First Semester to Now
I feel I have grown a significant amount from the first semester to now, and in many ways. First is academically, as I have become much better in my study habits and procrastination habits. At the beginning of the semester, I did not really know how to study correctly and now I have gained new insight on which study methods work best for me. I have also begun to stop procrastinating, and even though this is still a struggle for me, I am slowly becoming better at starting assignments quicker. This year my expectations were greater than my reality. In all honesty I did not expect to be under this much stress and mixing that with the winter weather has taken a toll on my mental health. I also thought I would be going out and gaining new experiences, but all the work I have and the days being shorter has made it hard to do so. I am hoping when Spring comes around this changes a bit and I start to feel better. 14 weeks ago, I wish I knew that the way I study definitely does matter, and I wish I started studying better sooner.
Study Habits
At the beginning of the semester, I barely studied at all and relied on memory to get me through the exams. I quickly learned this wouldn’t work and started studying a few hours a week for each class. My study habits have definitely improved and now I study quietly and efficiently, giving myself enough time before each exam or quiz. A resource I have used and grown to love are the study rooms they have in the Web Center. They are my favorite place to go when I need a quiet place to do work and study. For next semester I will begin to go to office hours more often and use flashcards to study, as they are my favorite material to study on.
Health Professions Learning Community.
The courses I took this semester are well drawn together. For instance, I have seen a strong connection between History and Sociology. Sociology studies many history topics in order to get a better understanding of how people interact. The topics that were studied in Sociology were brought up in White’s History class. Those are the main two classes I have noticed that interact with each other most.
Parallel Plan
Two other majors I am interested in are English and Education. Before choosing Nursing, I have also always been interested in being an English teacher, which makes it my parallel plan if Nursing does not work out. There are major benefits to having a parallel plan. You never know when you’re going to change your mind, especially after dipping your toes into your first choice major. Without a backup plan, you may feel stuck or lost if you find that you do not enjoy your first choice. I believe these majors could benefit my first choice, nursing, because they could allow me to get into Health Education if I find I do not want to be on a hospital floor. English could also strengthen my communication skills with patients and family members of patients.