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SEASON 1

In Season 1 (2020) of the First-Year Writing Seminar: The Podcast, students created episodes in the style of “This I Believe” essays. Their “I believe” statements make claims about which dimension of personal & social responsibility (the thread of FWS 101 in Fall 2020) described by the Association of American Colleges and Universities is most important for a person to demonstrate. To support their beliefs, students draw on and describe experiences from their own lives.

Caroline Little on “Contributing to a Larger Community” (transcript)
Elsa Yeager on “Striving for Excellence” (transcript)
Greta Hundtofte on “Taking Seriously the Perspectives of Others” (transcript)
Khloe Kennedy on “Contributing to a Larger Community” (transcript)
Morgen Burnett on “Contributing to a Larger Community” (transcript)
Morgan Douglas on “Taking Seriously the Perspectives of Others” (transcript)
Samus Schuler on “Taking Seriously the Perspectives of Others” (transcript)
Sara Graña on “Contributing to a Larger Community” (transcript)

Season 2

In Season 2 (2021) of the First-Year Writing Seminar: The Podcast, students created episodes in the style of “This I Believe” essays. Their “I believe” statements make claims about which dimension of global awareness (the thread of FWS 101 in Fall 2021) is most important for a person to demonstrate. These dimensions are contained in FWS’s document, “First-Year Writing Seminar’s Character Traits Associated with the Four Dimensions of Global Awareness.” To support their beliefs, students draw on and describe experiences from their own lives.

Audrey Novinger on Demonstrating Empathy and Respect for Difference (transcript)
Clara Anderson Cameron on Striving to Learn (transcript)
Emily Kresin on Cultivating Self Awareness and Integrity (transcript)
Kayla Portwood on Cultivating Self Awareness and Integrity (transcript)
Kordelia Taylor on Cultivating Self Awareness and Integrity (transcript)
Lessie Gracie Wilborn on Striving to Learn (transcript)
Maddy Kucera on Cultivating Self Awareness and Integrity (transcript)
Taryn Dipman on Demonstrating Empathy and Respect for Difference (transcript)
Tobi Destiny Swearingen on Demonstrating Empathy and Respect for Difference (transcript)

Season 3

In Season 3 (2022) of the First-Year Writing Seminar: The Podcast, students created episodes in the style of “This I Believe” essays. Their “I believe” statements make claims about which dimension of global awareness (the thread of FWS 101 in Fall 2022) is most important for a person to demonstrate. These dimensions are contained in FWS’s document, “First-Year Writing Seminar’s Character Traits Associated with the Four Dimensions of Global Awareness.” To support their beliefs, students draw on and describe experiences from their own lives.

Batha Wagoner on Demonstrating Empathy and Respect for Difference (transcript)
Carolyn Huff on Cultivating Self-Awareness and Integrity (transcript)
Joan Nasara on Collaborating and Contributing to a Global Society (transcript)
Keriyion Cloyd on Demonstrating Empathy and Respect for Difference (transcript)
Langston Riddle on Cultivating Self-Awareness and Integrity (transcript)
Luka Parker on Demonstrating Empathy and Respect for Difference (transcript)
Sam Kastner on Demonstrating Empathy and Respect for Difference (transcript)

Season 4

In Season 4 (2023) of the First-Year Writing Seminar: The Podcast, students created episodes in the style of “This I Believe” essays. Their “I believe” statements make claims about the importance of leadership principles. To illustrate, students describe experiences from their own lives.

Ally Potts on “The Leadership Process Begins with Knowing Yourself” (transcript)
Destiny Agbonyeme on “Leadership is Dynamic and Context Specific” (transcript)

Season 5

In Season 5 (2024) of the First-Year Writing Seminar: The Podcast, students created episodes in the style of “This I Believe” essays. Their “I believe” statements make claims about the importance of leadership principles. To illustrate, students describe experiences from their own lives.

Claire Lindstrom on “Leadership Concerns All of Us” (transcript)
Diana Van Atta on “Leadership Qualities and Skills are Learned and Developed” (transcript)
Julia Holmes on “The Leadership Process Begins with Knowing Yourself” (transcript)
Lindsay Abegg on “Leadership Qualities and Skills are Learned and Developed” (transcript)
Presley Swindell on “The Leadership Process is Dynamic and Context-Specific” (transcript)
Talita Jada on “The Leadership Process Begins with Knowing Yourself” (transcript)