As an international business major on an East Asian studies track, I had a chance to spend my entire junior year abroad both working and studying in the city of Beijing, P.R.C. (People’s Republic of China).  Some thought I was crazy spending an entire year halfway around the world (there is a 12 hour time difference, so you could say I was literally on the other side of the world), but I saw this as an opportunity of a lifetime. What better way to learn about a country than to work and study in that country?

Two years ago, I sat in the seats of 200 Richards Hall asking the same question I hear every year: What exactly am I getting out of this? Like many freshmen, I thought I knew everything. I was the wise guy who thought he was too good for the class. It wasn’t until the end of my first semester, when I began regularly meeting with an Honors advisor, that I discovered a connection to the Honors Program. These meetings allowed the Honors staff to see my potential and to encourage me to apply to be a mentor for the following year.

After looking for a way to become more involved in the Honor’s Program, the Honors Leadership Institute was exactly what I wanted and more. In just one weekend out at the Warren Conference Center, not only do I have new experiences to share, but also new friends to share those experiences with.  The weekend taught me about myself, about how to work with others, and also about how important unity and trust can really be to a team.

On October 19^th, the Honors Program brought thirty-five students to the Warren Conference Center for the first Honors Program Leadership Institute. In spite of the heavy rain and traffic, the Honors students bravely made the trek to Ashland, Massachusetts!

As you may know, the Faculty-in-Residence program has been running at International Village (INV) in the past four years already, as part of one of the most important academic missions at Northeastern University, in order to sustain and strengthen academic interactions between students and faculty, beyond the classroom. The program enables students to have direct exposure to faculty and academic activities with faculty starting in their freshman year, and through such interactions, educates, guides, and prepares our students for their academic developments at Northeastern University, and beyond.Most of you may have come across and met our two Faculty-in-Residence, Mindelyn Bufford II, Professor of Sociology (top left), and Rifat Sipahi, Professor of Mechanical Engineering (top right). As the name FiR implies, both Professors Bufford II and Sipahi reside in INV, and yes they are your neighbors. You will come across them in the laundry room, cafeteria, lobby, and at several events going on in the building throughout the semester.

This fall, the programs that we participated in facilitating ranged from very small and personal to large and social. Soon after settling into their new homes in International Village, Honors residents had the opportunity to enjoy an intimate meal with the Faculty-in-Residence, Rifat Sipahi. Residents spent an evening learning how to make authentic French crepes, discussing French and Turkish traditions, and networking with Professor Sipahi of the School of Engineering.