Sarah Yang

Honors 100 A

Assignment #1: Who Are You?

I had not heard of the imposter syndrome until attending UW’s Accepted Students’
day. It was said by a professor in an event from Women in Science and Engineering as
she was explaining her personal path to becoming a member of UW’s faculty. I
remember distinctly feeling this sense of being understood, even though she did not
know me personally. I had been holding this fear and anxiety that I was not smart
enough or did not belong at UW’s College of Engineering or the Honors Program,
especially because of my love of the arts and design. I felt as though my male friends
who had gotten rejected from the programs that I had been accepted into should
rightfully take my place. Even though I knew I was capable and wanted to attend UW, it
was hard to believe that I deserved my position. After hearing her present, I was more
comfortable with who I was and where I wanted to attend university. I knew that UW
was a fantastic engineering and STEM school and that the Honors Program would
provide me with ample and unique opportunities, but I believe hearing the upfront and
passionate support from the faculty was the final deciding factor for choosing UW.

I went to a very small school in Kirkland, Washington. Our middle and high school
combined numbered around 400 students and I had a graduating class of 38. While
attending such a small school had its drawbacks, the aspect that I enjoyed most was
the close-knit community that it fostered. I felt connected to my teachers and my
classmates and enjoyed a well-rounded curriculum of humanities, arts, science, and
math for all my years of middle and high school. When I heard of the Honors Program at
UW, I was relieved that I could find a way to make such a massive university feel more
like home. The overlap of fields has always felt natural to me because it was just how I
had always learned. I love seeing how concepts cross over and enhance each other. I
think that learning would be incomplete without seeing its impacts and influence in other
circles of disciplines. Honors Program is key to me because it is a direct way for me to
stay involved and creative in an array of subjects, even while being in the College of
Engineering. I believe that the Honors program even aligns with my intended major,
Human Centered Design and Engineering, is multidisciplinary in its combination of
engineering, design, and psychology.

During my time at UW, I hope to not only become more knowledgeable in my field of
design and engineering, but to also grow as a person. I want to delve deeper into the
concepts surrounding user interaction design and help others through my creations.
Through the Honors program, I wish to connect more with faculty and other students
over classes that are intriguing and challenging. I am looking forward to learning from
classes that I would not normally have the opportunity to take otherwise and partake in
study abroad trips. I enjoy the philosophy of academic risk-taking and exploration that
the Honors Program endorses and feel like it will challenge me in ways that help me
advance my personal development. Furthermore, I appreciate the smaller community
that the Honors Program provides and am excited for friendships and close bonds with
others who will share a unique perspective in life with me.

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