My first semester in the Science and Global Change Scholars program has been a mix of what I expected and what I really didn't. As a first-generation college student, most of my ideas about university life came from teachers and social media. I pictured strict professors, a heavy workload that never slowed down, and not much room for anything outside of school. I also thought SGC would feel like a serious science extra that sat on top of everything else. Now that the semester is ending, it's clear that my schedule this fall was lighter than I expected, but the experience still changed how I look at college and at myself as a student.
My non-SGC classes were the first big surprise. I took 13 credits, mostly general education courses. Before I moved in, I expected long lectures where we just took notes, with very hard exams at the end. Instead, my classes used quizzes, essays, and online assignments mixed in with lecture. I only had one real final, and the midterms were not that bad. Once I understood how each class was set up and Canvas was checked often, the workload felt under control. When I compared my schedule with my friends' classes, it was obvious I had it easier. A lot of them had more credits and harder STEM classes, plus labs or long projects that went on for weeks. Because of that, this semester was kind of treated like a warm-up, and it seems pretty likely that the next ones will be more demanding.
Since I was only taking 13 credits, I ended up with more free time than I thought I would have. I came in expecting to study almost all the time, but that just wasn't needed this semester. Instead of letting all that extra time just disappear, I decided to get a part-time job at the Panera in STAMP. I'm glad I did. The job pays well, which helps with day-to-day costs and makes me feel more independent. It also gives my week some structure, instead of leaving empty spaces between classes that are alot easier to waste. I've met coworkers I actually like talking to, and the campus started to feel smaller and friendlier because of that. Working while taking classes has already given me useful practice in managing my time and energy, and that will matter later on when my course load gets harder.
CPSG100 turned out to be different from what I had in mind as well. I thought it would be an easy climate science class that only looked at greenhouse gases or temperature graphs and similar sorts. Instead, a lot of time was spent on how science works as a process and how global change fits into a bigger story about Earth and people. We talked about other topics such as uncertainty, risk, and past mass extinctions. These were used to explain why scientists take current environmental problems seriously. This made the class feel more like it was about real decisions than just a list of facts to remember. At the same time, there were some topics I expected to see more of, like heavier work with data.
The SGC activities outside the usual class meetings also stood out to me. On a schedule, required events and trips can look like extra work that just gets added on top of everything else. In practice, a lot of them turned out to be interesting and memorable. They helped link what we talked about in CPSG100 to real places and real situations, instead of keeping everything in slides and readings. The Philadelphia trip is one example. It made SGC feel like more than a single class, since we were taken into a real city and asked to think about history, politics, and science all at once. Because of things like that, the program felt more active and less like something you just sit through.
Life as a university student has matched some of my old expectations and gone against others. I live in Centreville, and dorm life feels fairly typical. There's shared spaces, people coming and going at random times, noise that appears now and then, and short conversations in the hallway. It doesn't feel dramatic or special, but it does feel like the dorm life I pictured before I got here. I was especially relieved to have guaranteed air conditioning. Overall, Centreville has been comfortable and predictable, and that helped keep my first semester from feeling too overwhelming. The building itself were set up in a way that felt familiar very quickly.
The harder part has been dealing with everyday responsibility. No one tells you when to go to bed, when to study, or when to clean your room. Even small choices, like deciding to skip a reading or put off an assignment, add up faster than I expected. A few late nights or ignored tasks can turn a normal week into a stressful one. As a first-generation student, there is also a quiet pressure in the background. I know I am the first in my family to go through this, and I want to do it well. That feeling shows up when I pick classes, think about money, or decide if I can really afford to put something off. Sometimes it feels like there are less options to fail, even if most of that pressure is coming from me.
Balancing classes, work at Panera, and the rest of my life has shaped a lot of this semester. Some weeks felt calm, with assignments spaced out and enough time to finish things without rushing. Other weeks felt crowded, especially when work shifts and class deadlines all landed near each other. Even with a lighter set of courses, I still had to plan ahead and pay attention. On the positive side, better habits started to get built over time. I became more careful about watching due dates, more honest about how much energy I actually have, and better at choosing what needs to be done first. Along the way, there were moments that stood out in a good way, like long talks with friends after a tiring day or noticing that I handled a busy week more calmly than I would have in high school.
If I were giving advice to future SGC students, I would say not to ignore what the program already builds in for you. CPSG100, portfolio work, events, and trips are more than just requirements that have to be finished. They can help you see parts of campus and the region you might not visit on your own or meet people outside your usual circle. When you actually show up and take those things somewhat seriously, SGC feels like a real part of your college experience instead of something you're just enrolled in.
I would also tell them to plan earlier than they think they need to. Doing everything the night before is possible, but the semester feels a lot worse if you keep doing it. Putting due dates, events, and work shifts in a calendar makes it easier to see which weeks will be busy and which ones are lighter. Checking email and Canvas regularly keeps you from being surprised by assignments. When you spread work out even a little, it's easier to keep up with classes and deal with stuff that comes up out of nowhere.
Overall, my first semester in SGC has been easier academically than I expected, but still important. Being a first-generation student, working part-time at STAMP, living in Centreville, and being part of the Scholars community have all pushed me to grow in different ways. I expect later semesters to bring more credits and harder classes, but this term gave me room to adjust and to figure out how I want to move forward in college.