My First Semester
I think I’ve grown in socializing and being more comfortable with trying to new settings from the beginning of the semester to now. It was more stressful to adjust because of personal things, but I’ve become more comfortable with the transitions. I expected to be challenged in my time management and I was. I had to prioritize school over leisure activities, but I found a good balance and consistency with discipline. This semester did meet my expectations–or, I would say this semester went beyond my expectations. I enjoyed everything, even the stressful and fun moments. Something I wish I knew 14 weeks ago: I wish I knew I didn’t have to buy a textbook for one of my classes (or that it isn’t required to buy one), so I would have saved my money. Just wait the first week to see what is needed for the class, other than the class description.
Study Habits
I spend roughly about the same amount of time studying for each class (2 hours for each hour of class) I did in the beginning of the semester. I’ve learned what works for me; some classes don’t require me to study all the time and some require some extra tutoring and studying. I prioritize and order which classes I need to focus on because I either don’t understand the material or I need extra practice.
- How have your study habits changed?
I think my study habits remain the same, since they have been working for me for a while. I usually designate a specific time to what I want to study and how in depth I want to reach a topic. Now, I think I just am more aggressive on studying my science prerequisites.
- Tell us about a resource that you have used/learned about this semester that will assist you next semester.
A resource I have learned about is the biology tutoring is in the library–I believe. I think this will benefit me with next semester because I will probably need a little assistance with Microbiology.
- What study habits/techniques will you use going into next semester?
A study technique I think I will use going into next semester is typing my notes, because even though I focus and remember better by writing, typing is neater and easier to follow when studying at home.
Health Professions Learning Community
- This semester you were enrolled in at least SOC 201S, and HLTH 101. Many of you were also enrolled in CHEM 105N and CHEM 106N, and some of you were enrolled in HIST 104H with Professor White.
- On the surface these classes do not appear to be connected; however this semester each professor was intentional about drawing connections between content, and subjects discussed. Discuss the ways in which these courses are tied together.
I believe the courses were connected to each other by making connections between course material and health professions. All of them applied the course material to real life scenarios or where the applications are in the medical field. They didn’t connect the subjects together, but they did connect health and medicine.
Parallel Plan
- This semester we had presentations from different majors in the College of Health Sciences as well as from different majors on campus. This was to give you an idea for possible parallel majors to your current intended major.
- Which two other majors would you be most interested in? Why?
The two other majors I would be most interested in was rec therapy and anesthesia, but mostly recreational therapy. I was so interested in rt that I have declared it as my minor. I really enjoyed what the program has to offer because I enjoy interacting with special needs and help them challenge themselves all the while having fun. But rec therapy doesn’t have to be only special needs as well–clients can range from all kinds of needs. I have had experience with informally facilitating an art session with a special needs child and I enjoyed every minute of the experience. Recreational therapy seems to be the formal job that I’ve always enjoyed my time doing. It’s not only therapy, but it’s “play” and usually results in the patient/client smiling and enjoying themselves.
- What benefit is there to having a parallel plan (or two) in place?
I think the benefit of having a parallel plan in place helps create safe net if my plan A does not happen. Even though recreational therapy is my parallel plan/plan B (it would be changed to my major if plan A does not work, which is nursing) I believe I will find this route just as rewarding as nursing.
- How could one or both of these two majors benefit your current intended major?
Both of the majors could benefit my current intended major by helping me gain more experience in a specialized nursing environment that I will find more preferable to what I like. Recreational Therapy ranges from varieties of patients and will immerse me into something specific I might enjoy. Anesthesia will definitely give more freedom to my practice of nursing, but I’m not too keen on anesthesia. In HLTH 101 class we didn’t have a faculty member speak to us about this, but the dean of the school of nursing mentioned four different higher education (graduate programs) for nursing. The one that interested me was a clinical nurse specialist. I would love to learn more about it once I become more involved in the field of nursing.