As I close the doors on my first semester in college, I realize that there is a lot to look back on. Whether it be my very first midterm or the first time I went to South Campus, my experiences in college thus far have enabled me to make new friends and find a new routine.
Originally, I was extremely anxious coming into college, especially when I was signing up for classes this semester. I wasn’t sure how I would do and the thought of failure didn’t help ease this tension. However, on the first day of classes, I had the class I was most nervous about: Chem 131. Surprisingly, my professor was very approachable and clearly wanted to ensure my success in the class in any way she could. This allowed me to feel more comfortable with the rest of my day as I met more and more professors who seemed passionate about their subject while also being kind enough to break it down more slowly so it was more digestible for students. In high school, each class was the same in their structure: we were lectured about the material and then we were given a test. However, in college, each class has its own structure which I was pleasantly surprised to see as I remember how tiresome and boring it was to learn material but do nothing more with it besides answering questions about it on a test. Some classes hold lectures followed by tests while others are more discussion based where students get to collaborate with one another and think about the deeper application of the material at hand. I thoroughly enjoyed this different method of teaching as I learned how different teaching methods worked best for me. Overall, I expected this from my college class, but getting to actually experience these different methods of learning gave me new insight into my own strengths and weaknesses as a student.
In CPSG 100, I am glad that we went over the more basic information behind scientific thinking. For example, going over logical fallacies and the scientific method in class allowed me to reflect on my own shortcomings when thinking about science and how I can improve these shortcomings. In the professional science world, thinking like a scientist is often expected of students but it is not necessarily taught how to properly do so. I wasn’t expecting to go over this is class but I am glad that we did as I believe it has better prepared me for my future as a scientist. However, we haven’t touched on climate change specific topics as much as I was expecting. In the future, I hope to further explores feasible technologies that assist in solving the climate crisis. The out of classroom experiences that we had, such as the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, were not what I expected them to be. I expected a small museum where we are further taught through lecture from one of the employees at that place. However, I was pleasantly surprised at the reality. Getting the opportunity to see the applications of many sustainability practices we have discussed in the past is eye opening and has enabled me to apply my knowledge outside of the classroom. This has truly engaged me and made me think further about a potential career in environmental technology.
When comparing what I thought college life would be before starting at UMD, I wasn’t expecting there to be as many opportunities in college as there are. With UMD being a research university, there are many opportunities to get hand on experience in a lab. In addition, there are numerous employment opportunities that I didn’t expect, such as being a librarian at Mckeldin Library, and a variety of clubs and organizations to make friends in, such as the Sailing Club. In addition, people here are much more welcoming than I was expecting. In most of the classes I’ve had, there’s at least someone who is willing to have a conversation and become friends with.
For future SGC students, I would say just take the first semester of college one day at a time. Oftentimes, I tried to rush through my work and get as much work done as possible. What I didn’t realize was that I wasn’t living in the moment but was rather spending my time worrying about assignments. Taking the time out to make memories with friends and having fun college experiences will ease the transition and make UMD feel more like home. In addition, take advantage of all of the opportunities that come your way. Whether it be getting to know a professor more over lunch or getting an internship with an organization on campus, all of these opportunities will help you realize what you want to do with your future and who you want to become in life. Lastly, allow yourself time to transition into college. You don’t have to feel settled in right away. You may feel homesick or lonely at times but that is all a part of the learning process and eventually you will find your place.