Learning and planning for Honors
Lizzy Williams
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: Opinions
When I get stressed out, I like to plan out my life. Course by course. For the next four years. Slightly obsessive? Yes. Yet somehow it relieves my worry and allows me to focus on the matter at hand - be it readings, papers, or problems. And I love when I can spend time on those things because I am lucky enough to be taking classes that suit my fancies.
My whole life I have looked forward to college, a time where I felt I would be able to pursue all of my interests and not have to spend time on things that did not interest me. Smith doesn't have core requirements, and that is such a beautiful thing, because it allows students to not be stuck in classes that they have no interest in, or in a class that keeps them from taking something they're drawn to.
In my book, high school was the time where I was forced to take certain subjects, and I am thankful for that broad spectrum of knowledge. Now I feel ever so privileged to be at a school where I am allowed to take whatever classes I want to. At Smith I am able to develop a deep knowledge of those subjects that I already possess a shallow knowledge.
Everyone I meet at Smith is so excited to learn and feels privileged to not be forced into subjects. And everyone I know at another college salivates with jealousy that while they are stuck in English I, Biology I and Calculus, I get to enjoy Archaeology, Ghost Stories, and the History of Central Africa. I consider myself lucky: every day I get to take classes in varied disciplines while also focusing on certain issues that have interested me for my whole life.
I think that Latin Honors is not distracting for students. We all posses the ability to focus and work hard, and we all have subjects we prefer. The wonderful thing about Latin Honors is that it allows students to see the subjects they like from different angles. Smith offers so many different classes, and many count for different aspects of the requirement, which is freeing again in the sense that we are allowed to create ourselves as well-rounded women, but also as women with specific detailed conceptual ideas.
My whole life I have looked forward to college, a time where I felt I would be able to pursue all of my interests and not have to spend time on things that did not interest me. Smith doesn't have core requirements, and that is such a beautiful thing, because it allows students to not be stuck in classes that they have no interest in, or in a class that keeps them from taking something they're drawn to.
In my book, high school was the time where I was forced to take certain subjects, and I am thankful for that broad spectrum of knowledge. Now I feel ever so privileged to be at a school where I am allowed to take whatever classes I want to. At Smith I am able to develop a deep knowledge of those subjects that I already possess a shallow knowledge.
Everyone I meet at Smith is so excited to learn and feels privileged to not be forced into subjects. And everyone I know at another college salivates with jealousy that while they are stuck in English I, Biology I and Calculus, I get to enjoy Archaeology, Ghost Stories, and the History of Central Africa. I consider myself lucky: every day I get to take classes in varied disciplines while also focusing on certain issues that have interested me for my whole life.
I think that Latin Honors is not distracting for students. We all posses the ability to focus and work hard, and we all have subjects we prefer. The wonderful thing about Latin Honors is that it allows students to see the subjects they like from different angles. Smith offers so many different classes, and many count for different aspects of the requirement, which is freeing again in the sense that we are allowed to create ourselves as well-rounded women, but also as women with specific detailed conceptual ideas.
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