My First Semester:
This semester I have grown in my studies as well as in my time management skills. I have learned how to balance two heavy content science classes and earn an A grade in both as well in my other classes. There have been challenges with some of my studies but I have endured through it and come out on the good side. There are only a few more days left of this semester and with that comes much relief but I am grateful for the lessons learned and the knowledge that will carry with me for the rest of my life and college experience. My expectations for this semester was to meet good friends and be connected to those in dental hygiene like me. Everything I expected was met because I have met some amazing people who are my best friends and have made my college experience all the better. I have met many faculty in the dental hygiene program through my health professions class that have given me many connections that I am truly grateful for. One thing that I wish I knew 14 weeks ago would be how demanding chemistry and its lab would be in relation to my other demanding classes.
Study Habits:
As of now I spend a rough estimate of 6-8 hours a day studying and doing homework for my classes, whereas at the beginning of the semester I would probably spend 2-6 hours studying. As the semester progressed, the more work I accumulated and had to complete. My study habits have changed by the fact that I now go to the chemistry building and use the whiteboards to study for my exams and tests, whereas I used to just read over my notes. I would say that the best resource that has helped me the most this semester would be the chemistry building. I love the environment and the white boards available and will definitely do the same thing next semester. Going into the next semester, I will probably still have study groups with my friends and use the whiteboards.
Health Professions Learning Community:
I only had HLTH 101 and CHEM 105N and 106N so I can not speak for the other classes, but as for these two classes, they are tied together because in a way they are both benefiting me in knowledge regarding dental hygiene and entering the program.
Parallel Plan:
The two majors that seemed very interesting were speech language pathology and the major dealing with nuclear medicine. The benefit to having a parallel plan in place is so that if I do not get accepted into the dental hygiene program then I can have another major and career option open to pursue. The speech language pathology major benefits dental hygiene in a way because it is still dealing with the neck and head. It mainly focuses on speech and the oral structures, therefore it is very beneficial.