Reflect on the Fall semester and the overall experience of your first semester at college.

My First Semester:

One way that I have grown this semester is building an academic routine for myself. This is to include once I get home instead of turning the T.V. I just knock out my homework right away instead of procrastinating. Another way I have grown this semester is learning ample timing. I have learned how much time I need to give myself through trial and error. Some classes do require more time, and hold that consistency throughout the semester. My expectations for this year were that it was going to be hard, and time consuming. Juggling six classes, while trying to keep straight A’s in every class is tough, but manageable. The semester did meet my expectations. However, this semester has required more time and focus than I was expecting. It has been a long time since I have been in school, so adjusting throughout the semester to college life has been tricky, but I have had success. One thing that I wish I knew 14 weeks ago, is not to take days off. Even if I do not have something due that day, there’s always something to be done. My future self will be thanking me for getting an extra assignment done early!

Study Habits:

At the beginning of the semester I would take about a day or two to study for tests, quizzes, or exams. However, now I study between 3-5 days for an exam. Different classes require different academic measures from me. My study habits have changed because I do not just focus on notes. I focus on power points, worksheets, tutoring, and live lecture recordings! I use the ample amount of resources given to myself! Before I was just using my self taken notes! One resource that I plan on using next semester is science tutoring! One aspect of the science tutoring that spoke volumes to me was actually having my own TA tutor me. This helped with making sure we were discussing the same material. Timing is everything is a quote I use quite often. Making sure I am giving myself enough time to learn and study the material without having to cram it into my head all at once. Also, using any/all resources provided to me for each assignment, test, exam, or quiz.

Health Professions Learning Community:

These courses were not exactly the same, however, they tried to time things perfectly. They would apply key names, or key terms, key dates, into the material but in different ways. It was interesting to experience as one day I am in History and the next I am in Sociology, and the professors were both discussing similar topics.

Parallel Plan:

Two majors that I would be interested in are nuclear medicine, and speech pathology. My reasoning for leaning towards speech pathology is because hearing some of the speakers’ stories sound very impactful, and life changing. I have always wanted to help the community. My reasoning for choosing nuclear medicine is the presenter that presented had a solid argument towards it being the “best” major. Nuclear medicine does some interesting things! The benefit for having a parallel plan is having a back up plan if for some reason I change my mind, or do not succeed when applying for my program. Having a plan A,B,C, is never a bad thing, but also I strive for plan A happening! Speech Pathology could benefit my major because it works with a variety of different patients. This could help me learn how to communicate, and handle patients as a whole. It could also provide me with a different perspective on life, and how to change in a positive way.