Statements & Journey Map

At the beginning of my Honors journey in fall of 2023, I constructed two personal statements, "I Am" and "I Want To Become," accompanied by a visual representation of my journey through life.

 

"I AM" STATEMENT – September 2023

INTRO

My "I Am" statement is a combination of traits, characteristics, behaviors, and goals that I possess that make up who I am. It reveals areas of strength, weakness, and determination and serves as a footprint left of who I am at the time of writing, and provides an opportunity to reflect as time passes.

 

ARTIFACT

"I am a committed and diligent student, placing high importance on forging genuine connections with those around me. My approach to tackling challenges and navigating daily affairs is marked by creativity and a penchant for unconventional solutions. At the core of my principles, I hold kindness and empathy in the highest regard, recognizing them as the cornerstones of constructive communication and the establishment of meaningful relationships. Embracing novel experiences and venturing beyond my comfort zone is something I relish, as it allows me to amass wisdom and expertise. I firmly hold the belief that life's minor intricacies contribute substantially to the grand tapestry, ultimately yielding a life brimming with fulfillment and significance."

 

REFLECTION – March 2025

Looking back at my "I Am" statement, nearing the end of my last semester of college, I believe that this statement still rings true to who I am at the core. I have remained a diligent student throughout my academic career and have done so since I was young. I believe that I place even more emphasis on fostering connections with others than I did at the time I wrote this statement, and I am even more creative in the ways that I do so now. I embrace kindness and empathy still, but I have gained valuable skills of setting boundaries in a way that aligns with those values. I place even higher value on venturing out of my comfort zone (I moved across the country for a semester, conquered my fear of public speaking, and ran for executive positions in extra-curriculars since writing this!). One thing that I did not mention in my "I Am" statement is my faith, which is now the strongest that it has ever been. In 2025, I am resilient, courageous, and confident in who I am.

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"I WANT TO BECOME" STATEMENT – September 2023
 

INTRO

My "I Want To Become" statement is a combination of traits, characteristics, behaviors, and goals that I envision the best version of myself to have. Being a visionary, I spend a lot of time thinking about how my behaviors will impact my life in the future. As my "I Am" statement indicates that I am goal-oriented, this statement suggests a strong passion to pursue

those goals.

 

ARTIFACT

            "I work hard in the academic and professional areas of my life because I want to become a successful business woman after college. I want to become more diligent in my networking efforts in order to maximize the connections I make throughout my college career. I want to be more involved in my current organizations, such as my sorority and the various clubs that I am a part of. I want to take on more leadership roles within those organizations to build my resume for better opportunities after graduation. I want to take advantage of as many opportunities as I am able to that will benefit myself in the present and the future. I want to give back to my community through more volunteer work.

            I want to become more dedicated to all things that I put my efforts into, as I believe that everything should be done to ones best capabilities. I want to always strive to be more kind, caring, and compassionate to those that I interact with. I want to become a better listener to those that I am working with. I want to become more honest and state my personal truth in a respectful way when prompted. I want to exude confidence in both my academic and personal efforts, as confidence is essential for growth.

            I want to put more emphasis onto my schoolwork to get the most out of my learning and earn better grades. I want to expand my social circle and meet more people who will all contribute to who I am as a person. I want to do my best to limit the negativity that I allow in my life to keep my optimistic outlook. I want to better manage my stress so that I don’t get stuck in the mindset of being overwhelmed and have better focus towards the future. I want to utilize every opportunity that I have as a learning experience that I can take lessons from for the rest of my life. Given who I already am, I believe that all of these qualities will add to my path and ultimately better me as an individual and help me excel as an Honors student throughout the rest of my time at IUPUI."

 

REFLECTION – March 2025

When revisiting my "I Want To Become" statement, I do believe that I am in the process of becoming who I then wanted to be. I have worked to expand my network over the last few years and taken advantage of opportunities that present themselves to me. I still stand true to being dedicated to all things that I do, and I have demonstrated that through my work completed in both of my internships, as well as honors contracts and projects for professors. I believe I have grown my communication skills, and I have used those communication skills to build strong and lasting relationships with influential individuals in my life. I do still struggle with stress management as my responsibilities and commitments have remained malleable over the course of time, but "I Want To Become" better in this area and strive to understand that I am capable.

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