Category: Student Life

Finals Tips

As our semester comes to an end, a wave of relief rushes over as we reflect on our hard work and perseverance. However, it is important to push through and finish strong as finals week approaches us. Whether you have final papers or in class exams, it can feel stressful to manage and prepare. We have gathered a list of finals tips that we have adopted for our personal study habits for a successful semester!  

Make A Schedule: Studying for multiple classes can feel overwhelming and stressful, especially when finding a place to start. The first step is always to create a study schedule. This ensures that you are dedicating enough time to each class. Plan out your free time in between classes and after classes to go to your ideal study space to focus. Creating a study schedule can also prevent burnout, as you make sure to plan time to relax and decompress!  

Definitely, Probably, Maybe Method: When you are planning your study sessions, it can be challenging to decide what topics and content to focus on. Over the course of 16 weeks, you have learned so much! To combat this frustration, follow the Definitely, Probably, Maybe Method. First, focus on the content that will definitely be on the exam. Next, focus on the topics that will probably show on the exam. Lastly, study the topics that will maybe be on the test. Ideally, you will be able to go through all content covered, but if not, it is important to prioritize your study topics in this order! 

Avoid Distractions: Studying for exams or writing final essays can be extra challenging when distractions are bugging you. Put your phone settings on do not disturb or silence your notifications. If you’re tempted to pick it up, put it across the room. It might also be helpful to communicate your study schedule with your friends and family. Go to your favorite study space with limited distractions where you can solely focus on your work!  

Pomodoro Study Method: Studying can be difficult without a clear structure. The Pomodoro Study Method breaks up study times into increments to prevent burnout and maximize productivity. First, choose a task that you plan to focus on. Next, set a timer for 25 minutes and study/write without interruptions. After 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break. Continue this method 3 times, before beginning to take longer breaks of 15-30 minutes. After repeating 3 times, increase the breaks by 5-minute increments.  

Use Honors Study Rooms: As Honors students, you are always welcome to use our study rooms! Bring a group or come solo and reserve a space with our Program Assistants. Our quiet and private study spaces are a perfect place to focus. Visit us at AUD711 Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm! 

As we wrap up the semester, finals week can be the most stressful time with exams and final papers piling up. Consider following these study tips to ensure successful study sessions. The Honors Office is so proud and grateful for all your hard work this semester! Keep it up!  

Chicago Fall Travel Guide

Although it is just starting to feel like fall, our semester is coming to an end and Thanksgiving break is almost here!  It is the perfect time to be a Chicagoan, with holiday events happening all around the city! Our Program Assistants have created a small guide for events happening in and around the loop. Have some fun with friends and family and celebrate your hard work this semester!  

 Just a short walk from campus, this Chicago holiday staple will be held in the Daley Plaza. Christkindlmarket  brings a wide variety of vendors together so we can enjoy the best. It is a perfect event to go with friends and family, or solo.  Enjoy arts, music, culture, and more! For more details, visit the Christkindlmarket website.   

There is no better way to see Chicago during the holiday season than taking a CTA holiday train! This unique Chicago tradition will be operating for the 33rd year this season. CTA trains sparkle with holiday designs and lights, and Santa can even be spotted sitting on an open-air flatcar with reindeer. Click this link to view the full in-depth schedule!! 

Navy Pier hosts a holiday event every year and this year it is called Light Up the Lake! From November 29th to January 5th, the pier decorates the entire outside (and most of the inside!) with lights and inflatables. They have interactive events such as the ice slide, axe throwing, crafting, and drone related firework shows! While all this takes place, the indoor vendors and food stands are open to the public as well.  

Pilsen’s Autumn Vintage & Artisan Market takes place on November 23rd/24th. Its setup involves food, shopping, art, and music galore! It’s only a train ride away and there’s enough to explore, you could be there for the entire day. 

Millennium Park Ice Skating is the perfect winter activity. With the city skyline on one side, and a view of the bean on the other, Millennium Park is a great place to get into the winter spirit! Millennium Park offers skate rentals and lessons.  Food and drinks can be found right next to the rink at Millennium Coffee and Millennium Hall. Reservations are required and prices vary. Check out more here! 

Another skating rink only a bit North is the Maggie Daley skating ribbon. The large skating rink is twice the size of a traditional rink and features Chicago’s gorgeous skyline. Reservations are also required for this skating rink and skates are available for rental. For more information, click here. 

Catch Chicago’s annual Thanksgiving parade in person! The Thanksgiving parade takes place from 8am-11am, Thursday, November 28th. The parade runs down State Street from Ida B. Wells to Randolph. Featured in the parade are beautiful floats, gigantic helium balloons, and incredible performances from Chicago’s own.  If you can’t watch the parade in person, catch the live broadcast on Pluto TV. 

From light shows to parades to markets, Chicago has a lot to offer this time of year.  With many of these events near Roosevelt, it’s the perfect excuse to get out and explore the city. We hope you enjoyed this list of events and get a chance to check them out! 

The Importance of Honors Advising

Around halfway through the semester, Honors students attend an Honors Advising session. Honors advising is a requirement to maintain Honors membership and to make adequate progress in the program. This is perfectly timed to coordinate your sessions with academic advisors who you will meet with to set up your schedule for next semester. The purpose of this meeting is to set you up for success the following semester. Every student’s Honors advising process is unique depending on specific needs, excitements, and schedule limitations. Hear from our Program Assistants about their Honors Advising session and how they resonate with this experience! 

Mary: 

My favorite part about Honors Advising is getting to share my personal updates with Kenley or Sarah Maria! Not only do they react positively to my news, but they ask me first to make sure I know that they genuinely want to know how I am doing and are happy to see their students thriving. When I come into the office for a meeting, before discussing    grades/attendance/normal class related things, the Honors Advisors always start the session off by asking how you, personally, are doing, in school or otherwise. It truly is a safe space in the Honors office. You’re open to ranting about tough classes, homework struggles, and anything else you may need to relieve some of the weight you are carrying, and Kenley and Sarah Maria are more than happy to listen and/or give advice. Within the walls of their offices, you don’t need to be the perfect student who has everything together. You can be honest about struggling grades, late homework, and even openly admitting that you procrastinate every single assignment. All they want to do is help ease our struggles any way they can and are eagerly awaiting their appointments with students in order to put that help into action.  

Camila:  

My Honors Advising sessions with Kenley are always very rewarding and meaningful. When I was a freshman, her guidance was helpful as I navigated the responsibilities of being an Honors student. I gained familiarity with the program and began to feel more comfortable. Honors advising appointments are beneficial to me because they feel personal and give me a space to connect with the Honors Program. Kenley is always very aware of my experiences as a student, and it is rewarding to feel understood. Kenley knew that this semester, I have had a more challenging schedule. It has been difficult to manage classes, work, and family responsibilities. As we began discussing the possible classes I could take next semester, I knew that I wanted more flexibility and time available for me outside of classes. I am also considering double majoring, which would shift the courses I take. When I shared my hopes for the next semester and following, Kenley helped me map out actionable steps and strategies I could take. Although semester planning can feel like an impossible task, honors advising provides me a space to think about the choices available to me.  

Roan: 

Honors advising is great because it gives me a space to talk about my experiences as a student and make choices that develop my learning. Honors advising is not just about picking classes for next semester, but also a space to think about your future. In my advising sessions, I am able to talk about every aspect of my academic life. I can share about the classes I love and don’t love, how classes impact my progress and academic future, and my overall experience. There is a genuine commitment to each person’s success when it comes to Honors. As Honors courses tend to be less major-specific, I can at times struggle to decide which Honors course will work best for me. Kenley is knowledgeable about every Honors class from content, style, to instructor. Honors advising allows you to find out which Honors courses are perfect for you and your own learning. Overall, Honors advising is more than just an academic meeting. It is also an opportunity to gain helpful knowledge that will help you succeed in and outside of honors.   

From the experiences of our Program Assistants, it is clear that the needs and desires of every Honors student are different. From sharing your semester experiences, your challenges in classes, or to your aspirations for the future, your Honors advising sessions can be used for a variety of needs. You are given the agency to direct your session however you would like. Sarah Maria and Kenley are available to support you, no judgement! We look forward to seeing you all in the office at AUD 711!!  

Immigration Past, Present, and Future: The American Dream Reconsidered Panel Reflection

The American Dream Reconsidered Conference is a yearly conference held by Roosevelt University to discuss what the American Dream is to us today. This year’s conference surrounded the topic of Immigration.  

Immigration is one of the most important policy issues for many American today. The topic dominates the media, especially with the 2024 presidential election. But immigration is not just a modern-day issue; the argument has been a steady conversation for many years. With moderator, Professor Sandra Frink (RU), panelists Professor Susan Gzesh, University of Chicago , Michael Jin, University of Illinois Chicago, and Maddalena Marinari, Gustavus Adolphus College, discussed the Immigration Act of 1924, 100 years later. 

The Immigration Act of 1924 severely restricted immigration into the United States.  The Act effectively barred much of immigration outside western Europe, established border patrol, and controlled immigration through quotas. The Act was a way to prevent immigration and maintain an ethnically homogenous country– homogenous, meaning all the same kind, white. This act sought to achieve a homogenous nation through quotas. Previous legislation had been too racially targeted, so quotas were established to make restricting certain people a quantitative matter. Quotas were set by looking at the U.S. census and once a country reached its quota, no more people were allowed in. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 stopped Chinese laborers’ from entering the country and stopped all Chinese immigrants from claiming citizenship. This act came after the completion of the transcontinental railroad. With this legislation still in place in 1924, Chinese immigration was suspended completely because they could not claim citizenship.  

Mexican immigration was not included in this legislation. This was because of the need for specific types of labor at that time. Mexican immigrants were allowed to come in because the country needed them, but only on a temporary basis. This is similar to how Asian immigrants were pushed out after construction on the transcontinental railroad was finished. After the need for labor was gone, the United States wanted to return to a homogenous nation.  

In the present day, the legacy of this legislation is still around. The Immigration Act of 1924 set a precedent for the US to enact similar types of harsh laws. In recent years, the United States has felt made a point to block borders, separate families, and deny asylum. But as Michael Jin points out, the legacy of this act is so important because, without its repeal in 1965, the room we are sitting in would look very different. The rich diversity that makes America so unique would not exist if the Act of 1924 stayed in place.  

Looking to the future, immigration is likely to remain an important topic. With the 2024 presidential election only days away, immigration is one of the most frequently referenced policy discussions. Republicans are pushing for mass deportation in another Trump presidency and harsh laws on who we let into the country. Democrats support earned pathways to citizenship but still want limitations.  

With these policies, past, present, and future in mind, it calls into question the American Dream. Who is the American Dream for? Who does it work for a who does it work against? As the panelists pointed out, the notion of the American Dream is exclusionary to Native Americans, Asians, and anyone else who is affected by harsh immigration laws. “The American Dream” that says anyone can succeed here, clashes with the legislation put in place.  

Meet Our Program Assistants!

As we settle into the Fall 2024 semester, the Honors Program Office would like to take a moment to welcome our new team of Honors Program Assistants! Bringing a diverse range of backgrounds and talents, our team is committed to enriching the Honors experience and supporting the academic journey of students in the program. The Program Assistants will keep our student body up to date through an active and engaging social media presence, and will provide in-depth information and stories on our blog. Camila, Mary, and Roan are excited to introduce themselves to our Honors Program community!

Camila:

My name is Camila and I am a sophomore majoring in sustainability studies, from the west of the city in the Berwyn/Cicero area. I was always interested in urban planning, because cities have always surrounded me, and as I moved through my education, I noticed the inequities embedded within the physical structures of our environments. Roosevelt resonated with me as a social-justice oriented institution, because of its location, and it was close to home. Although Roosevelt does not have a program directly related to urban planning, after a one-on-one shadowing opportunity with Professor Mike Bryson, I was convinced to ultimately study at Roosevelt. I was also intrigued by the Honors Program, because it resonated with my learning and provided me with a large amount of financial support, which alleviated most of my stress relating to the college application process. 

As I gained more familiarity with the Honors Program as a student, I felt more comfortable and began engaging more with my courses. For example, I joined the Honors Exchange last year, which was the most memorable learning experience of my freshman year. I was thrilled to learn that the Honors Program office was looking for another Program Assistant during my second semester of freshman year. I resonated greatly with my Honors educational experiences and was excited to learn more through this position. Although I joined a bit later in the school year, I was still able to learn so much about our Honors office operations. I had the guidance and support of my three peers, who helped me learn about the many running pieces of the office, like the social media, blog, newsletter, club, and much more. This experience was great, and I enjoyed being part of the office as a student worker. I am super excited to continue working this year as the Lead Honors Program Assistant. My peers last year provided me with a welcoming and comfortable environment to learn and explore this position, and I hope to do the same this year. Together, we are working on many projects, ensuring this year will be memorable and filled with excitement! 

Mary: 

Hi! I’m Mary and I am a Junior here at Roosevelt this year. It’s my first year working in the Honors Program and I am so excited to start seeing the business side of the program in addition to the student side. I am a criminal justice major with a legal studies minor. Being a part of our school’s justice program has been so impactful in my learning journey and I have gained so much knowledge that I had no idea about before coming here. I am originally from Lafayette, Indiana, home to Purdue university, where I took an online college course before coming to Chicago called ‘Introduction to Serial Killers’. I decided to take this course because I graduated high school a semester early, but still wanted to wait until fall to go to college. This course also allowed me to get a sneak peek at if this was truly the major I wanted to pursue and I fell in love with it from the start. I chose to come to Roosevelt because my dad used to work at the University Center and I always knew I wanted to live there. Roosevelt seemed like the best fit for me based on the three colleges that live in that building. Three years later and I am so glad I made that choice. I sort of fell into the Honors Program my second semester here. I didn’t know our school had one, but I received an email saying that I would be a good fit and that I should consider joining; obviously I said yes! Going along with that, I was always curious about the students behind the desk in the Honors lounge and when I received the encouragement to apply, I was thrilled! This year, I am going to help with writing blog posts and coming up with fun ideas for the Honors Program social media accounts. I am very excited to see what lies ahead with this job for the upcoming semester, and figure out my place in this team.

Roan: 

Hello! My name is Roan Daley and I am a sophomore here at Roosevelt. I am from Essex Junction, Vermont and I am a criminal justice major. I have had an interest in criminal justice from the time I visited the F.B.I. museum during an 8th grade field trip to Washington, D.C. After doing a technical program in high school, I knew criminal justice was what I wanted to pursue. What brought me to Roosevelt was a couple of things. I absolutely love the location, Chicago is my favorite city and I love going to a school where the city is our campus! I also love the social justice model that Roosevelt strives for. Social justice is something that is very important to me especially in relation to my criminal justice studies. What drew me to the Honors Program was the commitment to interactive learning such as discussion and collaboration-based classes. The Honors Program also offers scholarships for students which was a huge help for my academic success. I applied to be an Honors Program Assistant because I loved my first year in the Honors Program and wanted to expand my involvement. Going into my first year as an Honors Program Assistant, I am very excited for everything we have planned. My background is in social media and I look forward to the fun and creativity that comes with that! 

Looking Ahead:

As you can see, our Program Assistants have established themselves as proud Rooseveltians and Honors students, connecting deeply to the mission of Roosevelt and the ethos of the Honors Program. This position provides a unique learning experience, and our team is eager to positively impact our community. Equipped with their various skills and interests, Camila, Mary, and Roan are well-prepared to undertake the tasks ahead of them. Through the work produced by our program assistants, Honors can continue providing comprehensive information and updates for program members that will boost engagement and encourage participation in Honors initiatives. Stop by AUD 711 Monday through Thursday between 9 am and 4:30 pm to be greeted warmly by these excellent students and enjoy the vibe of the Honors office! !

The Honors Exchange is On-Foot in Chicago

By: Onteya Zachary

On Friday, February 24th, Honors Exchange participants reunited for the second time since the start of the Spring semester at the Chicago Architecture Center. After our first time reconvening on Friday January 27th for a tour of the Auditorium building and theater led by university historian Dr. Lynn Weiner, we hadn’t had much time as a class to discuss what we experienced in our walkabouts over Winter break. The walkabout project was an asynchronous activity over the months of November and December (and into January) where we were enabled to continue our conversation about the design of neighborhoods by focusing on neighborhoods we’d be touring later in the semester known as Chicago’s “first five” (Bronzeville, Chinatown, Greektown/West Loop, Little Italy, and Pilsen).

Students were randomly assigned to a neighborhood and each group roughly consisted of three members. Madeline LaFrambois (freshman), Emily Sanchez (junior), and Denise Merodio Gomez (sophomore) were assigned to the Bronzeville community. As a group, they ventured for well over two hours exploring the area and taking note of not only building design, but how narrative and community identity were communicated through statues of notorious musical figures relevant to the history of Bronzeville such as performers who visited the area. From Etta Moton to Nat King Cole, African American musicians and music such as jazz, blues, or gospel music were greatly informed by the migration of Southern black musicians. Most notable from their presentation was their coverage of the Defender building. Located on King Drive, the Chicago Defender was one of the most successful African-American newspapers of great influence during the Great Migration.

Bronzeville group members get crafty at the Chicago Public Library in the neighborhood!
Bronzeville group read plaques pertinent to the history of the neighborhood on the Forum.

The Chicago Defender was founded in 1905 by Robert S. Abbot. Even though it was only a kitchen table publication, it grew to be the most powerful African-American newspaper in America. What is so important about this newspaper is that Abbot wrote about the rights of African-Americans, to protest on discrimination, being able to have a voice about political and personal action, hopes of the blacks. Bronzeville was a black metropolis and one of the nation’s most significant landmarks in African American urban history. The Bronzeville group benefited from experiencing one of Chicago’s first neighborhoods as it stands today. More importantly, they collaborated in a project where they got to better understand how planned (and unplanned) environments shape experience, identity, access, assets, and resources, barriers and boundaries, possibility, impossibility, and more. The findings, synthesis, and reflection they presented the other exchange participants with while presenting their project on Bronzeville was stimulating.

The Bronzeville group encounters the historic Defender building along their route in the neighborhood.

Each group presented for roughly an hour of the exchange before we put on our coats and headed outside for an on-foot adventure. We began outside of the Chicago Architecture Center observing the land on which the Apple store (401 Michigan Ave.) sat on. Angela Esposito, the Director of Education and Experience at Chicago Architecture Center, contextualized this land as the space in which Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable’s first trading post sat. Moreover, Angela unsilenced DuSable’s wife, Kittihawa, in the legacy of his success by informing us that she played a crucial role in his success with developing a prosperous trading post on native land considering she aided in translation between the tribes and DuSable. Following that, we moseyed along as a group to a building wrapping its great size around the corner of Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive and overlooking the cities; the building was none other than the historic London House. 

Honors Exchange participants stop outside of the London House building as the first stop on their on-foot tour!
Honors Exchange participants stop outside of the London House building as the first stop on their on-foot tour!

Here, we examined some of the notable features present in the architecture of the building which was produced during a booming period of industrialization in the 1920s with the arrival of the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893. Designed by Alfred S. Alschuler, the London House is representative of Beaux-Arts aesthetics with its classical inclusion of Corinthian columns and engravings of Roman figures in the stone facade. Exchange participants gazed at the architecture and ornate design in awe. Next, we walked to the end of the block and stopped in front of the Christian Science Reading Room and our attention was directed to two beautifully outstanding “corn-cobs” or Marina City. Marina City, although we could not venture inside, was a fantastic sight for us all even at such a distance away from the actual building. Angela informed us that the building was designed with the intention of creating affordable housing and the idea of concentrating all the essentials one would need to live (i.e. a grocery store, a car, a gym- to name a few) for those that would live in the city. It was for a time, the tallest residential building in the world and the tallest building made out of reinforced concrete. 

Angela Esposito informs the Roosevelt University Honors Exchange participants about the history and architecture of Marina City.
Angela Esposito informs the Roosevelt University Honors Exchange participants about the history and architecture of Marina City.

One of our last stops on the walking tour was to and inside of the Carbide and Carbon building. It was built by the sons of prominent Chicago architect Daniel Burnham’s, Hubert Burnham and Daniel Burnham Jr.. The exterior of the building is covered in polished black granite, and the tower is dark green terra cotta with gold leaf accents. The use of stylized representations of leaves on the building’s exterior was an intentional reference by the architects to the prehistoric origins of subterranean carbon deposits in the decay of ancient plants. When we walked in, the lobby featured a black Belgian Marble and Art Deco bronze work trim. In addition, many of the designs were informed– as we learned from Angela– by the discovery of King Tut’s tomb in Egypt. Thus, several references to Egyptian pictorials found in the tomb of King Tut such as lotuses were present in the architectural design. 

Honors Exchange participants gaze in awe at the Carbide and Carbon building!
Honors Exchange participants gaze in awe at the Carbide and Carbon building!

Angela also informed us of a popular myth that the Burnham Brothers supposedly designed the building to resemble a dark green champagne bottle with gold foil at the top. After spending a few more moments admiring the building and reflecting on our time together we all departed. For a more visual understanding of our journey and on-foot adventure, feel free to poke around this Google Map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1Ew4jdhRMih7i4te5sFQYW-1D8FaIwnA&usp=sharing

We look forward to our time together on March 31st, 2023 where we will board a double decker bus and tour the “first five” neighborhoods of Chicago as a collective!

Honors at Model Illinois Government (MIG) Simulation at Prairie State College

On Friday, February 17th, a handful of selected Honors students with interests in Political Science attended a simulation of Model Illinois Government (MIG) at Prairie State College. A nervous excitement sat heavy in the air as students slowly rolled into the room where the event would occur. As we chatted over coffee, bagels, and fruit we shared our varying anticipation about what was to come. Soon enough, the simulation was ready to begin and Andy Schott, a Professor of Political Science at Prairie State College, took to the front of the room to explain the event, what we would be doing, and most importantly- the fun we would have if we were truly committed to the experience.

From Professor Schott, we learned that MIG is a simulation of parliamentary procedure, bill analysis, and parliamentary debate. Throughout the first hour of our time together, we were prepared to play various legislative positions such as legislators, executive officers, lobbyists, journalists, budget analysts, and other party leadership positions. These are similar legislative roles as those in the annual Model Illinois Government (MIG) competition. Then, as students role-playing legislators, we were assigned a political party and entered into a debate!

The first bill we debated was a Republican-crafted bill, HB5902, which was an amendment to previous legislation on firework regulation in Illinois. As Republicans, we crafted an argument grounded in economic reasoning whereas students who were role-playing Democrats emphasized the role of government in public health and safety initiatives. Despite a loss on the Republican side, it was our first attempt at putting our initial learning to the test. Over the rest of the day, students had the opportunity to play various legislative positions and political parties in order to debate bills HB4848 (A bill amending the Liquor Control Act of 1934) and HB0024 (A bill amending the School Code).

By the end of the simulation, students reflected on the experiential learning opportunity, grounded in state and local government, that they got to partake in. Not only did we as students become familiarized with the practical complexities of state government, but we were intimately introduced to formal debate and expression. Through teamwork and problem-solving exercises, we got to engage in critical thought as part of a collective of peers from other institutions in an academic context. 

Honors student Onteya Zachary (Senior), smiles for the camera as Honors students Alexander Kelly (Junior) delivers closing statements for the Democratic party.
Honors students Mia Moore (Junior) and Aileen Saucedo (Junior) pose for the camera
Aileen Saucedo (Junior), Alexander Kelly (Junior), and Onteya Zachary (Senior) listen to the points of another student participant from Purdue Northwest in their political party.
Arturo Torres (Junior) and Cecilia Quirarte (Sophomore), both Honors students, are attentive during informational sessions.
Honors students wait for the Metra train at the historic Van Buren train station, commuting to Prairie State College together.

The Nature of Science (Honors Course Reflection)

By: Onteya Zachary

This semester, I took an Honors course called The Nature of Science (BIOL 113) instructed by Dr. Kelsey Poulson-Ellestad (also known as “Dr. P”). We explored a variety of readings that address the interplay between science and society and the scientific process. In addition, we addressed other topics of interest to the class such as sentient beings, knowledge, and climate change. The class in the tradition of Honors encouraged us to individually utilize our arsenal of skills, experiences, and perspectives from our own studies or major and apply them here. Not only did I get to enhance my skills and familiarity with scientific methodology, scientific research, and communication, but I became better equipped to understand advances in science in a technology-rich society.

One of my favorite experiential projects within the course was performing our own scientific research. It included developing a question and testable hypothesis, collecting data, as well as analyzing and interpreting that data. Much of our project was completed in collaboration with our classmates and instructor, Dr. P. For example, we were able to write out journal reflections in private to the teacher as well as discuss the status of our projects throughout each phase of the scientific method/research. In doing this, we were able to really commit and participate in this endeavor in the truest capacity as science is a collaborative endeavor. Throughout our research process, we were also required to carry journals and log our learning and curiosities throughout the individual project.

Another experiential learning project we got to complete and engage in active reflection on was the Unessay Project. Essentially, in lieu of a final exam, my peers and I worked on a final project that demonstrated how we connected with the course content and learning objectives. The details of the project were largely entrusted to us and we were ultimately provided with a creative academic outlet.  These projects could have included a variety of activities and the creation of items. For my project, I designed two sets of earrings that were representations of concepts such as understanding as a common experience and the importance of observation. I felt strongly attached to these concepts and felt myself thoroughly engaging with them in relation to my major. 

Moving forward from the course, I am enthusiastically wondering about how I will bring scientific thinking to bear on issues that affect myself and my communities. Albeit, I had not fully understood the course content when I registered for it, I was thoroughly engaged with the learning experience I embarked on since the first day of class. Not only was the course material exciting and untraditional in the sense of science classes I have taken in the past, but Dr. P was always an energetic and enthusiastic teacher with an avid love for science and teaching everpresent in her interactions with students.

Manual Cinema’s Christmas Carol Review

By: Onteya Zachary

As a member of the Honors Program, I have always found pride in the shared community value of taking learning outside. Especially, considering this value parallels the Roosevelt University motto of Chicago as our campus. There are unlimited opportunities to stimulate and engage in each of your individual curiosities in every corner of the city. This semester, I began my journey engaging with the Honors theme of the “Best Laid Plans” through my academic involvement such as the Honors Exchange, No Small Plans, my Honors courses such as The Nature of Science, and experiential opportunities to learn through programming and lectures– such as Race and the City— that are open to students free of charge through the American Dream Reconsidered conference.

I wondered, however, how the theme could be applicable to life outside of campus. Thus, last weekend, I attended Manual Cinema’s Christmas Carol. A magically inventive puppet play adapted from the renowned Charles Dickens’ novel A Christmas Carol. Prior to the play, I did not have drastic expectations. I was thrilled I could attend a puppet play, which has become a newfound love of mine, and excited to see a puppet play that revolved around the Christmas holiday which seemingly crept up stealthily throughout the Fall semester. Lo and behold, my expectations did not go as planned as I soon realized this was not a usual retelling of Dicken’s iconic holiday ghost story.

Upon walking into the theater, the scene was unique and one whose sensation upon viewing is indescribable. Stacked on a large, red woven rug were several cardboard boxes with bold, black writing on the side– ‘JOE’S SHIRTS’, ‘JOE’S SHOES’, ‘JOE’S MUSIC’. Upon a circular, wooden table sat a large tripod set up with a laptop. The camera on the tripod was strictly focused on a small, makeshift stage roughly the size of a doll house. As I found my way to my seat, I pondered upon who Joe could be, why his stuff was in boxes, and most importantly how that scene could somehow capture the story of A Christmas Carol. Nothing within the scene seemed conducive to the story I knew. Even live musicians chattered visibly behind the entire scene and adjacent to them were unmanned large, vintage film cameras. Shortly thereafter, the lights dimmed and the show began.

Full of humor and timeliness, Manual Cinemas Christmas Carol tells the story of both Scrooge and a new character, Aunt Trudy, a recent widow alone on Christmas for the first time following the passing of her husband, Joe, who died due to health complications with Covid-19. When the play began, the foundation for the unique retelling of this classic story was set through the shared experience of isolation, loss, and regret that Aunt Trudy is navigating as she attempts to continue Joe’s beloved family puppet show tradition over Zoom. Throughout the play, audience members and I watched in bewilderment and surprise as Aunt Trudy endured a transformative “dark night of the soul” similar to that of Scrooge’s. In its essence and at its core, the play was about an individual spending Christmas alone, haunted by the specters of their past, and anticipating their own mortality. Originally, the play was even performed as an online streaming production in December 2020 when most of us were quarantined at home. 

In my reflection following the show, I realized this play had shattered my expectations and provided me with a unique retelling of Dicken’s A Christmas Carol I’ll never forget. Partially, because the puppets and puppeteers in and of themselves created no small plan. By strategically incorporating elements of timeliness and humor into the story were they able to create a product that could so intimately address the themes of isolation and loss. Not only did I appreciate the play, but I appreciated the lens the Honors Program theme provided me to view the play through. From the micro to the macro level in the creation to the viewing of the production, planning was a tool so essential to the process and this atypical retelling blossomed from that effort to become a beautiful story in and of its own right.