Words from the Honors Coordinator

by Regina Fletcher

In this issue of the honors newsletter, students, faculty, and staff share their stories about campus developments, classroom experiences, research projects, community service events, and job possibilities for 2008-2009. Each of the writers has discovered an area of campus life that they find worthwhile and fulfilling. Finding your niche can be a challenge. Students often say that "there's so much to do and so little time" at UCSB. How can you do it all? How do you know how to search for the right major, the right career, the right graduate program? Maybe the answer isn't doing it all, but knowing the resources and developing a structure for decision-making.

As a new year's suggestion, find time this quarter to check out campus resources and to develop a plan of action for your future. Are there majors or minors you want to research? What honors sections or honors contracts interest you? Do you want to become involved with a professor's research or develop an independent research project? Will you study abroad, study at UCDC or UC Sacramento, or apply for an internship for the summer or the next academic year? How will you develop your leadership skills and be part of campus units and organizations? Where can you go to consider graduate or professional school or career options? How do you share your talents as a community volunteer?

There is a well-laid out guide to planning your undergraduate years in the Kiosk, the UCSB student handbook. No matter what year you started at UCSB, you probably received a copy of the Kiosk during Orientation or purchased one at the UCSB Bookstore. Dig it out and look for the section entitled "A Plan of Action for UCSB Students." (There are copies of the page in the honors study center.) Follow the advice listed under each class level and major theme, i.e., academics, personal, social, career. The "plan of action" encourages exploring for first-year students, defining in the sophomore year, researching as a junior, and finally, implementing as a senior. Open yourself to possibilities, acknowledge your strengths, identify challenges, and seek out support from the campus. And remember that we are available in the College office to help with general and pre-professional advising issues. Make time this quarter for your own adventures and discoveries.

^ top