Students in a small classroom looking at a woman presenting in front of two TV screens.

Forge Your Story

The first-year experience at the JMHC designed to promote student growth and leadership

Begin your relentless pursuit.

Loeb Playhouse

Students watching another peer give a presentation in Honors Hall.

Aug. 23, 3:30 p.m.

Join your peers for an introduction to the JMHC's first-year student experience. Become familiar with Purdue's vast resources. Learn how the JMHC and its opportunities will enhance your Purdue journey.

What is Forge Your Story?

Forge Your Story is a program made for honors students with the goals of developing the judgement, self-awareness, and intellectual confidence needed to be an innovative, inclusive leader today.

 

Discover Your Strengths

Use CliftonStrengths and reflect on the results to learn about your leadership qualities and how you approach a problem

 

Envision Your Future

Pursue experiences, ideas, and opportunities that will prepare you for a meaningful future of your own design

 

Create Your Community

Build relationships and contribute to a community grounded in curiosity, respect, collaboration, and shared growth

Your semester breakdown

While you get involved all over campus and throughout the JMHC, HONR 19901 focuses on developing these skills:

  • Knowing your strengths and how they relate to your identity
  • Understanding systems thinking and human decision making
  • How to find research or express interest in it to professors
  • Learn how you contribute to building your own community

In the spring, HONR 19902 will build on the fall's events and reflections by applying knowledge and designing what you want out of your future:

  • Integrate your knowledge and refine your goals
  • Navigate leadership in ethical dilemmas
  • Begin to understand your future pathways and opportunities at Purdue
  • Curate your portfolio and determine what you want the next step to be

Student Responsibilities

Forge Your Story Events

Attend four required, in-person sessions each semester

  • August 24-28 @ 4 p.m. & 5 p.m.
  • September 21-25 @ 4 p.m. & 5 p.m.
  • October 19-23 @ 4 p.m. & 5 p.m.
  • November 30-December 4 @ 4 p.m. & 5 p.m.

JMHC students must go to one session during each window throughout the semester.

Online Coursework

During your first year, you will take two one-credit courses. On the Suitable app and Brightspace, you will be able to track everything.

HONR 19901 - Fall

Discover. Connect. Build your foundation.

HONR 19902 - Spring

Integrate. Lead. Shape your future.

JMHC Experiences

Stay involved with the community in events like:

  • Leadership forums, guest speakers, and other panels
  • JMHC community events
  • Undergraduate research showcases and discovery
  • Professional development and leadership workshops
  • Culturally-, globally-, or community-focused events and dialogue
  • Campus lectures, performances, exhibitions, or intellectual events connected to honors themes

Leadership Portfolio

Throughout Forge Your Story, document your growth, learning, and experiences. Reflect on how you have grown during your first year, what you want from the JMHC going forward, and how you want to take hold of your future at Purdue.