Going into the University of Maryland I had no idea what to expect. I didn't have any siblings in college yet only a couple of my friends who were already in college. Those who I knew that were experiencing college for the first time were not on the same path as me in terms of our majors, so my idea of college was not seen through the eyes of a civil engineering major but through the eyes of an economics, theater, or business major. I expected the work to be difficult however I was not prepared for the speed at which I would be expected to learn and comprehend it. My high school focused a major of the grade percentage on classwork and the adjustment to nearly eighty percent of your grade in college courses being based on examinations.
I am a civil engineering major. My classes this semester are all lectured STEM classes some with a discussion and some without. The ones with discussion seem to be where I thrive. Being able to talk with my peers about the material discussed in class has been extremely helpful and I have seen the results in my exam scores. The classes without discussions have been a struggle. Trying to teach myself the material discussed in class has never been my strong suit, but as the year went by, I was able to find people to make unofficial discussion groups with who helped me understand the content more clearly.
Going into college I had anxieties about leaving my home, and my family. I do not live far from home, but I worried about being homesick or getting physically sick (both of which happened). Although there were many times when I would miss my family, I found myself finding distractions within my schoolwork, and the friends I have made. Making friends was another bizarre experience I had zero expectations for and is nothing like high school. I have yet to meet an unfriendly person at this school and hope to continue this streak moving forward.
Although I spend most of my time doing schoolwork, I have found some balance in work and play. Weather, going out with friends, going to stamp to get food, or staying in and watching a movie looking at the little joys as a treat after a long day is very helpful. I fear at times I use work as an excuse to not be as social as I could. At times I wish I was a part of a club or an out of school activity but then the fear of being overwhelmed, and not having enough time to study or sleep, creeps in. This is something I have to work at next semester.
The scholars' class this semester although time consuming and thought provoking proved as a supportive work environment. Getting to know all my peers through collaborative activities in and out of the classroom made for a positive learning environment within the classroom. This proved to be important as something I was not expecting was the intensity of the topics covered in class. I knew that the topics of climate change and global warming would be discussed but the intensity of the issues brought up was alarming and depressing. This of course is not a negative thing. We as human beings need to acknowledge the state, we have put ourselves and our world in. The idea of solutions to climate change was not something covered nearly as much as I thought it would in this course. However, a different approach was taken, by talking about different types of fallacies we were able to dissect the different counterarguments made by people who refuse to believe in climate change. And with that we discussed the importance of science and hypothesis, something I thought I already knew everything about; it turns out I did not. It was fascinating. Learning about the ways common ideas, theories and facts came to be.
These ideas of the basis of science and climate change carried outside of the classroom. We visited places like the Smithsonian to learn about how our world has grown and changed throughout history. We visited places like the Phillip Merrill Environmental center where we learned how humans have had a massive effect on the bay and how even though things are looking up, we still have quite a way to go. Learning in an environment outside of the classroom not only allowed me to bond with my fellow classmates but with my professors as well. This extended the overall learning experience in the classroom.
My advice for the future GSC student is to not be afraid to ask for help. Ask your friends, your professors, your TA's, or your advisors. There are so many resources here you are going to be okay. No one wants to see you fail, and although at times it may not feel like that, if you work hard good things will come. Also, remember to take care of yourself. Make sure you are eating right; the dining hall can be a big adjustment. Practice self-care too. Treat yourself to things that make you feel good. And most importantly surround yourself with smart people who make you a better person. You got this.