Nadira Jeethandran My Januarys typically begin with resolutions to read more books or go to the gym. But this year, I kickstarted my journey by attending the American Philosophical Association’s (APA) Eastern Division meeting in New York. I was thrilled to present my poster, "Figuring It Out Together: Student-Led Exploration in Philosophical Education." This project, inspired by my own philosophy classes, explored how diverse pedagogical methods can empower students to shape their learning journeys throughout their undergraduate experience.

Presenting at the APA conference turned out to be an eye-opening experience in ways I never anticipated. As a student, I had the unique opportunity to engage with educators from across the country who shared a genuine interest in improving their classrooms. Many of the teachers I spoke with were curious about the possibilities of transforming how we teach philosophy. Should we begin with students’ lived experiences and examine their moral intuitions before introducing foundational thinkers like Hume, Descartes, and Kant? Or is it better to start with the basics of philosophical canon and gradually build toward applying those ideas to personal and ethical questions? One of the most enriching parts of the conference was a conversation with Dr. Marshall Abrams, one of the philosophy professors at UAB, who offered thoughtful insights on these questions.

Beyond presenting, I had the chance to listen to graduate students share their work. Their arguments on topics ranging from the intersection of artificial intelligence and philosophy to the reform or abolition of the justice system were utterly compelling. In fact, we were all so captivated by the discussions that we ended up staying 45 minutes past the scheduled time for the poster presentations. Time flew by, and I was surprised at how energizing it felt to be surrounded by people so deeply invested in philosophy.

This trip was also special for a personal reason: I brought my younger brother along. Exploring New York with him during my breaks is a memory I will cherish from my senior year at UAB. We sampled cuisines from around the world, including Adel’s Famous Halal Food and Joe’s Pizza—a must-visit for me as a Marvel fan, because it was featured in the Spider-Man movies! We also visited iconic spots like Central Park and the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.

Kicking off the new year with this conference felt like a breath of fresh air. It reignited my passion for philosophy in ways I did not think were possible (and my friends already joke that I am obsessed). Sharing my enthusiasm for philosophy while seeing others equally excited created a sense of community that felt so wholesome and inspiring. Applying to present at this conference had started as a fun, spur-of-the-moment decision, but it turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my college career. It reminded me why I fell in love with philosophy in the first place and gave me a renewed sense of purpose as I navigate my academic journey.