Hannah Long Honors 100 BE Assignment Three

The more I talked to Ameera Haq, the more amazed I was at the range of experiences she was able to fit into her high school career. I met with her to exchange interviews at Suzallo Caf and found out that she was involved in basketball, gymnastics, and tennis during her years in high school. She also helped to form the Mathematics Engineering Science Association (MESA) at her school and participated in a windmill model building competition at the state level. Last summer, Ameera worked in a research lab and studied tiny fragments of rocks to understand the effects of erosion and other weathering factors. She says the lab experience was not very enjoyable and she now knows that she probably does not want to be involved with research. I discovered that Ameera originally wanted to be an architect. She still builds small model structures in her spare time, but has drifted away from any aspirations of making architecture a career. She has also decided that she does not want to blindly follow in the footsteps of her two siblings who graduated from the University of Washington and went on to medical school. She doesnt know exactly what her path will look like, but she does enjoy math and science and believes her education will take her in that general direction. My general advice for Ameera is to get involved in several different areas of math and science, and from various perspectives. There are many RSOs devoted to both of these areas, and going to a few meetings could provide valuable information about her personal preference. This could help her decide on a specific direction to take and narrow down the list of things that she is deeply passionate about. Taking all of this into account, I researched possible experiential learning opportunities that fit what I now know about Ameera. The most promising prospect in my opinion is the 2014 Honors Exchange to Oxford. This particular exchange focuses on science and math from historical and philosophical perspectives. The program includes trips to scientifically significant sites such as Stonehenge, the Eden Project, and various museums in London. The section that caught my eye was one that mentioned architecture. Part of the time spent in Oxford is devoted to learning about the architectural development of some historical and iconic buildings. Though architecture is no longer the career path Ameera wants to pursue, I think this study abroad opportunity would give her a chance to enjoy a field that has become a hobby for her while exploring new potential interests.