Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences celebrates the class of 2023! To commemorate their upcoming graduation, we’ve connected with a few seniors about their time at Weinberg College and future plans. Jasmine Tran will be graduating in June with a major in Biological Sciences and minors in Global Health Studies and Asian American Studies.
Tell us a little bit about your interdisciplinary experience at Weinberg College. How did it prepare you for the future?
I will say my education at Weinberg College has been interdisciplinary. Prior to my first year at Northwestern, I was able to be a part of the summer program, Bridge I, which sought to acclimate underrepresented students to campus and provide us with a better understanding of the academic expectations and options available at the school. It was through Bridge I that I got to truly experience the different selections of courses and potential majors/minors that I could pursue in college. For example, I took a fair share of STEM and Humanities-based courses during my time at NU and found myself engaging in different facets of academic rigor. On a typical day, I could be discussing 18th-century Poetry in Britain in the morning, learning about reproductive health in Vietnam during the afternoon, and finishing the day with a Physics Lab. The quarter system at Northwestern has allowed me to engage in a myriad of different classes and topics that struck my interest! It helped me prepare myself for the future by allowing me to value education and find useful techniques and skills to apply to my career field. College is honestly the only time where I could see myself engaging in such a diverse array of topics, and I want to make the most of it!
What is one of the most memorable moments (s) you’ve experienced in the classroom, on campus, or at Northwestern in general?
One of the most memorable moments that I experienced at Northwestern is via my engagement at the Student Enrichment Services (SES) Office! Going into college, I was hesitant about finding a community where I could feel entirely comfortable. During my first year, I was a part of Compass, a first-year program for underrepresented students, that provided them academic, social, and professional support through mentorship with an upperclassman (Aaliyah you are the best!!). It was through this program and SES that I felt like I was confident enough to power through the next few years of college as well as have a support system on campus! I have since returned to work at the office and am now a Compass mentor (determined to provide the same support to my mentees).
What has your coursework taught you about yourself?
The coursework at Northwestern was honestly a step up from the academic rigor of my high school. I did have to play some catch-up, but by the time I entered my upperclassmen years at Northwestern, I was able to get a hang of the academic expectations and learned a lot about what study plans work for me. First, I was able to build up my confidence to attend Office Hours for my professors and TAs. By doing so, I really got to answer questions that I was stuck on, and it also helped me understand that they are cool people to talk to! Next, I would say that the coursework truly helped me with time management and perseverance. Midterms and Finals Season were always busy times, so I found myself having to adjust when to reserve time to study while also working my jobs!
Do you have a favorite or transformative Weinberg College course you took? Or a professor that taught you?
I am very grateful for the people who looked after me and made sure that I felt supported during my time at Northwestern! Especially when I began to experience the academic rigor at NU, I found myself connecting with professors that continue to help me throughout my college journey. For my STEM courses, my favorite professors were Dr. Luke Flores, Dr. Michele McDonough, and Dr. Stephanie Knezz. I was able to bond with them through our first-generation college student identities. Also, through their respective classes, I learned to really advocate for myself and feel like I belong in this institution.
For the Humanities side, I really enjoyed taking courses with Dr. Raymond San Diego from the Asian American Studies Program (I took 6 of their classes because my friends and I enjoyed them so much) as well as Dr. Samantha Botz from the English Department (I was initially hesitant about my writing abilities, but Sam did an amazing job at making me feel comfortable and providing amazing annotations to help me improve my essays).
What advice would you give to your freshman self?
Don’t take yourself so seriously!! Also, go on a walk to the lake fill when it’s nice out, it really helps with stress!!
What advice would you give to future students?
First, congratulations on getting into college! This is an impressive feat and you should be incredibly proud of yourself. College is going to be different from high school, and I want you to know that you will change and evolve by the time you graduate. Be kind and patient to yourself, DRINK WATER, and most of all please try to enjoy your time in college. It’s good to study and prepare, but also try to explore Chicago sometime!