In my first year of college, I learned the concept of “dialectical thinking.” Dialectical thinking has its roots and iterations across different disciplines, and the lens in which I have engaged with it over the years has been through Marsha Linehan (a UW alum!)’s Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)-- derived from more traditional forms of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Dialectical thinking is the ability to hold two seemingly contradictory thoughts at the same time and accept them both as true. A few examples from takeaways I’ve learned at the UW include: rejection is challenging to cope with and it is valuable; lack of sleep makes the next day harder and memories can be worth the sacrifice; boundaries can feel distancing and they make connection sustainable; positions of leadership are empowering to hold and it is exhausting to constantly be seen and known; the pursuit of perfection has led to my greatest academic successes and my most debilitating endeavors; we can be ever-growing and constant. 

 

I have been practicing this for a while now, and I am far from being an expert– despite the aforementioned perfectionistic tendencies. The intention behind the word “and” has become a core part of my vocabulary– pivoting unhelpful thoughts into ones that allow me to see the multiple apparent truths in a given situation. The dichotomous fleeting nature and permanent residency of the impacts, learning, and lived experiences I have cultivated at the UW empowers me to hold these multiple truths at once. I have learned that there is power in engaging with the world in a way that seeks out and values interconnectedness. My intuitive approach is to hold onto what feels meaningful to me and to go all-in. To invest myself in it. To become a part of it. 

 

When I find things that fill my cup, I pour myself right back into them and have learned through experience that what I give comes back to me. The community that uplifts me justifies what it takes to maintain it. The why that drives me empowers the how to do so. The accolades I earn reflect the growth it took to get there. It has been through tangential reckonings with interdisciplinarity, experiential learning, and the drive to follow through that I feel accurately captures my holistic experience at the UW and in the Honors Program. 

 

Interdisciplinarity, to me, means boundless ways of thinking. It is seeing the through-lines across seemingly disconnected paths, disciplines, or interests; it is recognizing how systems interact with and respond to each other; it is making room for expansion. Interdisciplinary thinking has woven its way into my academics, such as my integration of Taylor Swift into honors, psychology, sociology, and education courses. Interdisciplinary is the intersection of my psychology and education majors that have shaped my passion for well-being, mental health, and systemic justice in education systems. Interdisciplinary engagement is the cognitive approach and skills gained in one domain, such as being an Honors Peer Educator, that informs how I show up in other spaces, such as being an RA or Peer Adviser. 

 

Experiential learning, then, is where life intersects with interdisciplinarity. It is physical engagement, presence, and play; it is the welcoming of new spaces and places, as well as the experimentation of who to be and how within them; it is embodying curiosities inside and outside of the classroom. My experiential learning has looked like all of undergrad in the same residence hall with intentional distinction between each year’s experiences, the presentation of prospective research at a national conference with peers, and my versatile title of Student Leader. 

 

The relationship between interdisciplinarity and experiential learning is an example of this both/and thinking. Taylor Swift became embedded in my academics and the theme of the hall I decorated as an RA. My majors led to gravitation towards school psychology, which led to my research. My academics helped me articulate the values at the forefront of my leadership: empathy, belonging, and compassion to create connection with others and recognize that lived experience shapes the ways in which we all show up. 

 

And so, commitment is my tendency to stay rooted in the things that matter to me. Commitment is comfort, familiarity, and wondering what happens if I keep going? Commitment is to see the finish line even when it seems far away, and it is the recognition that the pursuit itself is rewarding. Commitment is my struggle to say “no” and my authentic zealousness to say “yes.” Commitment is my slow understanding that self-sustainability is what leads to genuine change. It has been living in Terry Hall for all four years. It is my reputation as a “Swiftie.” It is wanting to reciprocate the homebase that Honors provided me by maintaining connections within it. It is breadth and depth and recognizing that life is not just passing experiences, rather, it is the accumulation of everything that came before it. 

 

These themes– interdisciplinarity, experiential learning, and commitment– ground both my undergraduate experiences and, appropriately, my portfolio. There are four core sections of this portfolio that provide a deep dive into the ways in which these themes have naturally emerged and have been intentionally carved into place across different areas of my life. Additionally, there are two miscellaneous catalogues of experiences that I felt deserved to be here but were exceptions to the natural integration of the aforementioned core areas. You may also catch on to Swiftie Easter eggs hidden throughout. Further, in an effort to strengthen the habit of dialectical thinking, each section will be depicted through both/and thinking.

 

As you explore my portfolio, I hope you notice the happenings that have been significant and fulfilling to me, appreciate my ability to relate everything back to Taylor Swift, and feel inspired to approach your own experiences dialectically. I invite you to recognize the weight of what guides you, as have I. I think you may find this portfolio evokes a sense of agency, creativity, and passion – at least, that is what this project has been for me.