My learning style is an intuitive feeler. To be this type of learner means I am creative, but I have “a strong dislike, for routine work, organization, and memorization.” Now, this actually shocked me because personally I enjoy all of those things, and I believe those are a few of the qualities in which actually help me make it through my everyday life. Especially when it comes to school work. However, there are many techniques in which do correspond with the way in which I actually go about doing my work. Whether it is a test, homework, quiz, studying, and much more. These techniques are things such as reading ahead to discover the big picture, rereading, finding connectors between details, and what I am looking, for and lastly my favorite, drawing pictures.  After learning about being an intuitive feeler I have attempted a few of the “new” study strategies. And by “new” I mean that a little sarcastically because I have already been actively doing these strategies. However, I have began to use them a lot more and have additionally began to expand on how I can make some of these techniques either better, or distinguish which one(s) work better, for each of my classes separately. In my ethics and chemistry classes I tend to use the method of drawing pictures. This is because these classes cause, for me to remember theories, chemical equations, and real world scenarios. Therefore, drawing pictures at times helps me sum up bits and pieces of a lesson, or even a whole entire lesson depending on how much we learned.  As, for using these techniques I still have to work on using them continuously because sometimes I do refer back to my old ways when it comes to whether, or not I have to study.

Now, as for studying. I love to study however, I feel as I never have time to do so. When it comes to studying I tend to study in my room, and to be even more specific I study in my bed. However, this is not always the best option. This is because my room tends to have many distractions in which either slow down my process of studying or completely prevents it. The main distractions in my room include my phone, the need to have company (at times), my television, shenanigans between me and my roommate, and lastly the biggest distraction of them all would have to be my bed. The place where all the action is “suppose” to occur. I tend to study during different times of the day however, I mainly choose to study mid-day or towards the end of the day once all my classes are complete or once I have gotten all my important or must do task out of the way. At times I am full of energy by this time of day however, depending on the weather, whether I received enough sleep the night before, if I took a nap, or how my day has been going tend to be the determining factors of whether, or not I will be alert and wake at the time I go to study. Now as, for my studying I do feel as if it is very effective but only when I have successfully done it consecutively as planned and did not attempt to cram. Additionally, since cramming is normally what ends up happening I have continuously been trying to improve my ways so, I can obtain better grades, and not seem so pressured when the tests, quizzes and, or exams fall around. The most effective way I have found to improve my studying is by creating flashcards for most of my classes. However, for my chemistry classes I have been rewriting all the slides and going at my own pace in order to make sure I completely understand, or remember the material in which is being taught. This has helped greatly, however I just need to begin making a schedule in which gives me enough time to incorporate these new ways.

With entering college it has been difficult, but it has also helped me to become more independent. Before, college I was very independent and was able to complete many necessary task on my own due to how I was raised. Therefore, college has been almost how I expected it to be. The only difference I have seemed to discover is the amount of help in which my professors do offer. Before coming to college many people expressed how a lot of professors would make me do a lot of things on my own and make me have to learn a lot of the material being taught on my own. While in fact a lot of my professors offer a lot of help and actually breakdown the material being taught, so that not only the others in my class understand it, but myself as well. Additionally, as expected moving away from home has had its ups and downs. However, the toughest challenge thus far has had to be both time management, and living arrangements. I address the factor of time management because when I was back at home I had terrible time management. I would be late almost every day to getting to school however I could get to all my classes on time and that was with having my parents take me to school everyday. Now since I am on my own and have to walk nearly everywhere I have almost completely changed my ways when it comes to time. I make sure I am making time for the correct things to do before and after my classes and I am doing a lot better than I was in high school. I also do not have either of my parents here to remind me that I have things I need to take care of, or that I need to put certain task above all of my activities. Therefore, I have been working on making list, and weekly unspoken goals in order to get through this small challenge. Additionally, I included the trouble with room arrangements because living with someone I didn’t know was not the hard part, the hard part was and still slightly is getting use to have suitemates. This is because of many different factors even though the only time we have to slightly interact with one another is when it comes to sharing the bathroom which has caused many different problems. However this challenge was easy to overcome due to having a mediator help us when needing to talk with one another. Although, it still is not the easiest thing to have to deal with it is getting a lot better and will increasingly get better in due time. Hopefully.

Lastly, with being on campus I have encountered a few bumps in the road however, I have been able to overcome these bumps due to a resource at ODU. My first issue that I encountered would have to have been when I discovered that I had a hold on my account. At first I was extremely freaked out and honestly did not know how to solve this issue and I thought I would have to solve it on my own. However, once I spoke to my roommate she informed me that she had encountered the same issue and actually helped me with going to the Financial Aid building. The Financial Aid building helped me determine what the hold on my account was and all of what I have to do in order to get this hold lifted. They were very helpful, kind and efficient. I did not have to wait long to receive help and they answered my questions and concerns in a matter of 5 minutes. 10 minutes tops! Although, the only known resource I have used so far would be the Financial Aid office I have recently become interested in the counseling services that are provided by ODU. I would like to learn more about this resource/ service because at times I do get extremely stressed. Which does lead to me breaking down and not being able to function when it comes to my school work. Therefore, I would like to learn more about this resource because if I end up reaching a certain level of stress in which I can not completely handle on my own I would like to know about a place in which I can turn to in which may offer me ways to work through my stress. However, until I actually reach a level of stress such as the one previously expressed I will continue to go to my roommate, for help. My roommate Dai’Ja has helped me greatly this semester. She has helped me stay on task, write out my goals, stay active and she continues to push me forward to do better and make sure I get my work done before I have fun.  I honestly couldn’t ask for anything better than to have a roommate I can not only relate to but one in which I can go to, for anything. Lastly, as I stated before Dai’Ja helps me stay active. We have been to my of the activity fairs along with have spoken about joining a club or two. Now, I have considered joining a club that Dai’Ja is in that way I have someone I already know there in which can show me the ropes. However, I have yet to join other club besides my learning community. This is strictly because although, I do want to be involved in my community I have to think about my school work first and whether, or not joining a club will affect how I am performing in my classes.  By being in my learning community I am not only able to stay connected, but I am also able to keep track of my school work!