Journal Four
Megan McInerney
Writing for College Success
Professor: Elizabeth Isenkul
September 28, 2017
Journal Four
The transition to college has been a journey. On a campus that seems so small, there have been so many people, so many opportunities both taken and lost. My priorities and the priorities of my friends dip and rise, sometimes in conflict and sometimes forming strong coalitions. I have come to the realization that we cannot always be a team- and sometimes, being an individual and focusing on yourself is much more important than keeping up with the rate at which your friends are hanging out with each other. I have yet to get into research and internship opportunities, but my position at the university feels much more solidified now that I am an Old Dominion student-athlete with the women’s novice rowing team. Unfortunately, school, sports, the upkeep of my health and my social life conflict with each other. I feel tugged on so many sides, and it frustrates me when I cannot do something that I know is important to my family or myself. I am prioritizing my studies above all else, of course, and am quite proud that I have not missed any of my classes yet. With the combination of exams, projects, and regular homework, my class loads worry me. I feel as though I am being stretched, but I in no way have given up. If anything, I feel hardened into an intense resolve to rise and succeed over my deadlines. This is a new feeling for me. In high school, I did not push myself this hard because my grades were largely determined by in-class work. In college, it truly is dependent on your individual work ethic. I enjoy being able to take ownership of my education, as stressful and time constraining as it is.