Expanding My Skills Through Honors
In Winter Quarter, I got a chance to take an Honors Photography class! I really enjoyed taking this class because photography is a passion of mine and I didn't have a chance to take a photography class since high school. By taking the class, I was able to build on the skills I learned on my own / through prior experiences. I got to practice some skills I had already learned, but also learn new skills that I can use to better my current skills. I got to practice new techniques, including Pinhole photography, black room development, and photo journaling.
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Teaching Older Adults About Design
During this quarter, I got the opportunity to expand my design skills past the classroom. I joined an HCDE Directed Research Group that focused on Co-Designing with older adults. Through this DRG, not only I was I able to put my design skills into use, I was also able to help teach others about design thinking!
The best way to know you've learned something is your ability to teach others. That really proved here. When asked why I did something, I was put in a position where I had to stop and reflect on my methods and why they were important, helping me draw on and remember the foundations that I had learned. On top of that, I got to work with an amazing group of older adults as well as a Masters student. Learning from their experiences and ideas, we worked together to "design" technology that would help adults de-clutter to help them build up confidence as they got ready to move to a senior living community. |
March 6th, 2020: The Day Normal Was No Longer Normal
All quarter, we heard of COVID-19 spreading across China, Europe, and other parts of the world. We heard about the impact it had on people, but we never truly felt the effects until Feb 27th, when the first COVID deaths were recorded in the US, only 10 miles away from UW. Over the next week, there was a lot of uncertainty, panic, and confusion, but nothing compared to what would happen after that.
On March 6th at 7:48AM, the entire UW Student Body received the same email- UW was suspending all in person classes. At that point it was just for the rest of Winter Quarter (uh yea... read on to learn more about how this was the biggest lie we told ourselves). Soon after that, people left campus, going back home. The DM ran out of essentials. And apparently, everyone wanted toilet paper and Clorox wipes. As an RA, I was told weekly about new rule changes, new social distancing measures, and new requirements. The last 2 weeks of the quarter were spent trying to finish schoolwork online and navigating how to adapt to this new normal.
On March 6th at 7:48AM, the entire UW Student Body received the same email- UW was suspending all in person classes. At that point it was just for the rest of Winter Quarter (uh yea... read on to learn more about how this was the biggest lie we told ourselves). Soon after that, people left campus, going back home. The DM ran out of essentials. And apparently, everyone wanted toilet paper and Clorox wipes. As an RA, I was told weekly about new rule changes, new social distancing measures, and new requirements. The last 2 weeks of the quarter were spent trying to finish schoolwork online and navigating how to adapt to this new normal.
Winter 2020 Highlights:
Classes: HCDE 231, HCDE 300, HCDE 322, Honors 241
Co-Designing with Older Adults DRG
March 6th: When "Normal" Changed
Deans List!
Classes: HCDE 231, HCDE 300, HCDE 322, Honors 241
Co-Designing with Older Adults DRG
March 6th: When "Normal" Changed
Deans List!