Study Habits

I’m doing well in my English and Sociology courses, thanks to my strong foundation in these subjects and my ability to manage my workload alongside my other classes. What sets me apart is my genuine passion for both subjects. In my English class, my professor encourages us to explore topics that spark interest in us to drive my motivation. Additionally, I find the ideologies and content within sociology interesting, as they shed light on various aspects of society, further fueling my academic success in this field. However, this isn’t the same scenario for all my courses.

At the beginning of this semester, I stated that History 104, Interpreting the American Past, was a particularly challenging class for me. As we now find ourselves in the middle of the term, it continues to be one of my most demanding courses. The primary reason for this is that it is the complete opposite of the courses I mentioned earlier, history doesn’t pique my interests. However, accepting this has allowed me to pursue my efforts in staying organized, creating more time to complete assignments, and dedicating extra hours to studying for this course.

Transition to College

As the first person in my family to attend college straight out of high school, I didn’t have high expectations and was a bit lost on how to prepare for this new experience. However, my high school education had prepared me well enough that I was able to adjust and take responsibility for myself without much difficulty. I had already taken multiple Advanced Placement classes and was even enrolled in a community college during my junior and senior years of high school. Although I didn’t have the luxury of receiving advice from someone who had experienced college in person, I was able to rely on my prior knowledge to help me adjust to this new phase of my life, including living away from home.

I currently reside in Whitehurst Hall, and while I’ve managed to adapt to the responsibilities, the transition hasn’t always been seamless. One of the toughest challenges I’ve faced since moving to college has been establishing a consistent routine. Back at home, my family played a central role in my daily activities, so during the first week, it was a struggle to motivate myself to get out of bed and stay active. Recognizing the importance of maintaining both my mental and physical well-being, as well as staying on top of my education, it was important for me to establish a routine.

Major

In the spring semester of their sophomore year, when one applies for nursing school, the acceptance rate is only around 50 percent. However, this fact did not discourage me from pursuing nursing as a major. It instead motivated me to work harder and better prepare for my application process and undergraduate years. Furthermore, I was considering a minor but after consulting with my advisor, I realized that pursuing a minor at this point would not be feasible within my timeline. 

Connecting to Campus

During this semester, I faced an issue with my MacBook. In the second week of school, I noticed that my laptop had been infected by a search engine virus, which made it impossible for me to use Google Chrome on my MacBook. I first reached out to Google and Apple for assistance but to no end result. Then, I contacted the IT Help Desk at ODU. They were quick to respond and cleared my computer of the virus within 30 minutes. I am grateful for their assistance.

I have found the information desk in the Whitehurst lobby to be very helpful. They were the ones who directed me to the IT center in Monarch Hall. This desk has been very beneficial to me, as they have helped me with various issues such as submitting work orders for my dorm, getting in touch with the card center for issues with my student ID, and have provided me with valuable information for future problems.

Guest Speaker/ Field Trips

One of my favorite guest speakers was the individuals from the Public Health and the School of Nursing. They were exceptional in explaining the correlation between socioeconomic status and health. It was fascinating to learn about various situations that can affect one’s access to resources. Public Health is closely associated with the study of nursing because it is essential for us to be compassionate and comprehend each patient’s individuality and background. I would like to see more Public health individuals on the board along with pediatric specialists.