University Honors Program Medallion recipients—Summer 2022
By Rachel Zak
Florida State University Department of English alumnae Mia Hernandez and Sabine Joseph were two of the 37 Summer 2022 graduates who completed their college career with a University Honors Program medallion. The Honors Program awards this medallion to those students who have the aptitude, strength, and passion to accomplish the goals they set for themselves, according to the program’s website.
The Summer 2022 Honors Medallion Ceremony was held Thursday, July 28, 2022, in the Nancy H. Marcus Great Hall of the Honors, Scholars, & Fellows House. More information about the requirements for completing the University Honors Program can be found here. Joseph and Hernandez agreed to answer a few questions about their personal experiences in the FSU Honors Program.
Sabine Joseph
Major: English-Creative Writing
Hometown: Kendall, FL
What motivated you to pursue the Honors Program designation?
As a freshman, they ask you if you want to apply, so I went on the Honors website. I really just thought why not? I liked the idea of having small classes because I was kind of scared of having huge lectures. I don't do well where I can't engage and discuss, so I think that was really valuable to me. I've always been an honor student. I've been fortunate enough to be in specialized programs since elementary school, and I found that they've benefited me. Whether it was improving my study habits and research skills or even if it's just, you know, my circle of friends.
What did you enjoy most about working towards the Honors Program?
I was really given the freedom to pretty much do anything that I wanted to do when it came to my studies. I took the creative option for a lot of my projects. I got to do work on pop culture stuff and things that truly interested me. I was never afraid to ask if I could do those things, but it was a little bit surprising that the answer was almost always yes.
I felt really encouraged to do the things that interested me. No one ever told me no, and I appreciated that. I think there's a great community and a lot of encouragement for students to reach their full potential and do whatever they aspire to do.
Did you work with a faculty advisor while working on the Honors designation or was this something you did on your own?
I actually didn't see an advisor very often. I probably should have because I could have taken advantage of more honors resources. I basically just did checkups whenever necessary. I typically walked in, which is again, something that I loved. I would just walk in on a random Wednesday and be able to talk to someone. They were really helpful. I didn't go as much as I probably should have, but I was welcomed with open arms whenever I went, and it was always a positive and helpful experience.
Were there specific struggles you faced that you could reflect on for English students who are considering pursuing the Honors program designation? What advice would you give them?
If you're doing the Honors Program, you're probably an overachiever, but it’s important to prioritize yourself, your mental health, and your physical health. Even though the Honors Program is not necessarily a lot of extra work, I would say to be mindful of your commitments. I know that I struggled freshman year with working. It became really stressful when work started to conflict with my class schedule.
What plans do you have for post-graduation?
I don't know what I'm doing, but that’s perfectly OK. I think that the Honors Program encourages us to be curious and want to explore, so you don't have to know what you're doing after graduation, as long as you're doing something to better yourself and make yourself happy.
I am working currently for FSU Libraries, completely coincidentally. It wasn't the plan, but that's why I would tell incoming freshmen or incoming honor students that it's OK to not have a plan. I am also using my English degree to freelance as an editor. Right now, I'm exploring, I'm having fun, and I’m forever growing.
Mia Hernandez
Majors: English-Editing, Writing and Media & Psychology
Hometown: Boynton Beach, FL
What motivated you to pursue the Honors Program designation?
It’s for sure good to have on a resume, but I think the biggest advantage was getting the opportunity to take honors classes that were very personalized. They have a smaller number of students and there are lot of benefits to the program. I just kind of liked the chance to challenge myself in that way.
What did you enjoy most about working toward the Honors Program?
I hate to say that it's the small classes again, but I did get to have classes where I was one of three people. I got a more intimate experience with the professor, and I got to talk to them one on one more. It felt like there was more of a connection than there would be in a massive lecture hall. To fulfill my volunteering requirement, I worked as a mentor for English Language Learning children at Nims Middle School in Tallahassee, and it was a really great experience. It actually encouraged me to pursue applying to teach abroad in Spain through FSU. I'm currently getting my Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Certificate at FSU. It was a really great opportunity and also gave me a chance to really see kids thrive in a way that you had a direct impact on them.
Did you work with a faculty advisor while working on the Honors designation or was this something you did on your own?
I definitely did check in with my advisor regularly, especially as I came closer to graduation. I would check in at least twice a semester to see what I needed to do and what I had left. I didn’t want to spend all of this time working toward something and then not get it last minute because I didn't just speak to an advisor and make sure that I had all my ducks lined up in a row.
Were there specific struggles you faced that you could reflect on for English students who are considering pursuing the Honors program designation? What advice would you give them?
My issue was that I was a lateral transfer, so I didn't get to do the honors ENC 2135 class. Because of that, I had to find other classes that were honors. One of the ways that you can graduate with honors is also to turn your volunteer hours into honors, so I ended up doing that instead. I think if you're trying to pursue an Honors designation, you should be very aware of the credit hours. Be very aware of how many credits you have left to complete and make a plan. Past the prerequisite level, there's not always going to be plenty of honors classes for your major, so it’s important to have a plan.
What plans do you have for post-graduation?
I really want to teach abroad, specifically to immigrant communities. Not only because of what I’ve experienced volunteering locally at the middle school and realizing just how few resources a lot of these children had, but also because it's meaningful work. You get to teach, but also have an impact on the community. Regardless, I think wherever I go and whatever I end up doing with my TESOL certificate, I do want to work with minority communities. Eventually, I’ll consider getting a master's in something like social work or journalism, but I'm keeping my options open. What I always tell people is that the most interesting professors I've had are the people that got a bachelor's degree in one thing, and then spent 5-10 years exploring their interests, working in different fields, discovering what they really loved, and then getting a Ph.D. in their passion and teaching it.
Rachel Zak is an English major on the editing, writing, and media track, with a minor in humanities.
Follow the English department on Instagram @fsuenglish; on Facebook facebook.com/fsuenglishdepartment/; and Twitter, @fsu_englishdept