Learning Statement
The word symphony originates from the Greek word symphonia, which Wikipedia defines as “agreement or concord of sound.” In those times, the word carried the meaning of “consonance,” contrasted with diaphonia, or “dissonance.” Pythagoras, in the majesty of all his ancient Greek philosophizing, said that music is a “microcosmic reflection of macrocosmic order, including everything in the universe.” And now, although we normally use the word in a musical context, composers, artists, and writers often aim to portray the patterns of symphonia and diaphonia that they see or experience around them. Even medicine is founded on the idea of order and disorder. Symphonia is everywhere, from the individual level to the societal level. Everything is just a part of a bigger whole, of a larger concord.
In the past four years, I've slowly learned that while we are the protagonists of our individual lives, we remain so interconnected with each other, playing various roles in each other’s lives, leading to a collective, human existence. Within my neuroscience courses, I have spent weeks and months learning about neural networks, and the interconnectedness of our nervous system: that which makes us human. And I never thought that looking inward, learning how our brains work (or attempting to at least), would inform my understanding of life as a whole. The Greeks and the classical composers were very much in agreement: society may be analogous to one big orchestra, and each of us an instrument oscillating between symphonia and diaphonia. This idea has given a whole new meaning to my understanding of a classical symphony.
My experiences at the University of Washington have been diverse, and often feel somewhat disconnected. However, they have largely been informative and formative. So—and hopefully you can see where this odd analogy I keep hinting at is going— I’ve developed this portfolio as a four-movement composition of my UW experience (following the structure of a symphony, with an added encore because why remain in the confines of a musical structure some dudes decided was ideal 300 years ago): 1) neuroscience, 2) experiential learning, 3) music, and, as I have met some incredible people along the way who have played a huge role in shaping who I am today, 4) community. I aim to highlight the interconnectedness between people and experiences that has defined the past four years for me.
In this portfolio, a hybrid of an internal monologue and a thank you note, my goal is to try to encapsulate all of my little puzzle pieces in order to create a bigger picture of my time at UW. I hope you enjoy.
In the past four years, I've slowly learned that while we are the protagonists of our individual lives, we remain so interconnected with each other, playing various roles in each other’s lives, leading to a collective, human existence. Within my neuroscience courses, I have spent weeks and months learning about neural networks, and the interconnectedness of our nervous system: that which makes us human. And I never thought that looking inward, learning how our brains work (or attempting to at least), would inform my understanding of life as a whole. The Greeks and the classical composers were very much in agreement: society may be analogous to one big orchestra, and each of us an instrument oscillating between symphonia and diaphonia. This idea has given a whole new meaning to my understanding of a classical symphony.
My experiences at the University of Washington have been diverse, and often feel somewhat disconnected. However, they have largely been informative and formative. So—and hopefully you can see where this odd analogy I keep hinting at is going— I’ve developed this portfolio as a four-movement composition of my UW experience (following the structure of a symphony, with an added encore because why remain in the confines of a musical structure some dudes decided was ideal 300 years ago): 1) neuroscience, 2) experiential learning, 3) music, and, as I have met some incredible people along the way who have played a huge role in shaping who I am today, 4) community. I aim to highlight the interconnectedness between people and experiences that has defined the past four years for me.
In this portfolio, a hybrid of an internal monologue and a thank you note, my goal is to try to encapsulate all of my little puzzle pieces in order to create a bigger picture of my time at UW. I hope you enjoy.