Mid Semester Reflection

As the semester progressed, I began to find my groove for balancing my classes and making time for myself. I have been doing very well in most of my classes. I think this is because I have been able to prioritize what classes need more attention and what classes I feel that I am genuinely stable in. I think the class that I would consider to be my most challenging class would be Chemistry along with the Chemistry lab. I have begun to find what strategies work best for studying and reviewing the material for this class and I have also changed locations for studying for my Chemistry class.

I believe the expectations that I had for college have matched my expectations from the beginning of the semester. I envisioned the independence and expectations of being an adult and managing my time for my classes as well as being responsible for my own grades. These expectations have come into play as the weeks pass because I am beginning to understand how important time management is. Certain classes begin to add on to one another and the workload begins to pile on faster as the semester continues. I do not believe that my college experience is different from what I had predicted. I believe that what has surprised me the most so far about the transition to college would be how fast I was able to adapt to my new environment. The toughest challenge about moving to college would have to be the feeling of being homesick, especially due to my mother breaking her ankle and I have been unable to help her out as much as I could be. It has been hard hearing my parents over the phone because I could feel how much they miss me. The easiest challenge for me would have to be having a strong support system here at ODU and at home, which helps with missing my family.

My intended major is Nursing and something I have come to learn about my major that I did not know at the beginning of the semester would be how early I should start studying for my HESI exams and what the nursing program specifically looks for in a student. My feelings have not changed for my major and learning these things actually makes me want to be a better nurse. If I were to change or possibly major/minor in I believe it would be Psychology. I have always found Psychology incredibly interesting. I took a psychology class in high school and it was an incredible class. 

Connecting to campus has been a challenge in certain ways, however, it is also very easy all at the same time. There have been opportunities for me to branch out, however, I think I just haven’t found what works for me or calls my interest. I think the more ODU offers different events and programs the more options I have and the easier it will be for me to find something that interests me. My roommate, friends, and family have been the biggest help for me personally along with my professors. They have all offered different ways to help me and offer me any resources I would need to use for my classes. They have also offered me support mentally and emotionally when I need it the most. I have not joined a club, however, there are a few clubs that have caught my attention. I will be narrowing down what clubs I am truly interested in and what clubs will help me in the long run. I have not attended any interest settings since the beginning of the semester.