Course Reflections

I thought taking this course was a good experience. I've never really liked history so I didn't exactly enjoy the course but it was better than I expected. I normally don't do very well in history courses but the way the professor set up our tests was very easy and I think I did pretty well. Class was a lot different than high school. Attendance wasn't even mandatory which was totally new and it seemed a lot less personal. He did remind us about homework which was something we always hear won't happen in college but this was a small class. The hardest part about this class was staying focused in class and making sure I took good notes. It was hard at times but I still made it through. I would recommend this class to future Summer Scholars because it gives a good outlook on the course load will be like and what note taking skills you will need to develop to succeed.

Job Shadow

I really enjoyed my job shadow.  I didn't exactly know what to expect because the only thing in my email was an address.  I ended up learning a lot though.  My shadow was with Adam Demuth of NetApp, a data storage company. He was a post sales engineer, meaning he helped clients with fixes, recovery, and setup. First, he showed me around the office and told me what the equipment did. I understood most of it but some things went over my head. I think Adam realized this because next, he went in detail about how the company's products work. That cleared everything up and really helped me understan what the company did.  After that he told me a little more about what his specific job was and showed me some of the programs on the computer to show me what he did all day. It was a great experience because I didn't know much about software engineering and I'm still trying to figure out what type of engineering I want to do.  Also, his friend is an architectural engineer who specializes in acoustics which is my main focus right now. This job shadow broadened my horizons and expanded my network.

Sample Writings

I am a percussionist and music is very important to me. That is why one of my greatest achievements is becoming drumline captain of my school’s marching band. When I joined the drumline freshman year, the captain of the line amazed me. I wanted to be on his level and have that much skill. I had only been playing the drums for two years at that point and it is safe to say I needed some work. Last year though, I was given the title of drumline captain. I might not necessarily be on my old captain’s level but this showed me I was improving. It showed me that all of my hard work and determination was paying off. I now know that trying your hardest at things is definitely worth it in the end and I believe I’m now a more diligent person. I will always try my hardest at anything I participate in.

George Herbert wrote, "One father is more than a hundred schoolemasters." I believe this to be one hundred percent true. My dad has been a huge influence on me and has provided guidance all throughout my life. He has taught me that being honest and virtuous are the most important things in life. Because of him, I am definitely a better person and much less likely to lie, cheat, or do anything that could harm others. The morals he has instilled into me will carry me far in life and help me succeed in anything I do.

The subject of cloning is very important to me. It definitely has its benefits but there are ethical problems with it as well. It could lead to great medical advantages. We could learn more about many types of diseases and help with transplants. On the other side, it could lead to things like an illegal fetus trade or genetic problems that we know nothing about.

If I attended UNO, I know I would have a great experience. The university has many great things to offer me, especially because I'm interested in the field of engineering. After talking to some of the staff members, I knkow that the Peter Kewitt Institute sets up students with great internships. I hear that the institute is a great place for engineering students. Also, UNO is in my hometown which would make everything easier. It is just a great choice overall.

The First Week

I really enjoyed the first week of the camp. It gave me a great opportunity to meet and bond with new people. I made a lot of new friends and am very thankful for the chance to do so.

I'm a little bit shy so I was quiet on the bus ride to the ropes course but as soon as we got out there I started talking to people and started having fun. The ropes course was really fun. It was a totally new thing for me and I liked the challenge. I ended up doing it without holding the tethers and I loosened them all the way to get the feeling of not being held by anything. It was crazy.

My first day of class was kind of funny. There was a substitute teacher because my teacher was stuck in an airport somewhere. The substitute talked for the entire class about America so I took notes on it but at the end of class he told us that he wasn't sure what the real teacher would've said. I did a lot of work for nothing. I met the teacher the next day and he doesn't seem half bad. I think I will be successful in this class.

I like having the study session because I have a problem remembering all of the events from my history classes so having the extra time to work on it is nice. My facilitator listens to similar music as me and he seems pretty cool.

I'm excited to continue with the program and I know it will be fun.