Reflect on the following:
Study Habits:
What classes are you doing well in, and why?
The classes I am doing well in this semester are Psychology & Chemistry. Chemistry is most surprising to me because I struggled taking the class in high school. The professor is such a sweet lady and has great office hours. Psychology is a class I’ve taken in high school as well but I excelled in it.
What classes did you identify as needing assistance in?
The class I said I needed assistance in was Interpreting The American Past. I’m not sure if it’s the work load or the jumping around to different topics from different time periods that has me struggling. History has never been my strong suit but I will continue to push through and try my best.
What changes have you made (i.e. amount of time, location, campus resources, study strategies, etc…)?
At the start of the semester I would have preferred doing my work in my room or in the common areas of my dorm. Now half way through the semester I often find myself going off campus to complete homework assignments. I enjoy going to places like starbucks or my friends houses to study in groups. Group work helps me complete assignments faster and not get off track.
Transition to College:
What expectations did you have coming to college?
When coming to college I expected an outrageous amount of work and the material to be harder to understand. I also thought professors would be on you about your grades and attendance. I primarily thought, like I was told in high school, professors would be strict and now I’ve learned that was just them trying to scare us into following the rules.
Have those expectations come to fruition, or not?
Yes and No.
In what way is your college experience different from what you expected?
For some classes this is true but for most it is not. If you are attentive in class you will learn everything you need to complete the given assignments. Professors are not there to care about your personal grade. They are getting paid to do their jobs and teach whether you fail or not is on you. College is where you become independent not just from your parents but also from teachers monitoring your grades and attendance. Your success is completely dependent on YOU.
What has surprised you about your experiences so far this semester?
I didn’t expect the school to be so involved with everything. There are always events to go to and things to participate in. You could never get bored at ODU and are truly missing out if you don’t go check it out.
If you live on campus: What has been your toughest challenge with moving away to college? Easiest challenge to overcome?
The biggest challenge from moving away is the urge to drive an hour everyday to go home. Being homesick is one of the worst feelings and being so close it’s hard not to run back home when I feel this way. The easiest problem for me to overcome was not waking up for class. I often slept through my alarms for class at the beginning of the semester. I started setting multiple alarms as well as having friends knock on my door or call me. Being part of the LLC is a great way to make sure you’re getting to class on time because all your classmates live with you.
Major:
Name something you have learned about your intended major that you did not know at the beginning of the semester.
My intended major is Dental Hygiene. One thing I’ve learned about the dental hygiene program is the expenses for supplies and admission. When you pick your major they don’t tell you these things and it’s important to know in advance.
Have your feelings changed about your intended major? List some thoughts you are having.
My feelings have not changed about my major because it is something I am passionate about. The program is rigorous and hard to get into but I feel confident in my ability and I am excited for that chapter of my life.
Is there another subject (major or minor) that you are interested in learning more about?
No
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.
For most classes you have to print handouts or notes. Coming into college I didn’t bring a printer so it was important for me to know there are multiple printing options available around campus. The downside of this resource is you have to pay everytime you print.
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?
My friend Harley helped me tremendously this semester. She sits down and helps me study and teaches me what I don’t understand and vice versa. She often invites me to her house off campus to do work and hang out so I don’t get stressed out. We always complete work together and it helps me greatly.
Have you attended an interest meeting for a club? Why did you decide to get involved or not get involved?
I am part of the ODU club called Young Life. This club is a bible study group who meets three times a week. Tuesdays we have game/activity nights and Thursday nights we have small groups for bible studies. On Fridays early in the morning we meet in the Webb for bible study as a whole and most of the time there are donuts or some type of breakfast.