Nicole Einbinder, Section AH

Honors 100 Portfolio Statement

Everyday walking to class, I continue to have awe that I am here. Awe that I am a
college student, live in a different state, no longer have my parents to look up to, and
instead have my own path to pursue and create. And everyday, as I walk under the misty
gray clouds and trees that actually change colors with the seasons (that does not happen
in Southern California!) I continue to be more determined to do something good with my
life and stay strong, because in the long run, I know this experience will be something
valued immensely.
It is kind of crazy that the quarter is almost over. I remember my first day here in
August (I did Early Fall Start and was here a month early) and the fear I felt in going to
my first college class. I was so nervous of what would be expected of me, fearful of
failure. Yet, I made it through Early Fall Start, loving the class I took and people that I
met. And because of that leap of faith I took, coming to UW a month early when I could
have enjoyed an additional month of summer with family and friends, I now not only
have more honors credit, but I also have a core group of friends who also participated in
the program who I never would have met if I did not reach outside my comfort zone.
This quarter has given me the opportunity to figure out what I like, do not like,
and what I hope to accomplish during my time as an undergrad. Before the school year
began, I thought I wanted to pursue a double major in political science and
communications. While I did not particularly love my AP US Government class in high
school, I figured that Political Science sounded like a solid major that would be a good
stepping-stone for future endeavors. Word of advice: do not choose a major because you
think it sounds good! I am currently enrolled in political science 203, introduction to
International Relations, and while I enjoy the lecturer and am doing well in the course, I
have also realized that I really am not interested in the course material. The class focuses
extensively on theories, and how these theories can be applied to current and past events
in global affairs. Yet, I am more interested in the cultural aspect of international affairs
and the interaction between people, as opposed to the political and theoretical aspects.
Due to this, I have scratched Political Science from my agenda and now know that I want
to join the Jackson School as an International Studies major.
My favorite course, by far, this quarter is my honors class, Philosophy of Gender
in Western Civilizations. In my honors class, I actually have the room to discuss, debate,
expand my mind while learning about obscure topics that I had never even heard about
before taking the course. In my two other classes, I am nothing more than a number in a
large lecture hall. I go to class, take notes, and spew out this knowledge onto an exam.
Yet, in my honors class, I am not a number; I have a voice and am encouraged to speak
my mind and interact with my peers. I have realized that I am not the biggest fan of large
lecture courses, and am excited for the honors and smaller upper-division classes I will
take in the future.
In high school, I had an identity. I was involved in an array of extracurricular
activities and internships, well liked by my teachers, and known as being one of the
smart kids. My original goal before the school year began was to repeat the process. I
planned on getting the best grades, involving myself in everything, making a name for

myself on this colossal campus. Yet, as the quarter has progressed, I have come to the
realization that I do not necessarily need to be the best. After the first round of midterms,
I was so disappointed with my results. I wanted all As, and when this was not
accomplished, I originally beat myself up about it, knowing I should have done better. As
the quarter is rapidly coming to an end, the most important lesson that I have learned is
that success is not defined necessarily by having the top score in a class or being the
best. Success is defined by being happy: by reaching for new limits in life and making
the most out of every situation. Ten years down the road, it will not matter what grade I
received on a midterm or essay my first quarter of freshman year. What I will remember
are the things that truly matter: exploring the unknowns of downtown Seattle with my
friends. Rushing the field at Century Link Stadium when the Huskies beat Stanford and
Oregon State. Going to my first ever Model United Nations Conference and proudly
representing the state of Israel, despite the many Arab nations present who denounced our
right to exist.
I am still idealistic about my future, probably too idealistic, but I am so
determined to do something good and positive with my life. And now I finally have a
plan for how I am going to reach this. I want to double major in international studies and
communications, to better understand the world I live in and how different peoples and
cultures interact in it. I want to join the Peace Corps after graduation, to give back to
society and truly try to make a difference in the lives of people who were not given the
many opportunities that I have been so blessed to have. And after completing my service,
I want to attend graduate school, hopefully with a scholarship of some sort from the
Peace Corps fellowship program. What I will study in grad school is a mystery to me, and
what job I will have after my education is completed is even more unclear. But, the thing
is, I am only a freshman in college, and I now know that I have plenty of time to figure it
out.