Katie Harmon

Professor Byrd
HONR 1700
November 18, 2015
khhonors.weebly.com
Reflections and Realizations
When I began this semester, I didnt quite know what to expect. The change from a onehallway high school to a large university was intimidating. I was afraid of leaving my small
microcosm of comfort behind, but in the back of my mind I knew UNCC would allow me to
expand my artistic and academic horizons in all directions. The University Honors Program has
provided me with innumerable opportunities for growth in my first semester. It amazes me how
much Ive changed in a few months, and how my perspectives and experiences have shaped each
other. I chose my artifacts based on the notion that they should represent multiple aspects of my
learning journey during my first semester in the University Honors Program and demonstrate
some form of growth in my skills or character.
In a very literal sense, UHP has allowed me to broaden my volunteer and community
involvement experiences. I have exhibited aspects of the changing definition of scholar
citizenship by being involved in the UNC-Charlotte community and devoting time to helping
others in the surrounding area. Due to my intense dance schedule and academic curriculum in
high school, I never found an opportunity to volunteer with any organizations. My first volunteer
experience was the Habitat for Humanity build with UHP on September 26. I spent an entire
Saturday on top of a house laying shingles on a cold, rainy, muddy day. While lifting packages of
shingles onto a roof and nailing them down doesnt sound like very much fun, this experience

gave me a chance to feel what its like to help others and give back to a community. It taught me
that time, energy, and care can be more important than money or power in some situations.
Artifact two, an image I created to accompany my six word memoir in HONR 1700,
relates to this eye-opening volunteer experience. My six word memoir is the greatest
exploration is in creation. I created the roof of a house that day, but this seemingly simple task
allowed me to explore many tangible and abstract concepts. I enjoy building things, so I was
very interested in observing the multiple techniques behind building a home. As a result of my
time there, I now know how to lay shingles and caulk the foundation of a house, but I also gained
insight into the lives of multiple members of my new Charlotte community. Each worker
connected to each other through service to create one strong team, something I had never
explored before. I met students from UHP, neighboring colleges, Habitat for Humanity
employees, and the mother and son whose home we were building; all of which widened my
view of Charlotte as a whole, in a similar manner to the City as Text assignments in Honors
Colloquium.
The most prominent reason I selected artifact two for my learning portfolio is the feeling
of release I had when creating it. One thing I would change about this semester is that I did not
devote enough time to making art. The stresses and obligations of college leave little free time
for most students, but I should never neglect my art. Homework, socialization, and catching up
on sleep quickly replaced my daily creative time when I moved to UNCC. Upon reflection, Ive
realized that Ive only made art a few times since the beginning of the semester, two of which are
the altered book and six word memoir assignments from honors colloquium. This assignment
forced me to reflect on what parts of my essence are truly important to me, and put those
concepts into six words. Once I constructed a phrase that I was satisfied with, I tackled the visual

component of the assignment. At first I wasnt sure how I would approach the task of
representing my six word memoir through imagery, but I sat down at my desk with my ink pen,
paints, and a cup of water and allowed myself to sink into the creative process. I had been
dealing with lots of stress from outside relationships that day, and creating a painting with so
much meaning to me was nothing short of therapeutic. I allowed the watercolors to travel
through the negative space as they pleased. Waiting for the colors to dry caused me to work
slowly and purposefully when adding in the dramatic black lines. Finally, when I wrote my six
word memoir onto the page, I realized making the painting itself was an exercise in exploration. I
not only explored concepts of symbolism and representation, but I took time to nurture my
artistic spirit and express myself through creative practice. I placed this artifact among the other
paintings on the wall above my desk to remind me that to explore, I must create, which means
giving myself time to continue my artistic pursuits outside of the dance studio.
Despite how busy it is, my life on campus teaches me new things every day. Simply
stepping into a friends dorm to say hello often gives rise to fruitful conversations and
discussions, especially since I live in honors housing, which surrounds me with thoughtful,
intellectual UHP members. However, the most important skill Ive learned so far, is how to be
independent. Specifically, the structure of my dance classes has forced me to discipline myself.
My professors care about the students, they help and direct us, but they expect us to apply
corrections and improve independently. At my high school dance studio, teachers seemed to be
more finicky and coddling when teaching, but here, I know it is up to me to propel my own
progress. I had been exposed to this type of learning in previous years, but now I am surrounded
by it. In each of my classes I am expected to pull my own weight in the learning process; to

know how to teach myself. I have learned how to apply this skill to the classroom and my everyday life.
Once I internalized this new learning structure, I realized that I will only benefit from my
time in college if I am committed to putting effort into each learning experience. In essence, I
will get out what I put into each class, event, and college itself. My literacy narrative from
UWRT 1103, artifact one, illustrates this attitude in a long term setting. By comparing my dance
and social abilities to the awkward fledgling dancer I was in my narrative, one can see that my
hard-working, diligent character only continues to grow in a university atmosphere. This artifact
shows that I am not afraid to take risks in my artistic and academic pursuits, something that is
key in giving commitment and effort to my college experience.
Artifact one also represents the transition to the new learning styles Ive had to embrace
in college. This assignment in particular was my first experience moving away from the overly
academic tone that is desired in high-school level writing. Professor Campbell encouraged us to
break away from the standard report-based writing we were pushed toward in our previous
schooling. This essay helped me realize that I have more control over my education now. I am
encouraged to engage my many audiences and communities in creative ways. Artifact one shows
my embracing of creative expression in my academics, rather than the cookie-cutter approach
to learning I was previously subjected to.
Overall, these artifacts demonstrate my growth during the transition from teenager to
adult. They show how my skills have evolved as I progress through college. Even though Ive
almost completed my first semester here, I know I still have so much to learn about myself, this
university, and my place in the world. My mindset is constantly evolving and changing due to
this new and stimulating environment. Looking back on my artifacts and how Ive changed

during my first semester, I can only ask myself how different I will be at the end of my time at
UNC-Charlotte.