To the high school graduates who are turning their focus to the college transition, honors outreach ambassadors offer words of welcome, encouragement and a few tips from their own experiences.
Formed by childhood interests in ballet, sports and science, Alexi Taurus is majoring in biochemistry on the pre-med track. She finds the UI Honors Program to be challenging—but just not in the ways you might expect.
Dear Prospective Student,
Congratulations! I can only imagine all the tremendous time and energy you've dedicated to your education already, especially during the distress of a pandemic. And everyone here at the University of Iowa is so proud of you for choosing to continue your journey with us. Our experiences these past couple of years have shaped us into who we are today, and who we can see ourselves growing into soon. Whether your vision is clear or you're still exploring which paths intrigue you, I genuinely believe that you are destined for better and brighter things at the University of Iowa. As the poet William Ernest Henley once said, "I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul."
My name is Alexi Tauras, and I am a second-year undergraduate student originally from the northwest suburbs of Chicago. I am studying biochemistry on the pre-medicine track with a minor in gender, health, and healthcare equity. As a child, I loved ballet, basketball, soccer, and softball, which greatly influenced my interests in health and medicine. I also had incredible science teachers who always nourished my curiosity for understanding life and the world around us. With the plethora of wonderful opportunities to become involved with the University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics (UIHC), in addition to the lure of cheering on the Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium, I knew I was destined to become a Hawkeye.
Beyond football and the UIHC, I can say that I have found a home in the University of Iowa Honors Program, which fosters the curiosity to understand various concepts and experiences on a deeper, more personal level. While one might expect the honors program to challenge its students with harder grading systems or more material in a shorter amount of time -- an exhausting workload -- the University of Iowa's Honors Program challenges its students much differently. Students become the master of their own fate by having the opportunity to foster relationships with peers and faculty members in smaller, discussion-based courses, furthering their understanding of challenging concepts and ideas with other engaged students, and exploring ideas more deeply through experiential learning outside of the classroom.
Please feel free to reach out to honors-program@uiowa.edu if you would like to learn more. I would love to talk more about my experience of Honors Primetime with Professor Rosemary Moore, where we discussed the history and politics of fashion as well as spinning wool and dying clothing articles in indigo using the Japanese shibori technique. Or about Professor Jacob B. Priest and Professor Rachel Williams who taught students in their honors first-year seminar how to identify and cope with conflict through watching the contestants of Love Island.
Are you ready to be the master of your fate and the captain of your soul?
Warmly,
Alexi Tauras
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