Journal 1

Winter break was well needed, especially after all the unnecessary spending I did after the first semester. Going back to work and getting a paycheck were two of the best parts. I got to catch up with coworkers that went to other colleges and daily customers. I also got my wisdom teeth removed that was a big reliever because during exams they were a huge pain. As well I lost a lot of weight not being able to eat solid foods for two weeks. Overall it was a well-needed break for me to have a great spring semester.

Journal 2

I believe technology makes the world go around. We use it for everyday communication talking, texting and emails. We have laptops that we can carry around and do work just about anywhere. As long as we have internet access. However, technology also has a downside to it; many teenagers and young adults are addicts to game systems and their phones. Social media has a big impact on people’s lives and many times they don’t know how to balance their personal and social. We lose track of time from simply scrolling on Instagram and Facebook looking at our likes and repost. Social media decreases one’s self-esteem because people become so dependent on receiving good feedback. I believe social media has its pros and cons of an individual’s life.

Journal 3

One of my favorite places on campus is Perry library because they have a lot of places where you can study or catch up with friends. The fourth floor is almost absolutely silent, so it is easy to do independent studies there. I enjoy how they have computers on the first and second floors because I do not always want to carry my laptop around. The library also has private study rooms on each floor that you can reserve in advance. They also have Einstein Bagels on the first floor, they might not serve the best coffee but it will keep students and staff wide awake.

Journal 4

Favorite place to eat on campus My favorite place to eat on campus is The Den by Denny’s. They have a variety of options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and it is a good alternative to the dining halls. It is always busy late at night especially when ODU has a home football or basketball game. The hours are Monday through Saturday 10:30 am-2 am and Sundays 10:30 am-12 am. My favorite thing to get from here is a Cali chicken sandwich, it comes on whole-grain bread has avocado spread, lettuce, Pico de gallo, and grilled chicken. I usually get it with a side of fries and drink the downside is there drink machine is usually down, or they do not have ice. Overall, for a whole bunch of college students working there, it is not a bad restaurant, they just need some improvement in making sure everything is stock and clean.

Journal 5

Plan for managing my money I realized the first semester of college I spent money on so many things that I should not have. I bought shoes, clothes, unnecessary decorations that I ended up taking down halfway through the semester. It was very challenging to manage my money especially because I did not work while on campus. Next semester, I plan to find a job since financial aid does not cover my whole cost, and I still have monthly payments and a phone bill. Working all year-round instead of just in the summer would help me balance my money and help me stop using my savings to pay bills. I also think using a budgeting app with help me a lot, to see where I am overspending or cancel unused subscriptions. I did not realize how expensive college was but now I know I need to apply for more scholarships and spend wisely to avoid going broke.

Journal 6- Priorities

My top priorities as a college student are to remain focus in school, and on my grades. College students’ grades have a huge impact on how much money in grants they can get from the government. As well, to stay organized because everything can fall apart very quickly if you are not organized. So usually I have a to-do list when a lot of things are on my plate. Not one of my top priorities but still one is working out, sometimes I get so consumed in the books I forget to take a timeout to give my brain a rest. Exercise helps relax me when I am stressed or starting to feel burnt out from school. One thing I did not do so well on was choosing the right course, many of my classes consist of a lot of writing and I am not the strongest writer, so it takes me a little longer.

Journal 7- Spring Break

My spring break was very entertaining, I spent time with friends that went to other colleges, and we had a lot of catching up to do. The weather was still chilly here, so it was not many outside activities to do. I mainly rested and binged watched shows on Netflix and Hulu. Also, I spent some quality time with my niece that was born while I was away at school. My sleep schedule did not improve too much my new bedtime became 2 am and woke up around 8 am to go to work. Overall, my spring break was very relaxing nothing stressed me out too much.

Journal 8

In my Introduction to Literature class, we had to write a letter and act as a character in a short story and deliver it to another character. It took me two to three hours to write because I wanted to be as descriptive as possible. I did take it to the writing center for review and it was a couple of comma errors that she found, but nothing too bad. Until I got the grade back from my teacher and it was 81. Which was fair with the comments she made, I just need to work on developing my thoughts all the way through and punctuation. The instructor did help a lot because we always took good notes on each story or poem in class.

Journal 9- Friend and Cousin

I am the youngest in my intermediate family, so I did not know what it was like to have a younger sibling. Until my little cousin Shekinah was born, we are two years apart. She is one of my closest friends and we call and tell each other everything that is going on with one another. Shekinah is also the total opposite of me, so when we do argue it does get heated sometimes. I would say she is very mature for her age so talking to her just feels like I am talking to someone my age. We love to do paintings and go on long walks to clear our head after arguments or long stressful days. It is really nice to have a friend that is also a relative, especially because there at every family event.

Journal 10- Age gracefully

My grandma is originally from Jamaica, she came here with her husband and three kids. They had nothing when they came here and lived in shelters until the found a place to call home. My grandma worked as a waitress and went to school to become a nurse while still raising three daughters. Once she got a nice paying job as a registered nurse, they ended up moving into a house. My grandma retired from nursing when she was 65 and now, she loves to travel and watch her grandchildren. She is a great person to look up to she worked hard to give her family a better education for herself and children by coming to America. I believe she lives by the term age gracefully.

Journal 11- Goals for the summer

One of my top goals for the summer is to read more books and to practice analyzing stories. During my first year I college, I realized my reading level has the potential to improve. In classes such as literature and history, I struggled to keep up with readings and comprehending them. I believe giving myself a goal to read a book every two weeks, and writing a summary on them will help increase my vocabulary and prepare me for other analyzing assignments in the future. Reading will also give me a chance to step away from social media and expand my knowledge.   

Journal 12- Dreams for the future

In college, my goal is to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene. By going to college, I hope to gain and retain knowledge about my job as a dental hygienist in the future. I believe going to college and living on campus helps people live on their own in the future. After college, I would like to find a job in Richmond or Washington DC and find a lovely apartment. My dream is to be a successful dental hygienist, get married, and have two kids in the future.

Journal 13- Motivation throughout college

When I am stressed out or feel overwhelmed by assignments and deadlines approaching, I like to think of the bigger picture of why I am in college. It might be difficult, but once I walk across the stage, it will be worth those sleepless nights and early classes. Giving myself positive affirmation and celebrating successes helps keep me motivated. I also surround myself with goal-driven people, so they always keep me on my feet. Another thing that helps me stay successful and motivated is taking breaks from schoolwork often to avoid feeling burnt out when the end of the semester comes.

Journal 14- Persistence in college

Persistence is essential in college; after revaluating my first year, it was times where I thought about dropping out. I do not have a backup plan, so I learn not to be pessimistic and learn from my mistakes. I will be persistent by realizing college is meant to bring you outside your comfort zone and if I am having trouble to seek help from my professor, tutors, or classmates. I do not believe someone should change their goals because later in life, one may have regrets on not being persistent. As well as not knowing if they tried one more time they might have understood. In my next three years of college, I plan to practice on being persistent by developing discipline and good habits by turning work in early, not cramming, and become Intune with my assignments.

Journal 15- Quarantine

Corona Virus was very unexpected, and nobody knew it was soon to be a global pandemic and close university campuses and local public schools. This virus caused the whole nation to go into quarantine. Quarantine at my house is horrifying. I live with a two-year-old that is always yelling and screaming and has no self-control. I do not have a room here, so the couch is my bed, classroom, and lounge space. It is difficult to stay focus and complete assignments when there is noise all around me. I hope they find a vaccine so we can go back to campus in the fall.