"So far, I have made solid progress toward achieving my goals at Miami, thanks to smart, curious, and friendly students; challenging, rigorous, and receptive professors; and the Honors Program’s efforts to precipitate students’ intellectual development."


MY GOALS:
In high school, I discovered the wonder of learning. As college began I had a number of anxieties, but one thing was certain: I would strive to incorporate the joy of intellectual discovery in my undergraduate experience. One of my specific goals was to find a community of students at Miami with whom I could share a diverse range of interests. I found this community, including my best friends at Miami, among the Harrison Scholars and other members of the Honors Program, and among the members of several clubs I joined. I also wanted to participate in research experiences while at Miami. I was surprised how many research opportunities are available to undergraduates at Miami and how much professors encourage students to engage in research. So far, my research projects have dealt with the behavioral ecology of prairie voles, abstract algebra groups, and statistical models in ecology. I also planned to study abroad while at Miami and have done so – multiple times.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS:
Some of my most memorable experiences at Miami are dining-hall discussions with my friends on all kinds of subjects. In these conversations, I share my joy of learning and curiosity about the world while building wonderful friendships. Our conversation topics have featured Scarlatti’s keyboard sonatas, Descartes’ “proof” of the existence of God, the Coriolis effect caused by Earth’s rotation, the 2008 presidential primaries, Google’s innovations, and math problems from national competitions. I have developed socially through numerous new friendships and conversations. We have built a community of curious students with a wide range of interests. Interactions with people that are very different from me have been no less valuable. Conversations with Miami students of unique backgrounds and with people I’ve met while studying abroad have challenged my assumptions, sensitized me to global issues, and underscored the importance of communication. I have also grown intellectually through challenging courses, informal conversations with professors, and research projects.

MY ADVICE: GET TO KNOW YOUR PROFESSORS!
Interaction with professors was a primary goal for college. Since they are dedicated to students’ success and ready to share their knowledge with students, it would be illogical not to take full advantage of this incredible resource. Not only could I share intellectual joys with professors, but they would nurture my growth as a scholar. Indeed, my college days are enriched by office hour visits, seminars, meals shared with professors, and even several faculty social events. In order to take advantage of professors’ openness and experience, I regularly visit office hours. There, we address uncertainties I have about topics from class, but my professor would usually stimulate me and help figure out the problem on my own instead of simply dictating the answer. In this way, in addition to clearing up the specific topic, I acquire methods of inquiry and learn how to form explanations. I also visit office hours whenever I wish to know more about an element of the course. Sometimes, we often find a shared interest and discuss it for hours. Other times, my professors would invite me to a seminar given by a faculty member from another institution and would introduce me to the speaker, often a world-renown expert. My visits with professors directly led to the realization of another goal: involvement in research. All three of my research endeavors began during office hours. One day during the fall semester of my sophomore year, I was working on an Abstract Algebra assignment and I realized that a problem could be extended. With some effort, I found a general result. My professor read my solution and encouraged me to pursue this problem further. Before I knew it, I was writing a research paper, and I am giving a talk at a national conference this summer!

MOST SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES :

	Service trip to Costa Rica
	Archeological dig in Israel as part of a course from Miami’s Comparative Religion department
	Interdisciplinary course in India over winter break
	Studying mathematics in London and traveling around Europe during junior year
	Multiple research projects dealing with the behavioral ecology of prairie voles, abstract algebra groups, and statistical models in ecology
	Astronomy and Math Club
	Presentation on mathematics research at a national conference