Reflect on the Fall semester and the overall experience of your first semester at college.

Your First Semester

• Tell us how you have grown from the beginning of the semester to now.
  • Since the beginning of the semester I have learned and experienced many new things, and this knowledge and experience has opened my mind to new ideas. Also, I feel like I have gotten used to what it’s like to live more independently, and I believe this has made me more mature and responsible as a person.
• What were your expectations for this year? Did this semester’s experiences meet your expectations? Explain.
  • I expected to learn more about my intended major and health science field. I also expected to to meet a lot of new friends.
• What is something you wish you knew 14 weeks ago? 
  • It is important to stay focused on school even though there are many distractions while being on a college campus.  

Study Habits

• How much time do you spend studying for each class now vs. at the beginning of the semester? 
  • I feel like I spend a little less time studying now because I am more familiar with my classes, and I am aware of what the professor wants us to know for exams.  I believe I have become more efficient in my studying so that is why I am able to spend less time, and get similar results. 
• How have your study habits changed?
  • Since I am more familiar with what my professors want us to study, and what kinds of questions they ask. I focus more on these areas so my studying can be more efficient. I was unable to do this in the beginning of the semester because I was unfamiliar with the classes.
• Tell us about a resource that you have used/learned about this semester that will assist you next semester.
  • The resource here at ODU that has assisted me the most is the Library. This resource has allowed me to have a quiet place where I can focus on my homework and studies. The Library also allows me to print necessary materials for class, and has computers that help me get assignments done more efficiently. 
• What study habits/techniques will you use going into next semester?
  • I will continue to have designated hours at the library each week where I focus on all my school work for the week. I will also continue to review my notes after each class in order to refresh my memory. 

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.
    • HLTH 101 was a class that focused on informing us more on the various professions in the health field and preparing us to become future health professionals. SOC 201 was a class that educated me on how society works, and how various variables cause different effects in our society. CHEM 105N and 106N taught me the fundamentals of chemistry so I can be prepared for further science credits that will be required for my major. These classes are all connected as they prepare us for a future in the healthcare field. HLTH 101 informs us about different options in the healthcare field so we can use them as backups or as alternatives if we lose interest in our intended major. CHEM teaches us the necessary fundamental scientific knowledge we need to pursue a career in the health field. SOC 201S teaches us the aspects and inequalities of society, as workers in the health field deal with people from varying cultures, backgrounds, and socioeconomic statuses. 

Parallel Plan

1. 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? 
  • Nuclear Medicine is another major that interests me as it is very high tech, and it is interesting how different types of scans are done. Public Health is another major that interests me because I have always wanted to help a lot of people, and this major deals with improving society’s quality of life. 
• What benefit is there to having a parallel plan (or two) in place? 
  • Having a parallel plan is good in case your expectations of your intended major do not match the reality, and you need to change your major. If you have a parallel plan then you could easily fall back onto it without having to start from scratch since you will already have some credits completed. 
• How could one or both of these two majors benefit your current intended major?
  • Nuclear Medicine could benefit my current nursing major as it would make me more knowledgeable on various medicine and this would better prepare me to treat my patients.