This Is Me, Now — Evidence of Change

A key moment that shows my growth this semester happened during our civic debate on global warming. My opponents brought up points about peatlands and pollution — ideas I had never seriously considered before. Their arguments didn’t instantly change my stance, but they did something more important: they made me curious enough to keep thinking after the debate was over. I realized that being a critical thinker isn’t just about pushing back or questioning things; it’s about staying open-minded long enough to understand perspectives different from your own. Because of that openness, I later ended up researching related topics like the melting polar ice caps, which helped me see the issue in a much broader way. This showed me that real critical thinking means being willing to update what you believe when new evidence comes along.

Looking Ahead

Looking ahead, UNI 110 has made me much more confident and clear about pursuing Data Science as my major. The course helped me realize that I enjoy writing about topics I care about and that I can express my ideas in a strong and meaningful way. It also sparked new interests for me — especially in areas like astrophysics and the impact humans have on the planet. UNI 110 encouraged me to think critically about big issues, and that pushed me to explore subjects I never considered before. Because of that, I’m excited to continue studying data, science, and the world around me, and to follow the paths that curiosity leads me toward.