Showcase Artifact 1:
Metacognition in Action
This artifact invites you to step into the beginning and the near-end of my honors college journey. What you’ll see here is not just a timeline of assignments, but an evolution of clarity, skills, and perspective.
"I am" and "I want to become" Statements
In 2022, my first “I am” and “I want to become” statements were raw; part declaration, part guesswork. I was still shaping a vision for myself, learning how to describe goals that felt ambitious but not yet tangible. By 2025, those same statements became sharper and steadier, reflecting not only what I hope to achieve but what I have already begun building.
This comparison highlights how writing can act as a mirror of growth. Each picture gallery walks through the drafts and revisions that shaped these revisions. The process is as important as the final words: showing how ideas that once felt tentative are now understood to be the foundational skills of a strong communicator.
Reflection:
In 2022, my first “I am” and “I want to become” statements were raw; part declaration, part guesswork. I was still shaping a vision for myself, learning how to describe goals that felt ambitious but not yet tangible. By 2025, those same statements became sharper and steadier, reflecting not only what I hope to achieve but what I have already begun building.
This comparison highlights how writing can act as a mirror of growth. My PowerPoint slides and picture gallery walk through the drafts and revisions that shaped each version. The process is as important as the final words: showing how ideas that once felt tentative became commitments I now speak with confidence.
Journey Map
This artifact pairs two versions of my “Journey Map,” one from 2023, created when I first entered the Honors College, and one from 2025, my final semester. These maps are more than assignments. They’re snapshots of who I was, what I could (and couldn’t) put into words at the time, and how my sense of self has shifted as I’ve gained both confidence and clarity.
2023 Journey Map
The 2023 version reflects someone just starting out, still figuring out how to frame their past in a professional way. I remember this day vividly. I was unsure, and felt like I had nothing similar to my peers. But I forced myself to put something down, and what came out was both raw and revealing.
I started with my first-grade spelling bee win; the first time I remember feeling “smart.” Then I included the disruption of switching schools every year, and how that forced me to learn the skill of asking for help. The next few points were about constant moves (military family), which meant I was always adjusting and adapting.
Then life sped up: I had my children, few years of chaos survived with the help of therapy, and eventually began to thrive again. From there, I mapped out a career in respiratory therapy school, how an unexplained illness derailed me, and how recovery led me to enroll at IUPUI.
What strikes me now is how incomplete this map was. I didn’t know how to tell my story yet, so I left huge gaps. But that is true to where I was in 2023. I was acting purely on faith, not yet seeing the shape of my future, but willing to put in the effort to figure it out.
2025:
This version looks and feels very different. This map shows not just where I’ve been, but what I’ve built. It highlights the skills I’ve developed, the milestones I’ve earned, and the clear direction I’ve set for myself. Unlike the first version, I don’t need to explain or justify the pieces; the work speaks for itself.
Where the earlier map felt like scattered fragments, this one feels complete. It’s concise, authentic, and honest, but it also reflects the confidence that comes from living the experiences rather than just anticipating them.
Reflection:
Seeing these maps side by side makes the growth undeniable. The 2023 version shows uncertainty, a willingness to step forward without knowing where the path would lead. The 2025 version shows what happens when faith is backed up by persistence and skill: a future that is no longer vague, but intentional.
Both maps are true to who I was at the time. One is a sketch drawn in panic and possibility; the other is a grounded, steady plan. Together, they tell the story of how three years can transform not only what you do, but how you understand yourself.
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