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

This semester has helped me grow significantly in terms of independence and accountability. Without my parents to keep me on track, I’ve had to take responsibility for managing my time, assignments, and overall progress. It’s been a valuable lesson in self-discipline. I’ve also seen improvement in my writing skills, particularly in how I organize my thoughts and put them into well-structured, clearly communicated assignments. This growth has given me more confidence in my ability to succeed in college.

I had high expectations going into this semester, thinking that college would be much harder than it actually turned out to be. I quickly realized that the key to success is discipline, staying consistent and staying on top of my work. What surprised me, though, was how challenging it was to find a job on campus. Instead of focusing on that, I’ve chosen to keep my attention on my main priority: my education. As long as I stay focused on that, everything else will fall into place.

Looking back, I wish I had known more about the specific requirements for my major and how to better navigate the resources ODU offers. I didn’t realize how many tools and support systems were available to me until later in the semester, and I feel like I could have made better use of them sooner. Understanding these resources earlier would have made my transition to college life smoother.

At the beginning of the semester, I didn’t really study at all, since I felt like I didn’t have much content to review. As the semester progressed, I found myself studying more, especially for projects and presentations. Now, I spend time reviewing slides and doing research, but I still don’t study as much as I should. Moving forward, I want to explore better study habits. I’ve already started using flashcards, making notes, and doing practice quizzes, and I’m planning to be more consistent with this routine.

My study habits have definitely evolved. Initially, I didn’t study at all, but now I study when I need to. This has involved reviewing lecture material, making important notes, and using tools like flashcards and practice quizzes. I’ve realized that having structured study sessions is more effective than cramming or not studying at all. I’m looking forward to building on this next semester and finding ways to be more efficient in my studying.

A major resource that I’ve learned to utilize this semester is the library’s Monarch One Search and the e-portfolio tutor. These tools have helped me access a wealth of information for my research projects and navigate the WordPress platform. These resources have been incredibly useful, and I plan to continue using them to improve the quality of my assignments and e-portfolio next semester.

Next semester, I plan to write more detailed notes during lectures, review the material after class, and use study aids like practice quizzes and flashcards. I’m also going to try studying with groups more often to help reinforce what I’m learning. I think this combination of active studying and collaboration will help me retain information better and prepare more effectively for exams and projects.

Through presentations on different health-related majors, I’ve become interested in two additional fields: Recreational Therapy and Occupational Therapy. I was drawn to these majors because they focus on helping people, especially children, improve their quality of life through hands-on activities, often in non-hospital environments. I love the idea of being able to incorporate sports into therapy, and both fields align with my goal of working in health while making a real impact on people’s lives.

Having a parallel plan is beneficial because it gives me options if I ever change my mind or if my original plan doesn’t work out as expected. It provides a safety net and ensures that I’m still moving toward a career in health, even if I decide to pivot slightly. It also keeps me open to exploring other paths that might be equally fulfilling.

Recreational and Occupational Therapy majors are similar to my intended major in many ways, particularly in the hands-on approach to patient care. By taking some of the required classes for these fields, I’m setting myself up to switch paths more easily if I decide to do so. Additionally, these majors will deepen my understanding of patient care and therapeutic interventions, which can benefit my career in athletic training or any other health profession I pursue. They’ll help me develop skills in working directly with people to improve their physical and mental well-being.