My Honors Experiences
AFST 3187
-Africa is NOT a Country
For my very first honors experience that I have completed, I took an honors seminar called Africa is NOT a Country (AFST 3187). This experience involved a three-hour seminar which was held once a week. This seminar was very discussion-based. We had readings that we were expected to read prior to each class, and we sometimes had speakers come into the class and talk about particular topics. After each class period, we also had to complete a weekly writing assignment about the topics that we discussed in class. For this seminar, we also had to attend two experiences outside of class which were the African dancing/drum class and an African cooking class. Furthermore, this seminar taught me a lot about not only the course content but also myself as well. This seminar taught me about many different topics involving the continent of Africa and a lot of the stereotypes and misinformation that has been spread about the continent throughout history. I learned how many African countries and regions are very advanced economically, social, technologically, etc. I also learned how naive and misled I have been my entire life. Growing up, I believed much of the misinformation about the continent that was addressed in the seminar. This seminar taught me the importance of looking for misinformation in the media that I watch and read. Moreover, this seminar has impacted me substantially because I feel that I am much more knowledgeable and aware about the continent of Africa, and I know a lot more about the different customs that some African countries have. I am less ignorant about this topic, and I am also much more comfortable in talking about this topic and disregarding misinformation and "bad" media.
I chose this sample of work from my honors seminar to put onto my showcase because I made this dish during my African cooking class that my class attended. I also chose this for my showcase because it helps to convey that African culture shares some similarities to Western culture. The dish that I made in this picture is a typical Ghanaian dish, and these people use very similar ingredients that many Western individuals use for their food such as chicken, rice, mixed vegetables, curry, salt, etc. I have noticed that our media tends to portray non-Western nations as being much "different" from us. However, we share a lot of similarities to other non-Western cultures that many of us do not realize.
AACRC Transitions
My second honors experience was through the AACRC Transitions Program. I attended weekly meetings at the African American Cultural and Research Center, met at least twice a month with my mentor, participated in an early arrival program, and attended signature AACRC events such as Kuamka, Ushindi, Akwaaba, etc. This experience connected first-year black students to campus resources, students, experiences, and faculty members. The AACRC Transitions program was about community, and I felt that I was a part of a family. Furthermore, I learned a lot from being involved in the program. This experience taught me about different campus resources such as the Learning Commons, the AACRC, the Women’s Center, the Ethnic Programs and Services, etc., that I believe will help me throughout my academic career at the university. This experience also taught me how to put myself out there and be comfortable with meeting new people from all different backgrounds. Overall, this experience has impacted me in a beneficial way because I have met some of my closest friends through the program. I was able to connect with students who share a similar identity to my own which I think is important, especially going to a predominantly white institution.
I chose this as an example of my learning because it shows the importance of community and friendship. This picture was from the Kuamka ceremony, and we all had to pass the flame around the group. The passing of the flame signified our togetherness within the program. The AACRC Transitions program has definitely taught me the value of community and friendship which will have a long-lasting impact on my life.
CI 3036
-Social Justice Spaces for Children
This honors experience was an honors seminar called Social Justice Spaces for Children. For this seminar, I attended a weekly class and two field trips to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and the Nancy and David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center. The main portion of the seminar was that my group and I created a children’s exhibit about a social justice topic at the Contemporary Arts Center. My group and I demonstrated how hair can relate to a person’s individuality and identity. Our goal was for the children to learn about different hair types and identities while also feeling empowered by their own hair. I learned a lot from this seminar such as the importance of exposing children to social justice topics. I learned how to engage children when it comes to presenting them with different activities. I learned how much work is put into creating an exhibit. Our exhibit took two months to complete, so I appreciate the work that museums put into their exhibits even more. Overall, this seminar impacted me in a positive way because I know how to work better within a group and how to communicate and engage with children in a more effective way.
I chose this as an example of my learning because it shows the exhibit that my group and I created. This picture was taken in the Contemporary Arts Center, and this was our final product of our exhibit. Our exhibit incorporated a multitude of identities that I believe the children could have related to. My group and I tried to be as inclusive as possible so that every person who viewed our exhibit could see themselves represented within the exhibit. Overall, I am very proud and happy with how our exhibit worked out, and it truly depicts an important social justice topic.