My name is Mia Santos, and I am majoring in Psychology on a pre-Physician Assistant track. My pronouns are she/her. Starting this course, my first impression is that it will challenge me to think more deeply about how I observe, listen, and interpret the world around me. The syllabus shows that we will not only write but also reflect critically on our own perspectives, which excites me because I know that writing is more than just putting words on paper—it’s a way of engaging with communities, cultures, and ideas.

I have used observation and reflection before in meaningful ways. For example, in Peer Group Counseling during high school, I worked with younger students who were nervous about starting high school. I had to pay close attention to their body language, tone, and interactions to really understand what they needed. From that experience, I learned that sometimes people don’t say everything directly, and careful observation helps uncover what is left unsaid. Reflection afterward helped me adjust how I communicated and supported them.

Currently, I observe and engage with communities in a few different ways. In my church, I help lead Bible study for younger kids. I’ve noticed that the way they respond to stories depends a lot on how I connect the lessons to their everyday lives. That has taught me the importance of linking abstract ideas to personal experience. In my family, being Dominican-American, I’ve also paid attention to how language, traditions, and even jokes shape identity. Observing those patterns has made me more proud of my bilingualism and more intentional about preserving culture.

Overall, I’m looking forward to how this class will help me build on these skills, especially as we move into interview-based assignments. I expect it will make me more confident not just as a student but also as a future healthcare professional, where observation, reflection, and understanding people are essential.