I spend likely an hour studying for each class per week except for chemistry. I spend about two hours per week studying chemistry although it varies based on whether I understand what we learned in class. In chemistry and sociology I should probably try to study more because those are my two weaker classes. I study in my room with my roommate and friend or alone. The only time I feel distracted when trying to study is when notifications pop up on my phone so, to avoid this I put my phone on do not disturb. Do not disturb makes it so that when messages or notifications come to my phone I am not alerted. I study after class or after a nap after class. Sometimes studying after class is less effective because I am tired so studying after my nap is easier.

Group studying is best for me because when I don’t understand things sometimes other people in the group are able to help me understand. When I study alone, I like to use khan academy and other websites so they can help me learn what I don’t understand. Websites like khan academy also make me feel less like I’m studying and more like I’m playing a game trying to complete the level and master different topics. From the things we went over in Health 101 I have tried studying in smaller time periods, although I don’t think I’ve done it long enough to say whether it is effective or not.

College has been what I expected so far. I expected college to be a big adjustment with really hard classes. The classes aren’t necessarily hard but do require you to apply yourself and go above and beyond on each assignment. I knew prior to attending college that I would be using blackboard a lot although I did not anticipate using it this much. Surprisingly, a lot of the things being reviewed in certain classes now I recall from high school which is very beneficial. Living on campus is hard not being around my family. Although I have been home about 3 times since I have been here so it’s not too bad being away since I’m not too far. Personally I feel restricted as to where I can go and what I can do because I don’t have my car and ubers add up. The simplest thing to adjust to was going to classes and being able to come back to the room after. I say this because in high school you were in school the whole day whereas in college I am able to take frequent breaks to lay down and be unbothered.

Earlier in the year I came across the challenge of being lost and not knowing how to get from one place to another but students working in the web were helpful in showing me how to get around as well as the monorail. Being that my roommate and I both have majors in health sciences many of our classes are similar so we are able to help each other in the courses where one of us is stronger and the other isn’t. Also a friend and I from the learning community tend to send each other reminders about assignments and study for classes together. I am an active member of GLOSS ODU. GLOSS is Girls Live On Self-Success and we are an organization that empowers and mentors young women. I joined this club because in high school and middle school I had numerous mentors. Some mentors were helpful and others weren’t and I personally want to be a mentor that these young girls can rely on.