Year One Winter
My first Winter quarter flew by incredibly quickly. Much of my focus this quarter was on academics as I took 18 credits, which was a step up from the 16 credits I took in Fall 2023. I found myself socializing less than in the previous quarter, which initially made me feel lonelier, especially after coming back from a Winter break spent reuniting with family and many high school friends. Throughout the quarter, however, I did not feel this lack as I deepened connections with a few friends and kept up with my extracurriculars and academics. I did find myself struggling to keep up with the fast-paced quarter system when unexpected situations arose, but I am proud of the continuous efforts I made and how I balanced prioritizing my well-being and educational responsibilities.
This quarter I started volunteering as an after-school tutor/mentor for K-12 students at Mercy Housing, a low-income residential community. I started this role as my community engagement requirement for Intro to Early Childhood and Family Studies (ECFS 200), a class I took as an intended Education, Learning, & Society minor. Interacting with children directly and having that hands-on experience was incredibly valuable in cementing my interest in education. Furthermore, this activity helped me to connect with the greater Seattle community and get to know people different from me, broadening my perspective. I plan to continue volunteering in the Spring quarter and hope to further build these important skills while continuing to connect with these students.
This quarter I also started my role as a yarn librarian officer for the Yarn It UW RSO. This position has been wonderful as it allowed me to better connect with a creative community and forced me to make time to craft and do art. Without a class dedicated to art (such as Drawing 190 last quarter), it was an easy part of my life to neglect. Yarn It ensured that it still was part of my schedule. I also enjoyed this officer role because it allowed me to see the inner workings of an RSO. Collaborating with other officers, I planned meetings and service projects, discussed finances, and designed a materials check-out system. As I want to start a new RSO next year that focuses on making warm garments to donate to Mary’s Place, experiencing a leadership role in a similar RSO was incredibly eye-opening. I am so grateful for this experience and am so excited to continue being a yarn librarian in the coming quarters.
Experiencing my first real winter and continuing to adjust to life at the University of Washington has been a challenging, rewarding, and eye-opening experience. I find myself incredibly thankful for the Evergreen trees that keep campus cheerful and the Vitamin D pills that keep me cheerful. I am proud of myself for continuing to explore my passions and for handling the difficult and unexpected challenges of this quarter. Throughout the rest of the academic year, and my time at UW, I hope that I continue to prioritize my well-being and find a healthy balance of academics, extracurriculars, social life, and self-care.
Artifact 01
COVID-19 Test and Migraine Text
This is a positive COVID-19 test and a text I sent my roommate attempting to explain that I was having a migraine. This quarter I suffered a few bouts of sickness: three migraines in four days in week 4 and then contracting COVID-19 in week 9. Being sick for two separate weeks led to me missing classes, labs, and an exam; I also received an unavoidable incomplete in Chem 152 (for missing two labs). As I juggled academics, I reached out to my support systems; my mom even came up from Hawai’i to take care of me after my migraines and my family helped find me other living accommodations when I was sick with COVID-19. I also practiced my self-advocacy and problem-solving, reaching out to academic advisors and medical professionals, and setting up accommodations with the DRS to ensure I have a plan if I have another episode of cluster migraines. These illnesses presented many challenges, but I grateful for the support I had and am proud of how I balanced my well-being, health, and responsibilities.
Artifact 02
Art Projects for Non-Art Classes
These are some of the art pieces I made for final projects for my classes (with the projects linked). In Intro to Early Childhood and Family Studies, I crocheted a tapestry for my advocacy project to bring attention to how socioeconomic status and housing inequality impact education inequality. In Women in Greek and Roman Antiquity, I recreated an ancient Coptic textile weft-loop weaving of Artemis through punch-needle embroidery. This was one of my first times taking advantage of the freedom and flexibility that some of my professors offered and I really enjoyed both the creative process and final product. Not only did incorporating creativity and my passions into my classes make the material more engaging, but I also started finding more meaning in the art I make outside of class. I absolutely want to continue making art for projects in the future, if the mode of expression fits.
Artifact 03
Polar Plunge
This is a photo of me and one of my closest friends after doing a polar plunge with UW’s polar plunge RSO. As someone from Hawai’i who gets cold even bundled in three layers, I was hesitant to take the step out of my comfort zone and into the freezing water of Lake Washington. I am so glad I did, however, because even though I immediately went numb, I met new people, proved my bravery to myself, and had an unforgettable experience. This memory will inspire me to continue to live confidently, take advantage of living in Seattle, and dive into new experiences.
Note: I am certain that this polar plunge was not the cause of either of my illnesses this quarter.