Cumulative Reflection

Looking back at my undergraduate career at Iowa State, one thing that I wish I would have done

more of is more hands-on experiments. A majority of my classes had labs which was always fun,

and I was grateful for them because I learned so much through them. Classes such as signal

processing, circuits, and even embedded systems. However, I wish I would have done more on

my own time or join clubs such as the Arduino club, or even take design-based classes such as

EE 333; classes like these would have been really beneficial and helped me learn more. One of

my experiences that helped me learn the most, was when I mentor for EE185 and work as a lab

TA for EE201. It is helped me be able to problem solve quickly and be able to adapt to new

situations or problems that I may have never experienced before. Although this semester is my

first time being a lab TA for EE201, I am really grateful that I chose to do this. I have learned so

much about how to troubleshoot and figure out what is wrong with the lab equipment students

are working with. As well as concepts that I may have considered to understand really quickly,

being able to teach students those concepts to strengthen my own knowledge has been very

beneficial.

During my internship I had this past summer, it made me realize how important the hands-on

portion of the curriculum is. Most of the equipment I ended up working with this summer was

very similar to the equipment we have in our labs. I never realized how beneficial that hands-on

learning was until my internship this summer. As well as I realized the importance of reflecting

on my own personal style of learning. I had some projects I was placed on that required me to

use knowledge from classes that I have not really touched in a long time, such as CPR E 281,

digital logic. It really opened my eyes as the importance of learning with intent and purpose.

Because of my internship, it helped me want to learn more and always be challenged to learn
more. I have always thought that once I graduate, that I would just work and not become a

lifelong learner, but I was wrong. If anything, that is what I want to be able to continue doing.

Constantly learning new things, refining old concepts I have learned before, and even learn

concepts and gain knowledge of topics outside of electrical engineering.

Through my experiences, it has helped me how to better problem solve. Understanding that just

because I get a high grade in a class does not necessarily mean I truly understand the topic or

know what other perspectives on the concepts could look like. This semester I have groups that I

was assigned to work with for homework in my classes. At first, I did not want to do that at all

because I did not have the time to set aside in my busy schedule to work with others. However, I

am grateful for my professor for making it a requirement. I have learned so much from my peers

and different approaches to problems and being able to observe how we all perceive the concepts

and the differences we have when discussing these topics. As well as my 201 students teaching

me the approaches and perspectives they take. It’s help me broaden my understanding of basic

circuits as well as strengthen my own knowledge, whether it be reinforcing what I know or

helping me relearn topics I had struggled with in the past and never bothered to try and improve

that knowledge.