YOU Belong in the Honors Program!
Story by Aspen Wooley/ Photos by Grace Heaton
At New Student Orientation (NSO), incoming BYU students learned about the Honors Program and made new friends. They also had the opportunity to ask questions to a panel of current Honors students and Honors Student Leadership Council (HSLC) members.
The two full sessions reflected the size of one of the biggest incoming classes BYU has ever had. The new students walked in with enthusiasm and a hint of uncertainty as they learned about another available opportunity. Karli, a new student from Houston, Texas, was excited to join the Honors Program, exclaiming, “it just seems so fun!” She is considering majors in a few areas including philosophy and was thrilled with the concept of being able to immerse herself in many topics at BYU. Another student, Tanner from Sacramento, California, talked about his interest in pursuing pre-med and psychology. He explained that he wants to help improve mental health in Asia and thought the Honors Program might enrich his education at BYU. Some new students came to hear about Honors for the first time, and others were encouraged by friends and family to check it out.
Does the Honors Program Make BYU Harder?
Many students asked if being involved in Honors makes the BYU experience harder, busier, or more stressful. The resounding answer was no! As our Director, Dr. Eric Dursteler said, is “not an exclusive club and everyone can join. All of you are qualified.” Participating in the Honors Program enhances the BYU experience! This interdisciplinary program is not about taking more difficult classes but about expanding the mind and thinking differently. The Honors Program allows students to explore and learn about the world through a broader approach to the undergraduate experience.
Unexpected Connections
One aim of this program is to study root problems and great questions, and to discover unexpected connections to help answer or solve those issues. During the second session, students engaged in a get-to-know-you game where large groups of students were asked to find one commonality among them, aside from attending BYU or sharing religious beliefs. Students brainstormed and discussed with their peers what tied them all together. Some of the responses were silly and some went deeper, unearthing unexpected connections quickly! Many current Honors students expressed that some of their favorite memories came from their unexpected connections classes. These classes explore topics that are not often placed together, especially when students are focused on a singular major. One class that was referenced is called “Virtue, Sex, and Politics” taught by Jennifer Haraguchi and Grant Madsen, Italian and History professors. This course, as expressed by HSLC president Tala Alnasser, was helpful in allowing her to see how different perspectives engage together. Other courses include topics such as on poverty through the lens of history and theology, music as the food of love through physical science and the arts, or strong bodies and resilient minds through biology and the social sciences, and more! You can see current and upcoming courses here on the Honors website.
Honors and Falling in Love with Life
The most common questions were about the reasoning and motivation behind joining the Honors Program and then sticking with it. The unanimous response from all the panelists was that joining Honors was the best decision they could have made! Some talked about how the interdisciplinary approach to learning allowed them to engage with different communities, develop skills, and decide on majors or career paths. Others touched on the impact they’re able to make. Participating in the Honors Program brings students into contact with people and ideas broader than their own majors or circles, providing a framework for greater opportunities. Maeser Flake explained that because of the Honors Program he developed the skills and insights to create an app to teach the Hmong language. This was a personal need he saw in the world and was able to address.
One student panelist, Suzie Lane from the Czech Republic, shared her experience in the Honors Program. She exclaimed that “it has helped me fall in love with being alive!” She was nervous at first that Honors would be too hard, but a friend explained its accessibility. Suzie was used to having smaller class sizes and so Honors classes felt familiar and more personal. Being a part of this program has helped her to see connections between different disciplines such as STEM classes and art. She could then see these patterns in everyday life, leading her to become more well-rounded.
Upcoming Events
When asked what she’s looking forward to in Honors this year Suzie mentioned the events and community. There are a lot of events to look forward to this semester! (Check out the full list here, or pick up an events bookmark from the Honors office!) Some events coming up this month include the Opening Social on September 18th, Chocolate Chats every other Friday, and hiking Rock Canyon with our director and a geology professor. As Professor Dursteler said, “Honors is a place to get found and a place to find other people.”
Look for details about upcoming events each week in this newsletter, and be sure to follow the Honors Instagram account @byuhonors to stay up to date!