When I wrote my college application, I centered it on one word — growth. It’s a value I live by every day. Many of us go to college not just for the education but also for the personal growth we’ll get along the way. As my first year at Amherst is coming to an end, I hope to reflect on how much I’ve grown over the past eight months.
One of the biggest things I’ve learned since coming here is the fact that I’m not that smart (and I mean it in a positive way). Before Amherst, I took a gap year and spent lots of time learning things on my own. Philosophy. Mathematics. Writing. You name it. Since there was no one to give me feedback, I felt like I was the master of everything I was learning. However, that changed when I came to Amherst.
I remember experiencing a mental breakdown when I got my first grade in college back. B+ for a one-page writing assignment I spent three hours on. I know a B+ is a good grade (a rather impressive one for a first assignment, now that I think about it), but I couldn’t help thinking about how naive I was. My professor pointed out flawed reasoning in my assignment, and it was only until then did I realize that writing isn’t just about clarity — it’s about critical thinking.
My first semester at Amherst helped me improve just that, my critical thinking (and also my inflated sense of self). I quickly learnt that the more I knew, the more I realized how little I actually knew. After just one semester at Amherst, the world felt like 10 times bigger than it was before my very first class at Amherst. And I was so motivated to explore all of it! For one of my final projects last semester, I went to the library and browsed through at least ten books on the topic to develop a better argument. It was my first time diving that deep into a topic. My high school and gap year self could never. These days, I’ve become a much more critical thinker in everything I do.
But then my classes were only one part of it. I also learnt a lot from the people I talked to. My favorite thing about Amherst is that everyone around you is passionate about a different thing, and it’s super cool to hear people talk about something you have absolutely no idea about! I guess my motto these days is “Wow I didn’t know that.” That’s how I grew my worldview. For example, just yesterday, I made matcha, real matcha for the first time. Okay I’ve done instant matcha latte before, but not the one where you use a chashaku (bamboo scoop) to scoop the tea powder and chasen (tea whisk) to whisk the tea. Enjoying my traditionally prepared cup of matcha, I was so grateful for my Japanese classmate who taught me how to make it. It wouldn’t have been possible if I hadn’t come to Amherst. Also, fun fact: I just found out that Amherst has a class on Tea Ceremony! I shall take it one day.
But that doesn’t mean growth comes easy at Amherst. This week in my Educational Studies class, we talked about how many of us at Amherst still see classes, internships, and research positions as “checkboxes” to get to places we want, rather than opportunities to learn and grow. I’ve felt the pressure to take only Math and CS classes to serve my plans — rather than interesting topic classes where I know I’ll grow much, much more — so many times. I’m still figuring it out, but I know I don’t want to waste my potential at Amherst. I have lots of interesting plans in store for me next year, so I’m excited to see where I’ll head.
Unlike most of my posts, this one is less about Amherst itself and more about my personal journey here. But I can promise you that Amherst is truly a wonderful place to learn and grow. All you need is the bravery to pursue it. If you have any questions, let me know! My inbox is always open at thuhoang28@amherst.edu.