For this assignment, please look back at your Pre-Semester Assessment and identify changes that you have made between the start of the semester, and now.
Answer each question using complete sentences and good spelling and grammar. Be thorough and thoughtful in your analysis! This will be going up on your e-Portfolio. Make sure to add it once it has been graded. You can make edits to it after it has been graded for your e-Portfolio submission.
Reflect on the following:
Study Habits
What classes are you doing well in, and why? I am doing well in my English class, my math class, and sociology. I’m doing well in English because I never tended to struggle in that class. I pay very close attention and get all my work done on time and efficiently. I also go to conferences with my english teacher so she can go over my essays. Math is fairly simple, it’s only hard to fall behind if you don’t pay attention and ask questions when confused. Sociology is just readings, there isn’t too many actual assignments, it’s just reading and notes most of the time.

What classes did you identify as needing assistance in? I am definitely struggling in my chemistry class the most. The workload is very overwhelming, I find it confusing doing the in class assignments because sometimes they are completely different from the notes I took down. The teacher also does different types of problems on the board that sometimes doesn’t even relate to the problem we are struggling on.

What changes have you made (i.e. amount of time, location, campus resources, study strategies, etc…)? For chemistry I have found myself going to study hours, with the TA. I also go to the chemistry building for tutoring sometimes. I am tending to spend more time doing my chemistry work first, before doing the other work because I struggle the most with chemistry.

Transition to College
What expectations did you have coming to college? I expected to be overwhelmed with a new lifestyle. I expected to see adults as well pursuing their careers, it’s never too late. Meeting new people with different oriented goals.

Have those expectations come to fruition, or not? Yes

How? Well with 6 classes, I don’t think there was a way for me to not be overwhelmed, it’s a lot work and half of the classes aren’t interesting to me so I tend to fall behind sometimes. It’s also cool to see adults getting their career now in life, I’ve never been in a place where I can work with an adult on something educational related. Meeting new people who are goal orientated and seem to be going the same way in life as me is motivating. In highschool I was the only person I knew who wanted to pursue dental hygiene, but now I’m surrounded by them.

In what way is your college experience different from what you expected? I thought it was going to be easy to make friends, but it is kind of hard. The people who live in dorms I feel like went into the first day of school already having like a set friend group. Also, campus is so huge, and there’s so many different classes offered, you might not even get to know them that well.

What has surprised you about your experiences so far this semester? How many dental hygiene students there actually are.

If you live on campus: What has been your toughest challenge with moving away to college? Easiest challenge to overcome?

OR If you commute to class: What is the toughest challenge with commuting to campus? Easiest challenge to overcome? The toughest challenge having to commute everyday to campus is waking up earlier so I can get ready. I don’t like going out anywhere without looking somewhat presentable, so usually I wake up about 2 hours before my first class so I can get in the shower and be ready for the day. Also, having to buy gas every week is tough and draining, and then having to drive back all the way to the oceanfront in rush hour. The easiest challenge that I overcame, was memorizing the way I take to and from ODU.

Major
Name something you have learned about your intended major that you did not know at the beginning of the semester. Something that I learned about my intended major that I did not know was, how competitive it was. I personally thought most people would go towards just becoming a dentist, I did not think becoming a hygienist would be this popular.

Have your feelings changed about your intended major? List some thoughts you are having. My feelings have not changed, I like the path that I am on now to becoming a dental hygienist.

Is there another subject (major or minor) that you are interested in learning more about? Something that catches my attention is an ultrasound technician. I want a job that has to do with the medical field, I don’t think I could see myself enjoying any other type of job. I want to be able to help people.

Connecting to Campus
Name one problem or challenge you have encountered this semester, and which resource(s) at ODU you have/can utilize to assist with this situation. Immunizations not being accounted for, I had to call the ODU student health services. Not just call them though, I have gone to the building for it about 3 times to try and get it situated.

Is there a friend, roommate, professor, advisor, or group in the ODU community who has helped you so far this semester? If so, how did they help you? They aren’t a professor, I think she is considered a TA in my chemistry lecture class, but going to her to get help with chemistry has been awesome.

Have you attended an interest meeting for a club? Why did you decide to get involved or not get involved? No I have not attended an interest meeting for a club.