Meet the Newest Carroll Fellows

Each year, a new group of Carroll Fellows is selected from among the freshmen class.  This year’s newest Carroll Fellows, selected from the Class of 2016, represent some of the brightest and most promising students of their class.

What’s it like to be one of these freshmen Carroll Fellows?  Read on!  Freshman Carroll Fellows:

- bring something new to the table.  Each of the 45 freshmen Carroll Fellows comes to the CFI with a unique background, interests, and skills.  This class of Carroll Fellows is made up of students from all four of Georgetown’s undergraduate schools, and includes students from all parts of the country and around the world.  During their first semester, freshmen Carroll Fellows reflect on their own distinct personality traits using Keirsey’s Please Understand Me II.  This personality test helps freshmen Carroll Fellows to understand the potential impact of their personality on their pursuits, and also reveals the variety of personalities in the CFI.

- think in the round.  The Forum, the requisite one-year seminar for new Carroll Fellows, emphasizes the importance of assuming complexity in all significant matters.  Freshmen Carroll Fellows learn this vital skill by studying Kahneman’s Thinking Fast and Slow and by designing, pursuing, and reporting on their own independent research projects.  

- note their misses but count only their hits.  Dr. Glavin teaches the freshmen Carroll Fellows the importance of learning from failures but committing only successes to memory.  This advice helps students to remain optimistic and confident during the challenges of college.  A positive attitude is further encouraged by a freshman Carroll Fellow’s response to the question, “How are you doing?” – “Outstanding!”

- play.  Following Jonah Huizinga’s philosophy expressed in Homo Ludens, freshmen Carroll Fellows understand the value of incorporating ‘noble games’ into their everyday activities.  These games challenge the students intellectually and physically while building camaraderie within the group.  During their down time, for example, freshmen Carroll Fellows can be found playing darts in basement of Gervase.

Carroll Fellows' work, achievements, and activities will be featured on this blog on a regular basis.  Check back next week for an update on the freshmen Carroll Fellows and their tour of the Kluge Center at the Library of Congress.

Photos:  Freshmen Carroll Fellows Matthew Quallen (burgundy sweater) and Tim Rosenberger enjoy a game of darts.