Your First Semester
- Tell us how you have grown from the beginning of the semester to now.
I think I have grown mentally. One of my biggest challenges coming into this semester was my pride. I was super prideful and I realized that it was doing me more harm than good. Being able to overcome my pride allowed me to ask for help and alleviate a bunch of burdens that I was taking on all by myself. The first step in my doing this was having a sense of self-awareness. Self-awareness allowed me to find areas that needed improvement and my pride was the main one. Improving my pride also helped with my relationships with the people around me.
- What were your expectations for this year? Did this semester’s experiences meet your expectations? Explain.
I came into this school year thinking it was going to be fun, fun, and more fun. Although the school year did start like that, I quickly took a turn. I think the feeling of being new on campus contributed to the fun and once that feeling went away, things got serious. The schoolwork started to pick up and most of our time was dedicated to that. Now, I’m not going to say that the fun died out 100%, but it was way less intense and consistent.
- What is something you wish you knew 14 weeks ago?
Something I wish I had known 14 weeks ago is that it is okay to be alone. Being alone allows you to truly learn yourself and even develop as a person. Being constantly alone after always being surrounded by people back at home, has given me a different outlook on life. I learned to put myself first and do things that I genuinely enjoy.
Study Habits
- How much time do you spend studying for each class now vs. at the beginning of the semester?
At the beginning of the semester, I spent little to no time studying. This continued for a while because of all of the material I was familiar with. Versus now, I study about 8-10 hours a week. Because I am now learning information for the first time, it is important to go over it to retain as much as possible.
- How have your study habits changed?
I used to only study by going over notes I’ve taken in class. I realized this isn’t the most helpful because if I missed something in my notes, then I’m out of luck. I started to study the slides that the teachers went over in class and I’ve found them way more helpful.
- Tell us about a resource that you have used/learned about this semester that will assist you next semester.
One resource that I used this semester that will assist me next semester is the writing center. I heard so many good reviews but I never felt the need to visit. It wasn’t until I received an English assignment that I was stuck on that I made an appointment. Everyone there is so nice and they are so helpful. I walked out with a solid essay as well as some tips for the next time I write. I loved how they didn’t make me feel dumb but reassured me that I was on the right path.
- What study habits/techniques will you use going into next semester?
The study technique that I found the most helpful this semester and will definitely use next semester is using the slides and study guides the teachers provide. I have realized that if the teacher gives it to you? Nine times out of ten, it’s for a reason. I have also found that when you study the PowerPoint used in the lessons, the questions on a test will be word for word so all you have to do is study them.
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 had the honor of taking both SOC201 as well as CHEM106. Both classes had an emphasis on health science and were often related to professions in that field. In chemistry, for example, she was able to relate many things to the making, usage, and administration of medicines. In sociology, we learned about the many people we will encounter in the field. This ranges from patients to other health care professionals.
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?
Two other majors I would be most interested in would be nuclear medicine or biology on a pre-dental track. Nuclear medicine was my second choice when applying for ODU. If it wasn’t for my longer-lasting passion for dentistry I would have chosen it. It is a job that not many have but it is super interesting.
Biology on a pre-dental track is very similar to dental hygiene. Although there would be more school involved and the ending career would be slightly different, I would still be working in a field that I deeply enjoy.
- What benefit is there to having a parallel plan (or two) in place?
Because people’s long-term career goals may change over time, it is important to have a backup plan so that if option A doesn’t work out, you are still making progress toward your goal.
At ODU specifically, just because your intended major is dental hygiene, there is no guarantee that you will be admitted into the program. Having a parallel plan ensures that your first two years here don’t go to waste.
- How could one or both of these two majors benefit your current intended major?
Biology on a pre-dental track, I feel, could benefit my current intended major the most. Dentists and dental hygienists work together in the same environment and I feel they rely on each other in some ways. No matter which track I were to take, I would still end up in a field that I love, just doing slightly different jobs.