Considering your Pre-Semester Reflection, identify the changes you have made between the start of the semester and now, and how you are going to continue working on areas that you are struggling.

Study Habits

• What classes are you doing well in, and why? 

I am doing well in all my classes, maintaining high Bs and low As. I’m doing well in them because I spend at least an hour per class studying. I’m also genuinely interested in and enjoying the material being discussed in class, so I’ve been taking avid notes and participating in lessons.

• What classes did you identify as needing assistance in? 

I could be a little more organized on certain assignments. I’m good at research assignments and presentations, but the project outlines are often messy. I don’t jot down all the details on my outlines, which my professors would prefer I did, and only make small notes about what I need to include on the final project.

• What changes have you made (i.e. amount of time, location, campus resources, study strategies, etc…)?

I’ve been trying to explore more study strategies, and plan to utilize the strategies that the speakers from class (Tues 24) recommended.

Transition to College

• What expectations did you have coming to college? 

I was expecting the worst and was second guessing my abilities to stay on top of things. I worried that I wouldn’t be able to properly navigate the campus without GPS or without frequently getting lost. I’ve also been prone to procrastination, and worried that not having constant reminders on assignments would sink me.

• Have those expectations come to fruition, or not? 

Procrastination wise, yes. I do frequently push assignments until the very last minute before attempting them, but thankfully the quality of the assignments wasn’t compromised. I work well under pressure, and a part of me believes that I do so well, even after procrastinating, because the stress encourages me to stay focused. Not a strategy I would recommend. 

• In what way is your college experience different from what you expected?

So far, college has been different than I was expecting. I get a decent amount of work, but it’s nowhere near as bad as we’re told when preparing for the transition to college. I’ve also been able to find plenty of time for myself despite my busy schedule. 

• What has surprised you about your experiences so far this semester?

I haven’t had to pull an all-nighter yet. Given I was under the impression that I’d be getting fountains of work every week, I made sure my schedule was open and flexible to make sure to give myself enough time to breathe between classes and work. Thankfully, I’ve been able to get through assignments quickly, leaving me with even more freetime.

• If you live on campus: What has been your toughest challenge with moving away to college? Easiest challenge to overcome?

The first night was the roughest. Sleeping in a new environment has always been stressful for me, whether it be when I move or spending the night with a friend. I also have the tendency to wake up several times during the night, and the creaky loft beds do little to help. I always feel bad when I’m climbing up and down the ladder on the bed, not wanting to accidentally wake my roommate up. I’m also not the most fond of being in a shared space without my own room, I like my privacy. My roommate is friendly, we get along well, but I still miss being able to watch my shows without headphones or constantly talking to friends on the phone.

• OR  If you commute to class: What is the toughest challenge with commuting to campus? Easiest challenge to overcome?

Major

• Name something you have learned about your intended major that you did not know at the beginning of the semester.

I learned that my major morphs well into a plethora of possible career paths, even being a good stepping stone to pursue careers relating to other majors. 

• Have your feelings changed about your intended major? List some thoughts you are having.

I learned a lot about more specific majors that fall under the nursing umbrella, and I’d thought a bit about switching to one of those majors. However, I feel quite comfortable with where I am now, and am excited to pursue this major.

• Is there another subject (major or minor) that you are interested in learning more about? 

Medical Laboratory Sciences piqued my interest, I do like the lab aspects of medicine. However, I’d love to hold a clinical position in which I interact with patients. 

Connecting to Campus

• Name one problem or challenge you have encountered this semester, and which resource(s) at ODU you have/can utilize to assist with this situation. 

I haven’t yet felt the need to use ODU resources to overcome challenges. I’ve been thriving, for the most part, and the only hiccup I’ve had is a little disorganization.

• Is there a friend, roommate, professor, advisor, or group in the ODU community who has helped you so far this semester? If so, how did they help you? 

In terms of schoolwork, no. Other than the midterm meetings I’ve had with my counselor and a few professors, I’ve not met with anyone to help improve my performance in class. I’ve gotten positive feedback thus far on my work, and I intend to keep that.

• Have you attended an interest meeting for a club? Why did you decide to get involved or not get involved?

I haven’t spent much time looking for clubs. There’s several that I’ve heard about that interest me, but I’d like to focus my first semester on becoming confident with myself and correct my procrastination habits before jumping into too many activities. Club wise, I’d like to be involved in things that don’t relate to my major so I can enjoy my other hobbies and interests more often.