HWS News
2 September 2022 Vanek ’25 Recalls First Year at HWS
Rising sophomore Aiden Vanek ’25 took the opportunity to explore the breadth of what HWS has to offer both in and out of the classroom. From becoming a Writing Colleague to navigating a day with much less time in the classroom, Vanek embraced a new chapter in his life.
What is the biggest difference between being a high school student and a college student?
The biggest difference between being a high school student and a college student, in my opinion, was the way my day was structured. In high school, my schedule felt very defined. However, in college, it feels the opposite. The time spent in class is fairly short and the time needed to complete outside assignments is much greater than in high school.
Favorite class?
My favorite class was BIOL 167 with Professor Patricia Mowrey. The class was based around HIV/AIDS which was something I did not know much about beforehand. Connecting the material from class to HIV and sometimes Covid was interesting because it gave biology a real-world application.
What was the best part of living in a residence hall?
The best part of living in a residence hall is being within a 5-minute walk from my friends. It makes it easy to study together or just meet up to hang out.
What were you most surprised by this year?
I was surprised most by the number of opportunities to get involved on campus. With HWS having a fairly small student population, I didn’t expect there to be many clubs, jobs or other ways to get involved. But there are many!
What are you most proud of yourself for accomplishing this year?
I am most proud for stepping out of my comfort zone and deciding to take a writing class my first semester. I was more of a STEM student and had trouble with the writing process, but I wanted to get better, so I decided to try it. Now, I enjoy writing and tutor others as a member of the Writing Colleagues.
