Considering your Pre-Semester Reflection, identify the changes you have made between the start of the semester and now, and how you are going to continue working on areas that you are struggling.

Study Habits

• What classes are you doing well in, and why? 

I feel like I am doing well in my sociology class so far because I am getting more comfortable with the material and how the class works. I have been paying attention to the lectures in all of my classes and taking notes throughout the class. Reading the chapters each week and taking practice quizzes has really helped me in sociology. 

• What classes did you identify as needing assistance in? 

The most challenging class to me would be my statistics class because it’s a totally different kind of math than I am used to learning. It’s a lot more complex than most other math classes. Also, having a foreign professor with a heavy accent makes it harder sometimes to completely understand things. 

• What changes have you made (i.e. amount of time, location, campus resources, study strategies, etc…)?

I have studied around the same amount, or a little more, of hours that I previously said in my Pre-Semester Reflection. Occasionally, I study or do homework in the library, but I mostly do everything in my bedroom because I need the least amount of distraction in order to get things done. 

Transition to College

• What expectations did you have coming to college? 

Coming into college, I expected everything to be super serious and it was the time to not play around. 

• Have those expectations come to fruition, or not? 

Yes and no, there are definitely times where you need to be super serious and really focus on grades and classes; however, the students and professors within my classes make it a more fun way of learning. 

• How?

We have real-life discussions about the class and find interesting ways to practice for the class. 

• In what way is your college experience different from what you expected?

I expected to not really like college, but, throughout the semester, I have come to like my schedule and routine and getting closer to starting my career. 

• What has surprised you about your experiences so far this semester?

I am most surprised about how less stressed I am about school because I actually enjoy attending class and being able to choose my own schedule.

• 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 with commuting to campus would be to not get parking tickets. Each parking garage is different and allows different things, so I had to learn which ones I could park at during certain times of the day. The easiest challenge to overcome was memorizing my route to school everyday. 

Major

• Name something you have learned about your intended major that you did not know at the beginning of the semester.

At the beginning of the semester, I did not realize how many people chose to be in the Nursing major. I feel like there are a lot more students in my major than I expected. 

• Have your feelings changed about your intended major? List some thoughts you are having.

I mostly still feel the same about my intended major; however, I have come to realize that each semester will get harder as I am working my way through Nursing school. 

• Is there another subject (major or minor) that you are interested in learning more about? 

I am interested in learning more about the Psychology major.  

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. 

One challenge I have encountered this semester is learning to come out of my comfort zone, and going to LC events has helped assist with this situation. 

• 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? 

The LC community has helped me with becoming more involved with different events and activities.