Your First Semester
- Tell us how you have grown from the beginning of the semester to now.
Since the start of the semester, I have gained the ability to maintain a better balance between my schoolwork and my mental health. I used to be so hard on myself at the start of the semester and would just work without having any fun. . However, as the semester progressed, my mental health got better and I was reassured by loved ones that I had to be nice to myself. I can now balance school and take breaks for my mental health.
- What were your expectations for this year? Did this semester’s experiences meet your expectations? Explain.
I went into college with the idea that everyone would be focused on their studies and on making it through, while keeping up with their personal lives to fully enjoy their time in college. Yes, everything that happened this semester lived up to my expectations. Although it may sound strange, I found comfort in listening to my classmates stress about an assignment that was also causing me too much stress. All we wanted was to make it through every test we had to take and celebrate by having fun or getting a sweet treat.
- What is something you wish you knew 14 weeks ago?
Some things I wish I had known 14 weeks ago is that the semester will fly by with all the tests and exams, so make the most of your study time and remember to overcome any significant obstacles that may come your way. For instance, I had two exams and a test one day after the other in a week. Even though I didn’t know where to begin, I made sure to study every subject to the best of my ability. Every week, I was suffering through another upcoming exam and did not realize that my first semester of college would be ending as fast as these exams were approaching. Exams and assignments would make me stressed, but I had to tell myself that I could handle the stress and that I would feel much better after it was over.
Study Habits
- How much time do you spend studying for each class now vs. at the beginning of the semester?
At the beginning of the semester, I didn’t really study for any of my classes except for chemistry and elementary statistics. When I would study for those two classes, I would probably study for hours before an upcoming exam or test. Now, I spend probably about an hour or two for each class, but I definitely still spend a lot of my time studying for both chemistry and elementary statistics.
- How have your study habits changed?
My study habits changed in the way that I started studying for all classes instead of only studying for two classes. Unfortunately, I cram for my other classes that aren’t chemistry or elementary statistics, but I’m still doing much better. My use of technology has also impacted the way I study. For example, I now listen to chemistry lectures on my iPad while going over study materials and PowerPoints on my laptop.
- Tell us about a resource that you have used/learned about this semester that will assist you next semester.
A resource that I used this semester that will assist me next semester is definitely the science tutoring center. The tutors helped me comprehend materials I really did not understand and they would reassure me that I was solving the problems properly.
- What study habits/techniques will you use going into next semester?
Study habits that I will be using next semester is definitely going through the slides and materials before professors go over it. Another technique I really want to start using is making my own study guides because I was unable to do it this semester. I think that being able to make my own study guides would help me retain the information much better.
Health Professions Learning Community
- This semester you were enrolled in at least SOC 201S, and HLTH 101. Many of you were also enrolled in CHEM 105N and CHEM 106N, and some of you were enrolled in HIST 104H with Professor White.
- On the surface these classes do not appear to be connected; however this semester each professor was intentional about drawing connections between content, and subjects discussed. Discuss the ways in which these courses are tied together.
I was enrolled in CHEM 105N/106N and HLTH 101 this semester. The courses are related in that science plays a significant role in both. For example, health professionals studied specific scientific topics to be able to perform specific tasks, and in chemistry, we learn that certain concepts are applied in the health professions. For example, individuals who work with radiation use dosimeters to protect themselves from beta particles, gamma rays, and x rays. Another thing I saw is that courses are similar in a way that both classes reveal that all of the materials in chemistry and the professions introduced in health professions are all connected to each other. For instance, throughout our time studying chemistry, we were introduced to moles and this conversion chart. Although we continued to learn new things and the chart became larger over time, everything would always go back to the moles. It made me think of how, despite their differences, all of the different occupations that we studied in HLTH 101 have a connection to healthcare.
Parallel Plan
- This semester we had presentations from different majors in the College of Health Sciences as well as from different majors on campus. This was to give you an idea for possible parallel majors to your current intended major.
- Which two other majors would you be most interested in? Why?
Physical therapy and nuclear medicine technologies were my other major interests. I genuinely feel that I belong in the healthcare industry, so both of the professions would stay in that area. Mrs. Sara Maynard did a fantastic job of describing the career with nuclear medical technology, and her presentation caught my interest in the major. On the other hand, physical therapy grabbed my attention since it would allow me to observe my patients’ progress and provide support during their recovery.
- What benefit is there to having a parallel plan (or two) in place?
The benefit of having a parallel plan is to have something to fall back on if the current plan is not working out or a person finds out the career they are striving for is not what they expect it to be. For example, some people may be interested in nursing but once they start shadowing a nurse, they may realize that the career is not for them and they would prefer to work as another career in healthcare or something else in general.
- How could one or both of these two majors benefit your current intended major?
I believe that physical therapy benefits nursing in a way that the profession also strives to help the patient go into recovery and both try to comfort their patients. Both of the majors work with patients even though certain majors work more with patients than the other, both give the opportunity to gain that patient interaction.