100 Days of Discovery

WHAT COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU HEAR the term “Honors class?” Perhaps you envision high academic expectations, competition amongst peers, and an intense workload. While Honors courses at USF expect a lot of student contribution and commitment, the main goal is to cultivate a space for critical thinking, personal growth, and friendship. The courses I’ve taken at the Judy Genshaft Honors College are unlike any I had imagined taking in my undergraduate career. They are curiosity-driven and embrace collaboration. For example, my current Honors course has redefined how I approach commitment and creativity in my everyday life.

100 Days of Discovery: Cultivating Your Curiosity and Finding Relevance

This course is led by Professor Arnone, a flute soloist and instructor passionate about connecting to communities through music and art. The 100 Days of Discovery class is inspired by the 100-Day Project, where individuals choose one action and

perform it for 100 days. The goal is to commit to consistently practicing something that nourishes the creative spirit within oneself. As Professor Arnone says, “Creativity is selfcare.”

My classmates have chosen various projects, including powerlifting, learning dental facts, botanical art, documenting everyday life, language acquisition, and embroidery. Each week in class, we learn about each other’s journeys and collaborate on connecting our projects to our local and global communities.

My 100-Day Project is to create a podcast called “HonoraBULL Insights,” where I converse with Honors faculty and staff about their journey to social awareness, research, humanities, and sustainability. There were many moments in my academic journey when I wanted to learn more about my instructors and seek mentorship. Through my podcast, I’ve connected with many individuals at the Honors College and challenged myself to step outside my comfort zone by pursuing a creative endeavor such as filming. Most importantly, I wanted to create something bigger than myself. In my podcast, I find relevance by dedicating a space to share perspectives on academia, society, and self-discovery. I hope glimpses of these conversations will motivate students to reach out to faculty, get involved, and invest in creative projects for themselves, regardless of their primary field of interest. College is not just the time to further your skills and prepare for your career; it’s also the perfect time to explore, play, and tap into that creativity.