Personal Development Project (PDP)
The Personal Development Project is a project I have completed over the course of my first semester at Central for my Honors100 class as a part of the Centralis program. This project targeted 5 major areas in which students needed to pick two activities in each that would challenge them to grow and step out of their comfort zones. These five categories included: Culturally, personally, academically, and through service and participating in the honors community. This project encouraged me to reflect on what ways I wanted to grow, but also encouraged me to get involved and explore different programs on campus that I may not have done otherwise.
Cultural:
Australian Pen Pal
This past summer I traveled abroad with my high school Spanish program to Peru. Here we stayed with host families and explored the culture of the country. My host mom’s children had grown up and moved on, so she rented out different rooms of her home to study abroad students. On my floor of the house there was a girl from Australia that only overlapped my trip by one night, so I got very limited time with her. We sat up that one night and talked about where we were from and what life was like for each of us and I went to bed that night with extreme wonder and excitement of not only Maddie’s life, but just cultures across the world in general. I was super disappointed that I wouldn’t get the opportunity to sit down and talk with Maddie again, but luckily we had followed each other on Instagram. When I heard about this project I knew that I wanted to reach out to Maddie and really get to know her, and her life in Australia more. This was really a step out of my comfort zone because I never would have reached out to her and ask her to continue conversations further because I really only had one interaction with her. We decided we would pen pal and send letters back and forth about our lives and cultures we grew up in. I sent some American money and Michigan ornament and pins to give her something tangible in my package. I really learned a lot about my own culture through doing this and just how unique where I come from really is. Explaining how Michigan people use their hand as map was something I never would have thought I’d need to explain to someone. It seems like such common knowledge. This little fact, though, made me realize we do live in a bubble to some extent. I know so little about the world. It is overwhelming how much there is to know and learn about others. Since Maddie lives across the globe I haven’t received her package back yet because she was actually away from home traveling in Europe. Her mail to me is still on the way, but she was able to share a little bit of what is in the letter with me over social media (for PDP sake).
She explained some common “stereotypes” Americans have about Australia. For example, she used the analogy of how often we see deer in Michigan, and our interaction with them, to what seeing a Kangaroo is like in her part of Australia. She also explained that “Shrimp on the barbie” is completely incorrect and came from an American piece of film, and now Australians use it to make fun of American ignorance 🙂
Something I found interesting is just how much she knew about the United States political system. Typically, she said, that Australians don’t like our current political leaders, but they see Americans as separate from the government who are representing our country.
I am so excited to receive her mail and get to continue conversations with her because of the PDP I know this is the start of a great connection. I also hope to one day study abroad in Australia and hopefully be able to meet up with her. This PDP holds a lot of meaning to me because there is only so much you can learn about a country when reading a textbook, or taking a class. I feel like my interactions with Maddie have been an experience of deep learning and global connections. I can’t wait to continue to have these opportunities through the Honors Program and study abroad.
Daca Rally
There was a DACA rally on campus that I attended very last minute when the day before I had saw some sidewalk chalk about the event. I truly didn’t know much about DACA before coming to college, until I took the Honors seminar of Global Cultures. After talking about what DACA is in class I became more informed on what it was, but I really didn’t have an opinion on it yet. The only things I really knew about immigration issues were the things that my parents told me. I decided I wanted to go to this event because it would be a great chance to really immerse myself in what I was learning and be able to make my own decisions on the issue. Until college I really just adopted my parents’ believes on how immigration should be viewed and handled rather than taking my own stand and perspective on it. I wanted to challenge myself to start to see DACA and immigration through the lens I never heard much about because I never grew up in a family that really discussed the other side; this is what the DACA rally allowed me to do. I believe that these rally would fit perfectly into this cultural section as immigration is cultures all interacting together-which can be both positive and negative.
There were representatives from many RSOs on campus representing different cultures to name a few: Asian, Latino, Women in Power, and Black Lives Matter. A few of these organizations spoke about what exactly DACA is and what it would mean if DACA was cancelled as Trump’s administration plans to do. There was also a local women who had saw online about the event and wanted to come show her support. She was an immigrant herself and spoke a lot about her experience about being an immigrant and all the dangers she faced trying to get here and how she lived in fear for so long. She didn’t come to the US to harm anyone, take away jobs from Americans, or hinder anyone in anyway like sometimes people accuse immigrants of-she simply had the American Dream. Since when did we stop believing that the American Dream still exists? It may not be real for us anymore as we live a life of constant freedom and privilege, but there are so many others out there that dream of this life style.
It was also talked about that there is an extreme stereotype that immigrants only come from Mexico, when in actuality there are people from all over the world seeking a better life in the United States. During the rally we all joined hands and chanted “Support, Not Deport” as people walked by. It was really powerful to see people drop all their belongs to come join the chain and chant with us. I think an important take away from the rally is that we need to be more aware to what is happening around us, and proactive about sticking up for what we believe in. Educating yourself on everything happening around the world and how individuals and families are being influenced is essential to avoid the ignorance that we all seem to fall to.
Through the Global Cultures class and being able to attend and reflect on this event, I really have been able to see immigration is a different light. No longer will I accept my parents logic for not supporting so many immigrants coming to our country, instead I will embrace the fact I believe we need to support DACA to keep these “dreamers” in our country as they have become such an important part of us. They are our neighbors, friends, classmates, and workforce. They are Americans. I do understand that many people living here did come here illegally because they never went through the proper procedure to enter or become a citizen of our country, but consider the process. If we don’t want people coming here illegally we need consider why they resort to that option. The process to become a citizen in the United States in nearly impossible; I know I couldn’t pass it if I needed to. There is so much privilege in being born in this country that is not even earned that so many people work so hard to have. I really realized how fortunate I am to have a life here, but now understand that so many others are working so hard for these same opportunities that I think we should be embracing more.
Personal:
No Phone Week
As a generation I think we have become super reliant on our phones. Hanging in our dorm hall is a sign that say “double check, do you have your: ID? phone? keys?” Our phones have become such a necessities as much as our IDs. It’s amazing to me how much we rely on our phones: to research information, avoid awkward situations, to keep in touch with old friends, etc. I know I personally am way too connected to my phone. It is such a distraction to me; I will constantly find myself scrolling through Twitter or Instagram out of habit in the middle of trying to do homework. I also tend to walk to class with my phone in my hands and avoid making eye contact with people I pass on the street. When did this become such a norm in society? I decided that no phone for a week would be a big challenge for my just because of the reliance I have on my phone as well as society’s reliance on phones. I think it would be so much easier if the people you were constantly surrounded by didn’t have phones on them, but being the only one who didn’t made it very challenging. I left my phone with my roommate every day and she would bring it to class with her to ensure that I didn’t have access to it. I noticed throughout the week just how much my phone impacted my day to day life. When I walked to class I had nothing to do except actually pay attention to what was happening around me. I noticed just how many people did exactly what I did: walked down the street starring down at their phone down in their hands. I would count how many people made eye contact with me and from one building to another it tended to be about 5-7 people. I feel like this could be a huge reason why there is such a huge disconnect between people lately; we don’t take the time to acknowledge and connect with each other as we absorbed in another world.
I also noticed that without having my phone I tended to eat alone a lot. The people I typically eat with all text each other to determine where and when they were meeting to eat, which left me out. When eating alone I also didn’t have a phone or anything to use as some sort of comfort to deter the fact that I was sitting by myself in the cafeteria (which I quickly realized is no big deal).
In class and while studying I didn’t have my phone to listen to music which usually helps me focus, so that was a bigger challenge than I thought it would be. I never noticed how much I needed to filter the noise out around me to be able to really zone in on what I was doing.
This no phone week was an absolute personal, learning experience for me. Even though the beginning of the week was very uncomfortable without having my phone on me at all times, it felt refreshing by the end of the week. I want to try to leave my phone behind more often just to disconnect and create some distance from myself and that digital world that has become such a huge part of our lives.
For verification please reach out to Rebecca Mesaeh at mesae1rj@cmich.edu
Feedback Emails
As a part of the personal growth aspect of this project I decided to send about 15 “feedback” emails that have seen me in various aspects of my life. Some of these aspects included in leadership roles, in the classroom, in friendships, and so on. I asked those that I sent emails to to respond with three strengths and three weaknesses of mine. I think it is important, obviously, to learn what others see as your weaknesses in order to improve in those areas that those around you see as your weakest point. The strengths though I think are just as important, especially after this feedback. Some of the things people responded as to be my strongest attributes are things I would have never described myself as before. I think it is important to recognize these because once you 
notice strengths you never knew you had, you can use them to your benefit.
I am not going to share all fifteen emails of strengths and weaknesses, but share the ones that got me thinking the most.
The first was from Patty. I work on staff at a Leadership Camp for high school students and this year I was placed on A-team at camp. Patty was the captain of A-team and was essentially my “boss” for the week. Ever since we have become really good friends and I figured she would be an awesome person to reach out to for feedback.
For a weakness she pointed out a very specific point at camp when our A-team was getting off track during a task I was trying to get everyone to concentrate on. In this moment no one was really paying attention to me so after trying to reel them back in once more and it didn’t work I shut down a little bit. She had noted that in moments like these she wished I would have asserted myself a little more and owned the position I was in. This really stuck out to me because I know for a fact that I constantly shut myself out in moments I don’t feel heard or acknowledge in a group setting. I know this is something I can work on in leadership roles and in the classroom. I never knew that other people noticed this about me so I’m glad Patty decided to mention it.
I also set an email to a past teacher of mine, Mr. Zoli. He had wrote as a weaknesses that I was stubborn and put a specific example that when I was put into a different section of a class with a new teacher I became really stubborn about the course and assignments because I didn’t click with this new teacher. There are so many moments when I let a bad 
attitude about someone or something get in the way of what is really important. I need to remember to set the bad things aside and really embrace the good in situations more. Your attitude determines the outcome; I want to work on my attitude in negative situations.
My friend, Anna, who has seen me in friendships, leadership roles, and academic settings had wrote that I was a very closed off person as a negative. I know that I put up a lot of walls with people, but I never knew other people noticed this as well. I think this wall often prevents me from connecting with others which is the last thing I want. I want to consciously work on being more open and embracing the people in my life who really give me their heart and soul in our friendships. It shouldn’t be such a one way street, like I have made many.
As for positives I received an email from Vitale, also a past teacher of mine. She had wrote that I am adventurous. This took me by surprise because I really think I am often too hesitant to step out of my comfort zone to really immerse myself in something new. She provided a few examples of moments she has seen me be adventurous that I never would have thought twice about. This feedback really made me want to embrace this trait even more.
The list of feedback I received goes on and on, but these ones stuck out most to me and are ones I know I can really work on most and could contribute to making a better version of myself. Some of these feedbacks were ones that really opened my eyes that other people do notice about me that I thought they didn’t which solidified the weaknesses I had already saw in myself and made me want to begin working on them. Ithink not only applying the feedback that was given, but also becoming more comfortable with asking for constructive criticism were both learning experiences in order to stretch myself personally.
Academic:
Drop Everything and Read
Program Board here at Central put on an event called Drop Everything and Read, which has been a nationwide initiative in schools to encourages students to take time to read. It was hosted one week day for a few hours in the University Center. It was open to all and people were encouraged to come, bring pillows, blankets, and a book.
I decided this would be a great way to personally challenge myself, but to also get involved at the university. I am someone who loves to read, but it always seems to get cutfrom my schedule during the school year as my priorities begin to shift to academic readings and homework. It also challenged me to take some time out of the school day to do something I enjoyed and take time for myself. It seems like Monday through Friday I don’t take the time to do anything thats not school related or some extra-circular obligation. I was challenged to slow down and abandon that to-do list for a few hours and do something for myself. It also was a great way to attended a university event that I haven’t yet really interacted with.
When I went to the event I went and laid down on the ground of the UC with a book I have been wanting to read, a blanket, and a coffee. When I first sat down I really struggled to focus and turn off my lingering thoughts. I was distracted by every person that walked by and kept looking up to see who it was and what they were doing. I was also distracted by my own thoughts. I couldn’t stop thinking of the class I had to attend after, the homework and meeting I had that evening, and everything I had to accomplish for the week. It took me about twenty minutes before I was finally able to start tuning out the distractions around me and really dive into my reading and turn off my thoughts.
Usually at this time I go in my room and take a nap between two of my classes because I always seem to be so exhausted, but after reading this day I seemed to be more awake just simply from reading then I usually am after my nap. I feel like this time really gave me a chance to disconnect from reality and really dive into a new world, or book in this case. I realized I don’t take time during the week to unwind nearly as much as I should. I want to replace the time I usually take a nap on Tuesdays and Thursdays and instead do something that gives me an escape and chance to destress. I also realized how distracting
my thoughts are in my daily life. I don’t take the time to be present because my thoughts, and the actions of others consume my mind. I need to be more conscious of these moments and take a step back and turn off those thoughts and focus my energy in the moment.
I was able to use this opportunity to engage intellectually with a new program the university was offering while challenging myself to take time to put the to-do list on the back burner. My college experience should be much more balanced between school work and “me time” which I noticed the imbalance in this campus wide event.
Spring Awakening
I decided last minute to go see Spring Awakening as a PDP, but I did not realize how much of a stretch and challenge it would actually be for me. I am the type of person who will text fifteen people asking them to go do something with me, rather than just going by myself. I decided for Spring Awakening to not ask anyone else to come with me, and not find out if there are already people going. This was super uncomfortable for me and I started to realize how much I rely on other people and base what I want to do on what others are doing. Typically I would not have gone to see the musical if I couldn’t find anyone else to come with me…I would have really missed out if that was the case here.
I went to the play, arrived early as I usually do, and found my seat next to a group of girls that had all come together. While waiting for the play to start I felt awkward just sitting alone at the end of their row as they all talked together and I had no one. I wrote previously in my “no phone week challenge” that these are the kinds of weird situations where I would turn to my phone to escape the uncomfortable situation and use it as a distraction. I made sure, for this reason, to turn off my phone when I got into the theatre and put it in my purse on the floor. This forced me to really be present and be okay with being by myself in a large group of people.
I am not someone who knows much about plays/musicals, and I don’t usually get to excited over them,
but I walked out of Spring Awakening and had loved it. I usually ask the person next to me a million questions throughout the course of a movie or performance, but I didn’t have this option. I was forced to make my own interpretations, opinions, and feelings towards what was going on, which I realized I don’t often get to do. I feel like being alone gave me the head space I needed to think for myself.
The musical itself had me reflecting a lot, and when I was able to dive past the whole “sexual awakening” aspect of the play, I realize it was very relatable to this time in my life. The characters are all starting to come age and the main character specifically struggles to figure out what this all means for her. She is beginning to realize that nothing is going to be as it used to, and that she really isn’t a child anymore. Coming to college I have felt this same struggle in my own ways. I am starting to realize that my life will really never be the same. My home in Macomb will never be the home I used to know and that has been a very hard realization for me to come to terms with.
Overall, I really enjoyed not only the play, but the experience of going by myself as well. It allowed me to reelect on the messages I was feeling from the play and really be able to relate them to my own life. I definitely want to take more opportunities to spend some time by myself doing the things I am interested in, instead of always feeling a pressure to have to be with others.
Honors:
Issues day
Issues Day was a super awesome event that a group of honors students went to together. I decided this would be a great event to attend with the honors community because I feel like I am very uniformed with many social justice issues, while many other students in the honors community are passionate about many of these issues. Although we eventually got split up because we all attended different break out sessions it was awesome to see what issues everyone choose and why they were either passionate about them or what made them want to learn more about the topic. Issues day in itself is a mini-conference with breakout sessions addressing different social justice issues that are taking place in our society today.
We were able to pick two break-out sessions to attend and I decided on the David Garcia Project which is an interactive presentation that allows the attendees to participate in different activities that stimulate what it would be like to have different disabilities. The second break out session I decided to attend was one about Child Advocacy that was put on by the Children’s Discovery Museum here in Mount Pleasant.
There was an opening speech that was done by a professor here at the university that really emphasized how we see the world through our own perspective. He challenged us to go through the different break out sessions of the day and really be open to the presenters perspective.
During the first session of David Garcia we did three different activities. The first was to show the challenges of Dyslexia. It was super frustrating to try to be able to read the paper they gave us, but even more so I could’t comprehend it because I was too focused on simply trying to read the words. I halfway through the paper could feel myself wanting to give up which I think is what a lot of students really experience. The second activity we were all blindfolded and could not speak. We were assigned a number and the group had to get in number order without speaking or seeing. This activity really made me uncomfortable. I really just stood there because I had no idea what to do and I got super self conscious and wondered where everyone was in relation to me. I felt like I was isolated and that the ones in the room who could see were staring at me because I had no idea what I was doing. I want to be more conscious of this in real life and make more inclusive environments because I couldn’t imagine having that constant insecurity. The final activity we had togo through the Starbucks line, into the elevator and back to the presentation room in a wheel chair. When I was getting into the elevator my wheel chair accidentally pressed the button to call 911. I felt so embarrassed, but this is a real struggle that people in wheelchairs ever day. Elevators are meant for those who aren’t abled body enough to use the stairs- yet the elevator was so small I could hardly get in there without pressing an emergency button. I think that goes to show just how much wheel chair accessibility can be improved.
The David Garcia Project made me really be able to empathize with those with various disabilities and really taking a second to feel the struggles that they do everyday.
The second session I went to was about Child’s Advocacy and just how much kids, specifically in Mount Pleasant, are struggling. There is so much poverty that many kids can’t afford to go learn at places like the Discovery Museum, or buy books to practice reading. In fact, Michigan has the absolute worst rate of all 50 states of children being able to read. They mentioned in this presentation that there may be a law going into place that if by third grade kids aren’t at a third grade reading level they will be held back. I really don’t know what my opinion is on this. Part of me believes if students take them time to slow down and catch up with their reading skills they will be more successful later. I also believe that not every child develops at the same rate in every subject so this could be unfair. It might also frustration kids because they have to leave all their friends behind and cause negative feelings towards school and reading.
I loved learning about the Discovery Museum and how they work to advocate for children, so much so that I submit an application to become a volunteer.
This event really caused me to reflect not just on my own two sessions I attended, but being able to talk with honors student I think created a deeper relationship between a few of us. I feel like, in general, we don’t take the time as students to really talk about things in society that matter or the causes we are passionate about. Instead we talk about classes or what we did this weekend. This event really brought up deeper conversations that I was glad I got to be a part of and really gave me a new perspective I hadn’t had before.
Phame chat
I decided to meet with Phame, the director of the Honors Program here at Central Michigan University as a way to connect more with the Honors Program, but also to gain some insight on where I was really headed, what classes I wanted to take next semester, and what I really could see myself doing.
Growing up I always wanted to be a teacher, which eventually changed to a special education teacher. My senior year of high school I became increasingly more interested in Speech Pathology instead. I felt like this was a great way to avoid the flaws that are in our education system while still getting to interact with those with disabilities. I shadowed at a facility that was a combined Speech Pathology and Occupational Therapy facility specifically for those with disabilities, and as much as I loved it I realized it wasn’t for me. I couldn’t imagine quietly sitting at a desk every day and working with a new student every half hour in a small office. I know I need more interaction and excitement in my future career.
This meant coming to Central I really had no direction or career goal which terrified me. It seems like I can find a negative side to every major or career option someone suggests to me.
Talking to Phame I explained all this to him and asked him what his suggestions might be. We talked about classes for next semester and I found a few that I am very excited about. I am taking a developmental psychology class and a family studies class that I am looking forward to. We also talked about doing a study abroad trip. One of them was Oaxaca, Mexico that seemed to be the best fit. It would give me the opportunity to go down and work in orphanages in Mexico. In addition, there is the opportunity to do some “event-planning” with the orphanage while down there. I thought this would be awesome exposure because I have been considering a communications, non-profit administration, or event-planning major/minor as well.
Phame was also able to ease my mind by saying all the different majors I was considering require relatively low credits and I could accomplish them pretty quickly. This was very relieving to me because I still feel like I want to spend time exploring what really fits my personality, and future plans. He also was able to remind me that majors and degrees aren’t as limiting as we make them out to be. So many people end up in careers that they could have never imagined with the degree they received in undergrad. He also reminded me that the important part is gaining experience in the areas I am most interested in. By exploring different volunteer opportunities, RSOs, and organizations I am gaining exposure that isn’t just academic. Eventually things will all come together and these experiences may even translate to careers. I am glad I was able to talk to Phame and be reminded that I am on the right path and things will all come together when I do find something that really ignites me.
I think Phame also sets an example of your career will be what you make of it. As a professor/director of a college program, Phame could easily just sit at a desk all day, but instead he really takes opportunities to get to know his students. Even if my life isn’t headed in a direction of higher education, I know I can make the conscious choice to play an active role in making an impact in the field I’m in.
This activity allowed me to participate in the Honors community and develop a more one on one connection with Phame and I look forward continuing to make these connections with other professors, in and outside the Honors program as well. Going to get coffee with Phame was a great way to recognize that I am on the right path and need to continue to seek experiences that interest me and stress less about what degree I will graduate with.
Service:
Mobile Food Pantry
This event was one where a group of honors student went to a local Sacred Heart Academy building to help serve citizens of the Mount Pleasant community food if they were struggling to buy groceries and put food on the table. I thought this activity would be great for me personally because I don’t come from a place of huge poverty, and I know how much of a struggle there is in Mount Pleasant just to get by. I thought this would be great to do in the service section of my PDP because just like I said there is a lot of poverty here, there is also a lot we, as students, can do to help. I knew this would be a great opportunity to expose myself to something new, while helping others.
At the event there were so many people, volunteers and community members, that it was very overwhelming at first. We checked in and got name tags then we all went out side and started packing bags of waters before the mobile pantry officially opened for community members to start walking through. After packing waters I greeted
the people who were walking through the line and put a bag of water in their cart. I then got put into another job inside where there were many different foods for people to choose from. I stood at one part of the line where people were able to pick out different types of squash and we were even handing out little decorative gourds for Thanksgiving coming up.
After the whole event was over I really began to think about what we were doing. There were about 260 families that we served that day. That meaning probably well over 1,000 individuals. When I started packing the water we packed about 6 water bottles and some sort of juice in each bag for people to grab. At the time I thought this was a decent amount, but when I really thought about it, that probably hardly lasts. If someone has a family of four or five that bag would probably only last them a day or two, let alone until the next time they were able to come to the food pantry.
I also thought about the different food choices they were given. I noticed how much of the food was microwaveable meals and different things of that sort. Then when they would come to my squash table so many people wouldn’t take one because they said they had no idea how to even cook the squash. Even when there are a few healthier options available, the less healthy option is still what people choose because it is easier and they know how to make it already.
I think it would be completely ignorant to think there is nothing we can do not only to continue to provide free food, but I think there could also be more opportunity for these people to make healthier decisions within the foods that are available to them in order to ensure they’re not just getting fed, but getting fed the nutrients their bodies need. If they can’t afford food, I am sure getting medical attention would be a struggle too. I think like the ladies commented to me they didn’t want the squash because they didn’t know how to cook it, we could be doing a better job educating these community members on ways to prepare this food to make sure they are eating better. As students we could even make little recipe books to bring to the Mobile Food Pantry in order to implement this idea.
I realized from the food pantry how it is great that we are stepping up and volunteering to help, but there is so much more we could be doing. I choose this activity to really give back to this community and see what kind of struggles people just off of campus are going through and I think this was the eye opening experience I was needing. I can play a role in making a difference these next four years while I am a part of this community. Sometimes it isn’t even just a matter of helping hand out food, but people were even excited just to see and talk to me about what I was doing at school and where I was from. There is power in being not only a helping hand, but a friend also.
Centralis
Coming to campus as a high school senior for this day a year ago I had very little expectations to receive the scholarship, and honestly very little interest in the Honors Program at the beginning of the day. After hearing Phame speak about what Honors values and provides for their students, I fell in love with the program and I knew it was a place I could fit in and grow within.
Today I was able to volunteer at the event, now as a college freshman, to be encouraging to prospective CMU Honors students and make them feel comfortable here. Walking in I saw in them the exact nerves I felt that day. Competing with 600+ students for a scholarship that I wasn’t even sure that I deserved, and being so unfamiliar with what being an Honors student really meant. It was awesome though to see the shift in mood after they listened to Phame’s presentation about honors; it was obvious many students were feeling more confident in their experience and abilities that brought them to competition day.
I was then able to talk to students after they wrote the on-site essay and hear what they wrote about and how they thought it went. It amazed me to hear the various perspective and who people decided to write about that I would never even imagine when reading the prompt. I think this goes to show how many different perspectives are represented in Honors; people of many different backgrounds, beliefs, experiences.
After the formal part of the day I was able to show Gabby around campus. We had met a few weeks back while a CVFC and BOD (Board of Delegates) meeting was going on at the same time. She had said she was interested in apply for LAS and Honors here at CMU but didn’t know a ton about either program. Being able to show her around campus and share with her what I have learned Honors and LAS to mean was really rewarding and full circle for me. She had so many questions and it was obvious that she was still so unclear of what her decision would be and I remember that moment all too perfectly. Having Vince and Courtney show me around and share their Central experiences with me when I was a high school senior made all the difference in me choosing to come to CMU. I hope that Gabby was able to feel at home here a Central, just as those I looked up to made it feel that way to me.
I am excited to see the next generation of Centralis recipients join the Honors cohort and be able to mentor them through their freshman and following years here at CMU.
Just as at our first lecture we received the papers that said “To whom much is given, much is expected” I feel like serving at this event was just that. Being able to help out, even if it is in a small way to this program that is already providing me with so many opportunities was exactly why I picked it for this section. Also seeing again how many people compete for this scholarship was humbling to remember that I am here for a reason and it is important that I consistently give back not only to the program, but also to others, such as Gabby. Being able to guide her through this time in her life, whether it means coming to Central or not is important to me because of the difference I know it creates.
Kayla Kuczynski 