Logan's Three Semester Reflection Essay

The Topics:

• Indicate which topic or set of material in the SGC colloquium has been most effective in helping you choose a major, in connecting you to your major, or enhancing your attitude and approach toward your major.
• Cite and discuss any example of encountering failures of the critical thinking skills (for instances, people using logical fallacies, or failing to employ some piece of the scientific toolbox in a situation where it improves understanding) in your experiences as a college student so far.
• Also, cite at least two (2) specific items from classes that are SGC requirements or supporting courses, but which are not CPSG classes, that additionally support your thesis.
• Additionally, discuss how your learning was improved or enhanced by interacting (in or out of class) with one or more fellow SGC Scholars. Please use particular examples of how being in this living-learning community actually aided in learning (or, if it did not aid in learning, indicate such).
• Scholars aims to encourage active contribution on the part of students, either in specific academic situations (e.g., Colloquium discussions and projects; field trip activities; etc.) or as part of the larger Scholars community. To what degree do you think you have personally contributed to SGC, giving particular examples?
• Furthermore, discuss to what degree (if any) did being in Scholars brought you in contact with people or concepts that challenged previous beliefs or opinions you had (either concerning the academic material of the program or other personal issues in your life). [Please note: a challenge is not necessarily a contradiction! Consider a "challenge" as any situation that caused you to examine or reflect on a belief or opinion that you already had.] How have these beliefs and opinions changed as a result of your experiences over your first three semesters?
• Finally, how do you think your Scholars experience might inform your future? Are there particular lessons, methods, events, or other aspects of your time in SGC that you expect to draw upon as a junior and senior? In post-undergraduate education (if any)? In your professional career? [Obviously this is just speculation on your part; it is often the case that it is only in hindsight that we discover what was really our most important or formative experiences!]

A topic that really stuck out to me was one of the more recent ones covering mad scientists. When discussing the qualities of a mad scientist as well as examples in the real world of such individuals, many of them ended up either directly within or connected to a field of aviation. Reflecting on their lives a lot of it boils down to corrupt goals and loose morals. Looking back to myself, knowing that my goals and reasons for becoming an aerospace engineer, I feel proud and more connected to my major that what I will be doing is beneficial to the future rather than harmful. Furthermore, it has made me feel more satisfied with my decision of continuing in my courses for aerspace leaning towards a space track in hopes of working on rovers in my professional career where my actions work is distant from impacting people directly.

Every Friday of my Fall 2024 semester I had a discussion for my ENEE200, an engineering ethics course, in which we were tasked to read case studies and discuss the ethical dilemmas and debate the best course of action based on the scenario. On various occasions people have brought arguments riddled with logical fallacies requiring me to step up and expand on the argument in cases of the straw man fallacy, propose alternatives in cases of false dilemmas, and many more.

From being in the living-learning community amongst fellow SGC scholars I have felt my learning experience has been improved. The first thing that comes to mind is the location of the dorm in comparison to the rest of traditional freshman and sophomore classes. It is much closer to my classes that reside on the eastern part of campus with the exception of general education classes which helps me get to classes and allows me to be on time to classes more often. As far as interacting with other SGC Scholars goes it helps me feel connected on campus especially as since scholars courses are interest based there is always something to connect to people with. Additionally, when other SGC Scholars have other courses with me I feel comfortable talking to them and working with them such as Jack Bowe in my Calculous courses. Even outside of my particular course there are several individuals still within the living-learning community I was able to connect with and interact with on a daily basis in many, if not all of my courses.

Unfortunately, I do not feel as if I have contributed more than an average amount back to SGC. What I can say however, is that on one occasion I have given back more than the average person and that was at the end of my Spring 2024 semester in which I joined my professors and a few other students to discuss what could be changed about the course in order to make it a better experience for future scholar students. Outside of this experience I did also volunteer to be team captain for the kickball team during the scholars field day; however, when the day arrived the weather was unforgiving causing the day to get delayed and kickball was never rescheduled meaning I never got the opportunity to lead my companions to absolute victory.

Before SGC I believed that many people were unwilling to believe in climate change as it would change their daily lives and they didn't want to leave that luxury. However, the more I learned from SGC allowed me to realize that the reason is not as simple as that. Climate change cannot be addressed in such a short matter of time and people just changing their habits won’t fix all our problems. A big reason people don’t want to believe in climate change is that they feel guilty about it or don't know how much of it is caused by people. In order to change how people see climate change it's not just about telling them what it is but also how it can and will ultimately impact us if we continue down the path we travel now.

One thing I don't think I will ever forget is the ability to properly assess the quality and integrity of a person's argument, how reliable their information is based on various factors. Being able to ensure the information you hear is factual allows your database of knowledge to remain trustworthy such that when it comes time to discuss and use that information it is not only correct but also when other people listen and take it into consideration they are not being misled. Next semester as I participate in research I want to ensure my data and what I write about my work is upheld to the same standard. Additionally, as I continue into a professional career where my actions and choices may have direct impacts on other peoples lives I wish not to be misled and put people unnecessarily in harm's way.

Last modified: 9 December 2024