During my first semester of college, I am most excited to meet new friends and learn to be an independent adult. This includes managing my time and expenses, while still attending classes. My biggest challenge this semester would be changing my ways of studying. This is because, back in high school, the teacher would plan how you should study, but now you’re in college it is different. You have to find the way to study that best fits you. As of right now, my commitment for this first semester is involved in the ILC (Impact Learning Communities). In this committee, I would learn with my peers on our intended major and go to events that the teacher plans for us. This means I have to plan my studying time and my ILC events time. But most events should be after school or even on the weekend, so it should not be hard to manage. In high school, I would play soccer for the school. So I would go to practice right after school for 2 hours, head home, and do my homework. My day would usually end around 10 p.m. Also, this semester I wish to join the VSA (Vietnamese student association) club. I am hoping to learn more about my Vietnamese culture and get involved with any of the club’s activities. 

Nursing is what I am intending to major in. I want to major in nursing because I feel the passion to help others. Even though that’s a very basic answer, I know for sure that everyone that’s majoring in nursing will say the same thing. But I can’t stand seeing someone getting hurt or having a hard time doing something without doing anything about it. For example, I used to work at a nail salon as a receptionist, and whenever an elderly person was having trouble standing up from the pedicure chair or having a hard time walking to the spot that they desired, I would do my best to help them. Also to remind you this was happening during COVID, so I shouldn’t be touching them, but I just can’t help myself. Some skills that I possess would be that I am thorough and focused when it comes to getting things done. In the nursing field, you must stay focused because you don’t want to kill someone. Also, a personal experience that made me choose this field is that when I was younger I would see my aunt taking care of my 90-year-old grandma. From feeding her, showering her, and changing her diaper. This was from a young age, so most kids would be disgusted. However, I was so amazed that I would help my aunt every time. She said I was a good helper and ever since it’s like a desire for me to help others. In 5 to 10 years, I hope to be a travel nurse. I want to travel to Africa the most because there’s a lot of diseases which means a lot of people are ill and helping them is everything that I can dream of. 

I expect the biggest difference between high school and college is that In high school every day is the same, you go to school, go home, and do homework. But In college, however, you have to learn how to manage your time hanging out with friends and school, because you are living on your own, you have more responsibility for yourself. The difference between studying and homework is that studying is what you’ve learned from your homework and you would revise it until you get it. Homework is when your teacher gives you an assignment and you do it for a grade. For example, my history teacher would give me homework to read, and I would do that because it’s for a grade. But I would also take that material and go over it until I get it because it might show up on a test, or some sort. This semester for classes I have: Interpreting the American Past, Intro to Health Professions, Introductory Chemistry Lab, Introduction to Sociology, Introductory Chemistry, and English Composition. In each class, I am expecting to be studying for around 30 minutes per day. It’s not much but it allows me to understand and remember what I am learning. I plan to study in the library or the studying common in my dormitory because it’s the quietest place I know. I get distracted easily when it comes to loud noises, so studying at a quiet place is very crucial. The best time to study for me is right after class because I have acquired the information that I need to know in class and studying right after can help me remember and understand the material even more. I have no techniques for studying yet, but as of right now what helps me the most is rereading the material and writing down the questions that I’ve gotten wrong on my pre-quizzes. Because when it’s time to take the test, before that I can go over the questions and make sure I remember them.