By Jordyn Fouts
As a Biochemistry major, senior Tonhi Gailey did not want her college experience to be limited to science classes. She knew that if she took G. E. classes, her focus would be getting the credits instead of learning. It is easy to get burnt out if your focus is on one field alone. She concluded, “I wanted something rigorous and challenging that would be a good use of my time. I wanted my non-science classes to mean something to me too.”
How does Honors contribute to your understanding of your major? Although it is easy to see the difference between science and humanities, Tonhi believes that there are many more connections than one might expect. “Honors builds a lot on history,” Tonhi reflected, “and it emphasizes old works and things other people have already figured out.” Honors has given her the framework she needs to take a classical approach to science. She loves that Honors reconciles differences in beliefs and has guided her to recognizing paradigm shifts in scientific advancement throughout history. Honors has given Tonhi the ability to appreciate what has been set out before her in science and what she has access to now.
What does your major bring into your experience with Honors? Tonhi expressed that Honors uses a different side of her ability to think, reason, analyze, and process texts. She appreciates that it is rooted in creativity and challenges her to use a side of herself that science classes normally would not. Tonhi also understands that in Honors it is easy to over-complicate things and emphasize the nuances in ideas. While she recognizes the importance of this tendency to understand complex concepts, her science background has given her the ability to see, despite the complexity, that there is always a way to simplify an idea.
How do you believe Honors will assist you with your career goals? Since Tonhi wants to work in research, she appreciates that Honors taught her never to accept ideas at a surface level. “Anyone who has ever done an experiment,” Tonhi explained, “knows that the first time isn’t going to be one hundred percent the correct answer.” Additionally, you cannot just have one source when you write a research paper. Sometimes scholars say different things and contradict each other. Honors has shown Tonhi that she cannot just believe one source. She has learned to question whether or not things are right and true. The people who studied the subject before her might not always know more or be right. Tonhi has realized that she cannot be afraid to challenge their ideas; she has to seek the answers for herself. Tonhi recognizes that this is an essential mindset in research, to have a constant drive to seek answers regardless of circumstances.
How has Honors impacted your college experience? Tonhi has been deeply impacted by the friends she has made through the Honors College. She loves that Honors brings together students of many different backgrounds, majors, and interests and that she has become friends with people outside of her major who have different perspectives. Apart from providing her with a community, Honors has shaped how Tonhi views the world, relationships, and what it means to be human. “You can’t go back to the way you used to view the world after reading these texts,” Tonhi concluded.
What book has made a particular impact on you? Tonhi expressed that the theological texts she read in Honors were all impactful for her. She came into college struggling with her faith, and the theological texts helped her discover the difference between who God truly is and who she wanted Him to be. Tonhi cited Fear and Trembling by Søren Kierkegaard and Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton as having a significant effect on her faith. These authors both address the character of God, the pursuit of truth, and the paradoxical nature of the tenets of Christianity. Reconciling these paradoxes both answered many of Tonhi’s questions and left her with more questions, which she believes characterizes the pursuit of truth. Both Chesterton and Kierkegaard answered some of the questions Tonhi had and compelled her to search for more answers.
Tonhi feels that Honors contributed greatly to her personal growth and gave her a beautiful and thoughtful framework through which to understand the world. It deeply impacted her faith, her approach to science, and her career goals. We hope her story helped you to see the beautiful way Honors and biochemistry can work together. If you have any questions, please contact us through email or by phone call. We hope you apply!