may find the socially awkward or even those who are on the margins. All of that, however, just feeds into the scenario above - these are students who WANT to be students, who are passionate about learning and will encourage YOU to be passionate, too. They will accept and encourage your passion and enthusiasm and will support you in the exploration of it. Because what you absolutely will find is a community and acceptance for who you are as a learner and as a person.
