What I Learned from Arcadia’s Honors Program
Looking back three years ago, I realized how quickly time flies when you do what you love. I thought I had everything planned out, and everything was working according to a plan I set back 3 years ago, but things changed. In this blog, I want to talk about my journey in leadership, getting involved, and how the Honors Program changed my perspective three years ago.
At the time that I got accepted into Arcadia’s Honors Program, I thought that this program was very casual, and just a means of getting early registration for my classes. However, the more that I engage, the more honors classes that I take, I can see why this program is very special, and I will never regret my choice to join this program.
Some people may think that only students with the best GPAs get accepted into Honors, and that’s all the program is about, but it’s not about that at all; it’s all about thinking and learning constantly. The Honors Program provides students with many opportunities to meet like-minded people, talk, exchange ideas, learn more about themselves, and learn how to work as part of a group. One of the Honors classes I like most so far is HN201, or the Study of Self and Teams. I am a couple of weeks in, and I can say that I absolutely love it. I can learn about myself, many leadership theories, and this class especially teaches me to work more effectively in a team. This class taught me that leadership is more than a title; it’s about what I do and what I contribute to the team. If I were to go back to my first year, I would take this class much earlier and try to get involved as much as I could. I would also try to take advantage of the Honors Program, learn more from it, and not just use it as a label.
Through all the Honors courses I’ve taken, I’ve learned about leadership theories that I can now apply to my roles as a Resident Assistant and in other leadership positions. While the Honors Program reshaped how I think and learn, getting involved on campus changed how I apply those lessons beyond the classroom. This was something I didn’t want to do at all during my first year, but I always keep my mind open, so I can push myself far beyond my comfort zone.
Looking back, I can now see that growth doesn’t come from intense early planning, but from the flexibility you need to adapt. There is no one strategy that always works; sometimes you just have to fix things a little bit based on the situation. Growth comes from being open to trying something new, not hesitating to step out of your comfort zone, and looking for opportunities around you or creating one if you feel like it. The Honors Program taught me to think deeper, and my leadership positions taught me how to apply those lessons in my real life.
