Running head: HONORS REFLECTIVE PAPER

Honors Reflective Paper

Rachel Belack
Kent State University

HONORS REFLECTIVE PAPER

Choosing to attend Kent State University was one of the best decisions of my life.
Preparing for this portfolio was such a nostalgic, bittersweet feeling as the memories over the
past few years of my life began rushing back. Before you step foot on campus as a freshman
student, everyone always tells you that college will be some of the best years of your life. I dont
think this clich really hits soon to be alumnae until they are staring down graduation directly in
the face, realizing that their entire life is about to change yet again. Its funny the way your
perception of college changes yearly once you are immersed into the student culture. Entering
the collegiate world of young adults, I was more excited for the adventure than anything even
with the cloud of uncertainty always looming above; uncertain of what the future held, who my
friends would be, what my calling in life was, and how I was going to get there. As the years
progressed, all feelings of doubt and uncertainty washed away as I became fully comfortable
with my new lifestyle at Kent State by creating my own personal niche. I loved the new people I
met and made lifelong friendships that have impacted my personal development forever. I also
fell in love with my area of study as a communications student and knew that I picked the right
major to pursue. There was a time in my life where I never wanted to leave Kent State and the
mere thought of moving away was so distasteful to me. The work and effort I made to immerse
myself completely into the culture of Kent State University was something I took pride in and
was not an experience I was willing to let go. I legitimately never wanted to leave, although I
kept persistently working towards the goal of preparing myself to graduate and getting a job
outside of the college bubble. That was until the fear of my impending future hit me and I was
paralyzed without knowing the exact next step of my future. Being a stringent Type A
personality, I work very well on a well-known itinerary and course of events. Im productive
under pressure, but ambiguity is not something I handle with grace. Although I see change in my

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life as a new challenge, I dont like not knowing what that change is and just going with the
flow. The fear began to set in and my once joyous adventure through my college career turned
into a crippling stumbling block. I needed to be removed from my current surroundings to
destress and work out a realistic plan before I could again work on my future proceedings at
school. After a yearlong hiatus at home that required much soul searing and reassurance, I
returned to Kent State this past semester to complete my academic requirements to graduate in
the Spring 2016. I can now honestly say that for the first time in my life I am excited for my path
after college life and am ready to begin that next adventure.
I became a member of the Kent State Honors college at the beginning of my sophomore
year. After completing one year of college and doing very well for myself as a freshman by making
the Deans list, I decided that I should pursue an academic avenue that would provide an additional
challenging aspect to my coursework. Discovering that I was able to manage not only college level
classes but also ones at an honors level standard was a very enriching experience. I thrive with a
new challenge and being able to push myself to achieve the next goal I set my eyes on. I believe
that true personal growth and development cannot be attained without getting out of your comfort
zone first. Although that doesnt always mean one will be successful in their first attempt, the
proceedings from beginning to end are just as important as the final outcome. Making mistakes is
a natural part of life, but how one chooses to respond to them is the true test of ones character.
Deciding to learn lessons from your shortcomings is what will prove to be truly beneficial in your
future, for that is how people attain wisdom from their experiences. The goals and values of the
Honors College overview many different aspects offered to students within their time as a student
of Kent State University. They provide opportunities for learning experiences through both
academic courses and outside experiences. The goals are: campus and community service,

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academic excellence, global awareness, appreciation of cultural events, and personal growth and
development. The artifacts I chose for the purposes of this portfolio portray some of the best
experiences I had throughout my college career. I can attribute how I define myself as an individual
today to the way I grew as a young adult during my time as a student at Kent State. Each aspect
contributed to my self-identity in a different way. Reflecting back, I dont regret the hard work,
sleepless nights, and occasional tears that resulted as a product of achieving everything I wanted
to such as getting great grades and memberships in various campus organizations. The benefits
that each of those experiences brought about overshadows the overwhelming stress and anxiety I
had to endure. I was grateful to be blessed with loving friends, breathless laughter, tears of joy,
successful grades, and lifelong memories that make all of those hard moments utterly worth it. The
experience of being a Kent State student is worth every doubt or worry one might face, because
with perseverance, dedication, and self-confidence you will make it to the stage on graduation day,
which is exactly what I am going to do next.
My journey in deciding exactly what I wanted my major and minor to be was definitely
not a straight shot to success. As a high school student, I didnt know the route I pictured for my
educational path, but I did have an idealized view of what I wanted to be as an adult after
college. I pictured myself as a successful business woman who spent her time climbing the
corporate ladder of success. However, I had absolutely no idea of how I was going to reach that
goal of entering the business world or what area of study would best suit that dream. All I knew
is that going to college was the necessary subsequent step from graduating high school. One of
my natural talents is being very good with talking to people which is something I wanted to
capitalize on throughout my academic studies. That is the main reason in which I initially
identified with communication studies. I also knew that I wanted to enter the business world, so

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I minored within the school of business as well. It took me three years to decide on the perfect
combination of a communication major concentration and business minor. During the spring
semester of my junior year, I finally discovered the ideal combination for me which is how I
came to be a major in Organizational Communication with a minor in Business Management.
Although finding the path for my academic career wasnt an immediate occurrence like a light
switch turning on one day, I became completely reassured that communications was where I
could make my impact in the world and how I would become successful as a student. It was a
gradual process throughout my underclassman years of college where I grew into the
comfortability that Taylor Hall is where I would develop the skills and knowledges in my life
that would best prepare me to be a successful professional in the workplace post-graduation.
Like any other student, there were obviously some classes that I enjoyed more than
others. The projects that I chose to feature within this portfolio are some of my best works and
are each from different years and courses of study. The first project I chose was from my
sophomore year of college and was a final presentation for the course Communication Theory.
For this final, I had to choose a communication theory of my choice and find a video clip that
corresponded with the theory and apply its key concepts to it. I chose the cognitive dissonance
theory, because I believe everyone can apply its aspects to a situation in their life. An example
of this would be someone knowing they have a genetic predisposition to diabetes, but they
continue a lifestyle of not exercising or eating healthy foods. I thought this was an interesting
theory to learn more about, because it is a phenomenon that affects peoples daily lives. I didnt
know exactly what video clip to choose for this theory when it was assigned to the class, but I
stumbled across a great example of it when I was watching my weekly episode of Greys
Anatomy. This was one of the most fun projects I completed as an undergraduate student,

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because I was able to share clips of my favorite show with the class and effectively apply the
cognitive dissonance theory to it. This shows that I am capable of applying new concepts to
applicable real life situations which is a valuable asset in the business world.
The next project I selected was from my senior year and was for a course called
Organizational Communication. I was required to make an informational brochure on my
selected career, an Operations Manager, that I wanted to purse post-graduation. The brochure
needed to be aesthetically pleasing and cohesive, include a job title and description, outline
necessary traits and qualities needed to be successful in the position, and detail a variety of
responsibilities and duties, list annual salaries, projected employment growth, and education
qualifications. Although this was an assignment required for class, I am grateful for having done
this because it forced me to do research on my career field and I became more educated on
becoming an operations manager for a health care or pharmaceutical company than I ever was
previously. With graduation right around the corner, I have been very motivated in searching for
positions within this business sector which has been a tough journey of trying to align my
personal strengths, passion, and skills with an optimal career choice.
The last project I choice to display is from my junior year and was for a course called
Information Fluency in the Workplace and Beyond. For this project, I had to select a topic to
use as the basis for a real world workplace scenario and develop a research question around it.
The topic I chose to research was how to have a healthy physical, mental, and emotional
lifestyle in college, because this was a concept that directly pertained to both myself and my
peers. This project shows that I am able to identify relevant and important topics that pertain to
specific groups and try to construct solutions to meet the needs of the target audience. Since my

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designated career outlook is to enter the public health sector, I think this project pairs well with
my personal and professional interest in mental, physical, and emotional health.
During my first semester of college in Fall 2012, I was selected to participate in Kent
States annual public speaking competition called the Hyde Park Forum which would take place
in the Spring 2013 semester. I was nominated by my Introduction to Communications professor,
Ms. Dani Bernat, who also served as my speech coach for the competition. It was the first
experience that allowed me the opportunity to overcome my fear of speaking in front of large
audiences. On April 11, 2012, I gave my speech titled Hope for Africas Future Through
Education which was inspired by a mission trip I went on the summer after I graduated high
school. I embarked on a two-week mission trip to Nairobi, Kenya where I volunteered at a slum
school in Mathare, which is the second largest slum in the country. It impacted my heart in more
ways than I can count, which is why I chose to share this particular topic with the audience of over
one-thousand people which included my family, friends, and Kent State staff and peers. I was
awarded first place at the competition which included getting my name engraved on the Hyde Park
Forum trophy that is displayed in Taylor Hall as well as an educational scholarship. Not only did
I win first place, but more importantly I was able to share with the audience one of my biggest
passions and convey the importance of providing education for underprivileged children which is
their only hope to escape poverty. My hope is to go back to Kenya and revisit the school that I
volunteered at five years ago now that I have completed my college degree. This experience is
what encouraged me in my ability to overcome the fear and anxiety of putting myself in front of
other audiences, big or small, and speaking from the heart. This is a skill that will come to great
use within the workplace and I plan on using it to my full advantage in my future career.

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I was fortunate enough to be selected as a Resident Assistant for my sophomore and junior
years of college. Not only did it provide a great financial relief by providing for a room on campus
and a meal plan, but it also gave me the opportunity to greatly refine my leadership skills which is
something you cant put a price tag on. I attribute the efficient leader I am today to the training,
lessons, and life experiences I had while I was an RA. My first year, I was in Lake Hall which was
an all-freshman residence hall of over 400 students. I personally was in charge of two floors
comprised of sixty female residents. The following year, I was hired for Koonce Hall which again
was the floor mother for sixty young women but was a mixture of freshmen, sophomores, and
some juniors. I try to live life by doing whatever task I undertake to the fullest of my capability. I
knew what it took to be a decent or even a good RA, which basically meant fulfilling all of the
necessary requirements outlined by our supervisors. However, I wanted to become a great RA that
also developed relationships with my residents. I wanted this experience to be than a job and
contribute to my personal lifestyle as a student leader. The process of becoming an RA I could be
proud of was initially an overwhelming experience. There is a lot of paperwork and many legalities
to understand and fulfill for the necessary requirements of the job to be met. Some of the
responsibilities I had to complete RCRs of the rooms with each resident which was an overview
of the conditions before they moved in, schedule meetings with the girls, communicate with them
through various avenues such as posters, door-swipes and emails, plan community events and large
programs for the residence hall, and perform community hours in which I would be available in
my room during set times. I also liked to decorate my halls with posters, pictures, and banners to
give it a more welcoming feeling to my residents. Lastly, some of biggest duties involved peer
mediation and conflict management, as living with a roommate (especially as a freshman) tends to
bring about some unexpected trials and tribulations. My favorite part of being an RA was the

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friendships I developed with my fellow staff members and the girls who lived on my floor. These
particular students became an integrated part of my college career and I still make plans to see
them and interact with them today. Whats also an interesting outcome from my own experience
as a Resident Assistant, is that by baby sister became an RA at Kent State when she was a
sophomore and is about to finish her second year as a junior and my little brother (who will be a
freshman this coming fall of 2016) also has desires to become an RA as well. I guess my parents
did well with raising three very motivated and dedicated student leaders!
While I lived on campus, I became eligible to join the National Residence Hall Honorary
(NRHH) which is an organization on campus that represents the top 1% of residence hall students.
It is a leadership-based honorary that values recognition and community service both on campus
and in the community. I joined NRHH because I was already a student leader in the RA position
and it closely aligned with the ideals of Residence Services which I was already accustomed to. I
also qualified with my GPA so I found it to be another way I could get involved on campus, become
a member of a prestigious organization, and foster my pursuance of doing well in my coursework.
Therefore, I applied to be a member and was inducted into NRHH the fall semester of my
sophomore year of college. I very much enjoyed my time as an active member, because it allowed
me to get more involved with programming efforts for students. As an RA, I already had the
opportunity to program for my residents, but NRHH allowed be help program for larger scale
events across campus. I also was able to help recognize the efforts of other student leaders on
campus with Of The Month awards which was my favorite part of our meetings.
I found myself surprised by each new step I took in college including getting involved in
more organizations than I even knew existed beforehand. However, nothing surprised myself or
friends and family more than when I decided to go through sorority recruitment at the beginning

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of my junior year. Joining a sorority was never something I had considered before, even when I
came to Kent as a freshman. I had been exposed to many of the bad stereotypes of the Greek
community that I had seen from social media and various movies. Once I came to know some
girls who were in different sororities at Kent State I learned that those stereotypes werent valid,
and these students were just as motivated students and leaders on campus as I was. The idea of
becoming a part of this sought after community became more appealing to me as I finished my
first two years of college. I ended up going through recruitment in the fall of 2013 and joined
Alpha Xi Delta which was my number one sorority of choice. I loved their mission statement,
which is to inspire women to release their potential. This is an organization that is dedicated to
the personal growth of women and exemplifies four ideals of our Fraternity which are sisterhood,
leadership, knowledge, and service. Becoming a sister of Alpha Xi Delta was one of the most
amazing experiences I had as an undergraduate student. It gave me the opportunity to become
more involved on campus, raise money for various nonprofit and charity organizations, and
developed friendships with other amazing women. I had some of the most fun times as an active
member of this sorority and am so thankful I made the decision to join the Greek Community,
even at a later time during my collegiate years. I was also elected to an elective board position
which was called the Alumnae Chair. In this position, I was in charge of keeping an updated
list of alumni members, organizing chapter events for Homecoming and Founders Day, and
developing quarterly newsletters. Although I became an Alumnae of AXiD when I took my
break from school, my sorority will always have a special place in my heart.
While I was at home in Pittsburgh between my junior and senior years, I decided to work
at Starbucks full time to give me something constructive to do. The companys mission
statement also revolves around inspiring other people by one cup and one neighborhood at a

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time. I feel that Starbucks aligns well with the basic ideals of Kent State by striving to achieve
excellence in their particular field. This job contributed to my personal growth in giving me
customer service experience and getting me accustomed to the traditional full-time work hours. I
have always been a quick learner, so I was able to adapt to new situations of being a quick
problem solver, learning how to multitask in the service industry and overcome apprehension
with learning new specialized skills such as making hand crafted beverages. On a personal level
as well, I met my boyfriend Brad one day when he came into Starbucks to get a cup of coffee
before work. He has been one of my biggest supporters of me going back to Kent State and
finishing school so that I can move on to the next chapter of my life. Although leaving school for
a year was not an ideal situation, I am more thankful than ever that I was able to return to Kent
with the unexpected outcome of having a relationship with such a loving and wonderful man.
Kent State University has given me more in life than I ever though was possible in a
college career experience. I have thrived and crashed, then laughed and cried throughout my
years, but I am happy with the individual I have become in the end. Transforming from a
teenager to a young adult in their early twenties is nothing short of a life changing experience.
Although I hold the same morals and ideals that I had when I began college as a freshman, I am
definitely not the person I once was. I am a better version of myself which is the only thing I
could have asked for during my time at college besides obtaining my degree at the end of my
academic career. My biggest advice to freshmen would be to focus as much as they need to on
their academies to become successful, but then spend equally as much time in getting involved
with extracurricular activities and organizations on campus and in the community. These are the
out of classroom experiences that will allow an individual to grow in their personal development.
I now can agree with all my collegiate predecessors on the idea that college has been some of the

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best years of my life. As a confident young-woman, I am now ready to graduate from Kent State
University, move to a different city, accept a job, and start my life as a successful professional in
my new career. Im forever reassured and encouraged that adventure is out there wherever I
go; I just have to find the next adventure I want to embark on.