Honors Program

Meredith Yuen

Why did you join the Honors Program?

I joined the Honors Program to challenge myself in my community college experience. I like the fact that I can go more in depth in classes that interest me, and that I can forge a working relationship with my professors.

To whom would you recommend the program?

I would recommend this program to everyone. I think that it is important for students that are interested in transferring to top universities. and those who want to push themselves in their academics.

What is the most unique activity that you did as an Honors student?

The most unique thing that I did as an Honors student would be presenting my research at UC Berkeley and being the Honors Club president. Both opened my eyes to new experiences, and taught me a lot.

What have you enjoyed the most with the Honors Program?

I have enjoyed meeting new people, finding friends that have the same academic drive as I do, and fulfilling my passion for learning. The Honors program has been crucial to my academic career.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

In 10 years, I can see myself being a lawyer (with the intention of becoming an Ambassador) or a psychologist. We shall see what happens!

Raphael Doelker

To whom would you recommend honors-level classes?

I would recommend honors classes to everyone who is motivated and looking for a challenge. Honors-level classes offer a more rigorous and in-depth education. However, I also recommend these classes to anyone who does not have a specific educational goal in mind, but has the potential to do great work and needs that extra push.

What is most rewarding to you as an Honors student?

Honors classes have been very rewarding because I felt a greater sense of achievement after the classes were over. Taking honors classes or doing honors contracts helped me get a better sense of the subject matter. Additionally, I had the opportunity of getting to know my professors a bit better and pick their brains, which I enjoyed very much. Most importantly, taking honors classes prepared me for the rigor of coursework at my transfer institution.

How has the Honors program benefited you?

The Honors Program has helped me become a better student. When I started in Honors, I was a mediocre student. I drifted aimlessly from class to class and had no particular motivation toward school. This changed drastically when I learned about the Honors Program and what it had to offer. Since I joined the program, I found the motivation to do better in my classes, made great friends, became involved with a group of extraordinary students through the Honors Club, figured out my major, and helped me tremendously in transferring to UCSD . Thanks to the Honors Program, I have developed bonds with great students and faculty, and became a better more motivated student.

Pooria Daryabeygi

To whom would you recommend honors-level classes?

I recommend honors-level classes to all students, especially those who like to challenge themselves and want to advance their knowledge in specific subject(s). One of the great things about honors-level classes at Mesa College is that you can turn any class into an honors class by signing a contract with your teacher. This is great because your options are not limited. Honors classes are designed to involve students at all levels.

What is most rewarding to you as an Honors student?

As an honors student, there are many rewarding aspects. The most rewarding for me is the knowledge I gained by challenging myself. For example, I had the opportunity to turn my philosophy class into an honors-level class. My assignment as an honors student was to complete a research on a subject of my choice, in philosophy. In addition to answering many life-long questions that I had regarding our existence, my research was selected for presentation at the Honors Transfer Council of California (HTCC). Presenting my work at HTCC was an amazing experience where I improved my speech skills and learned about other students' research topics.

How has the Honors program benefited you?

The honors program benefited me academically and personally. Academically, the program improved my chances of getting accepted to top universities, and provided me with a certificate of completion. I applied to eight universities and was admitted to seven. The program also helped me plan my future. In my accounting class, the honors assignment requested the creation of a product, including all financial documentation and preparation for selling the product in the coming years. Since my major is Business Administration with a concentration in Entrepreneurship, this honors assignment challenged me with tasks I'll be considering in my future job. Additionally, the program introduced me to the honors community, staff and faculty, all who have become life-long friends and colleagues.

Miguel Liera

Why did you join the Honors Program?

I joined Honors to push myself academically and help me standout as a scholar and as a future transfer student.

Describe a unique activity you did while you were an honors student.

The most unique activity I did as an honors student was working with the Latino Film Festival in San Diego. Having the opportunity to work with the Media Arts Center and their staff was amazing and an experience I will never forget.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

In ten years I see myself as a Principal in a High School setting, a drive and passion that I know stems from working with the professors in my honors program with the San Diego Community College District.

Why did you join the Honors Program?

When I was first introduced to the Honors Program as a freshman during orientation, I was inspired to join because I wanted to receive some kind of recognition as a promising student and later career woman.

I also secretly hoped that competing the honors program would boost my self-confidence, as well as equip me with a gutsy and positive attitude in trying things I hadn't before out of fear of failure.

People often think of "honors" as an elitist program. What are your thoughts on the matter?

I think the word honors can become a sensitive and polarizing word when used to describe one's academic endeavors, especially when most students who may be bereft of affirming, positive and rewarding experiences in their previous educational experiences, only have their grades as a measuring tool to approximate just how successful they could be in school.

Such unmemorable experiences may be set feelings of disillusionment and abandonment as to how they may approach academics in general. I feel as a student it can be very personal and uncomfortable to discuss grades as they are often used to broadly gauge something as tangible yet difficult to define as intelligence.

However, every student who has received an A should know that good grades are a strong combination of consistent and timely effort with a little bit of luck. I personally feel it would be a gross over-analysis of the grading system to rely on it as a sole measure of one's intellectual capabilities.

That being said, I can imagine it would be difficult for students of said background to picture themselves as part of an honors club or society and see the value of belonging to a group of honors students, who are extremely hardworking, creative and inspiring to be around, due to the social veneer of pompousness attributed to them.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

As a proud Mesa transfer, upon graduating as a double major (Biochemistry, B.S. and Linguistics, B.A) from UCRiverside, I hope to apply and matriculate into the Thomas Haider Program for entry into the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine for Fall of 2013 or 2014. My greatest desire is to work abroad or at home alongside physicians who wish to establish universal healthcare.