Mid-Semester Reflection

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 chemistry and philosophy, but I think I am doing better in sociology. I am most interested in the topics we learn about in sociology, which is why I spend the most time studying for that class, but philosophy and chemistry are manageable as well.

What classes did you identify as needing assistance in?

I originally thought chemistry would be a challenge; however, my chemistry lab is more challenging.

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

I increased the amount of time I spend studying and I take time to complete the practice assignments.

Transition to College:
What expectations did you have coming to college?
Coming into college, I expected it to be less stressful because of the freedom and luxury of choosing my own schedule.
Have those expectations come to fruition, or not? How?

Yes! I am struggling to manage my time wisely and I often feel like I am not working to my full potential.
I don’t mind having early morning classes, but waking up early and being on time is a struggle and it sets my mood/tone for the rest of the day.
In what way is your college experience different from what you expected?
It hasn’t been much different from what I expected.

What has surprised you about your experiences so far this semester?
I am most surprised that I have been involved in events and putting myself out there to be social and meet people.

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

My toughest challenge with moving away to college has been balancing my social life and academics. The easiest challenge to overcome was learning to share a space.

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

This may sound silly, but I was unaware of some of the prerequisites required for nursing school.

Have your feelings changed about your intended major? List some thoughts you are having.
Yes! I know I still want to become a nurse, but there is a negative stigma associated. Everyone talks about how much I will struggle in nursing school, or how hard it will be to succeed. Even though they may be correct, it can be discouraging to hear so much.

Is there another subject (major or minor) that you are interested in learning more about?
I am considering minoring in women’s studies.

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.

One challenge I faced was having a health hold. I was able to speak with my advisor to understand better why there was a hold, then I managed to speak with the health services center and figure out how to solve the problem.

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?

My two friends, Alyssa and Sarah, helped me by having study sessions with me and encouraging me to make better decisions.
My friend Ahman helps me by giving advice and helping me get adjusted to college since he is an upperclassman.

Have you attended an interest meeting for a club? Why did you decide to get involved or not get involved?
No, I have not.