HWS News
10 August 2022 Piqued Curiosity: Howe ’25 Reflects on First Year at HWS
During her first year, Lucy Howe ’25 says her path had ups and downs. While she was exploring new academic possibilities, an untimely injury kept her off the soccer pitch. Over the course of the year, Howe says she learned how to let go of expectations and enjoy the present. Now, she can’t wait for her sophomore year. Howe is a member of the William Smith soccer team and intends to double major in psychology and political science.
What is the biggest difference between being a high school student and a college student?
The biggest difference is the level of independence. In college, while there are plenty of resources available to help you be the best student you can be, there is no one holding your hand and guiding you through. You really have to take the initiative and decide how much effort you want to put into each thing you do.
Favorite class?
My favorite class was either “Intro to American Politics” or “Biopsychology.” I loved American Politics because it not only provoked interesting discussions and lines of thought for me, but it helped me discover my love for learning about and understanding politics. I loved Biopsychology because my professors used real world examples to teach super in-depth and complex topics, which made it easier to understand. I have found myself participating in conversations with friends and parents using knowledge from both of those classes, which is a very rewarding feeling - like I understand and can contribute to the conversation with depth and new perspective.
Best part of living in a residence hall?
The best part of living in a residence hall was being able to experience living on my own for the first time, but still being able to be in an environment where everyone else was doing the exact same thing.
Where have you found community on campus?
I have found community on campus through the soccer team. The team welcomed me with open arms, despite my injuries that prevented me from being able to participate much. They are people to go to when I struggle with anything about college-life or beyond.
What were you most surprised by this year?
I was most surprised by how much I was enjoyed some of my classes. I was worried that since most of my first-year classes were intro level that they wouldn't be very interesting, and I wouldn't get to the interesting stuff until sophomore or junior year. However, I was pleasantly surprised that many of my intro courses were very interesting and kept me motivated to study. Some of them even helped me decide what I want to study!
What are you most proud of yourself for accomplishing this year?
I am most proud of myself for really turning around my HWS experience for my second semester. The first semester, I struggled not only with the transition for academics but also with social and living situations. However, when I came back to campus for my second semester, I managed to turn it around and end the year excited to return in the fall!
