Hana's "Freshman Time Capsule" Reflection Essay

Reflecting on all of my classes this year, the course that came as the biggest surprise to me is my Environmental Health class that I took the second semester of my freshman year. I decided to take it because it is required for my major of Environmental Science and Technology, but I never expected to get so much out of it. I felt as if this class really solidified and built on the knowledge I had from high school on Environmental Science. I liked how it focused on the impacts of the environment on human health, this was something I hadn't learned about much in high school. I did extremely well in this class and I felt engaged with every lecture and interested to know more. This class really did well to calm my anxieties that I had chosen the wrong major, my enjoyments and genuine understanding of the topics confirmed that I had chosen the right future for myself. For incoming students, the best advice I have is to choose classes that really interest you. At least for me, motivation to learn has such a positive impact on grades. You can take a variety of different classes to see what you like best. Know that it is okay to change your major if you realize your current situation isn't working out. College is a time for experimentation and exploration, especially when it comes to determining a future for yourself. You should be doing something you love!

Developing relationships with teachers is a very important part of college. My greatest success with this has been with my Environmental Health teacher. She teaches my discussion section for this course so I think it has been easier to connect with her. I felt it was important to make this connection with her since she is knowledgeable about my major, and has great advice and stories relating to jobs in the Environmental Science field. Oftentimes, there are obstacles in achieving these relationships. It can be hard to really connect with a teacher when schedules are so busy. For incoming students, my biggest piece of advice for this is to just talk to your teachers whenever you can. They want to get to know you as well, and the benefits of having them know who you are can be very rewarding in the future. Not only will you gain a new friend, it is very possible they will have amazing opportunities for you later!

Developing strong friendships has really been the best way for me to adjust to university life. Everyone is in the same boat, meaning you are all going through the adjustment period together. It is really nice to have people by your side to navigate everything with. I'd say the greatest obstacle is hanging out with new friends outside of class. It is really easy to just see them in class and then go your separate ways. If you want to be friends, you have to make a conscious effort to spend time together, whether it's going to the dining hall or grabbing coffee after class together. To make the best use of these connections, think of these people as yourself. They are undergoing the same stress, same adjustments and same workloads. Use this knowledge to lean on each other, you friends can be the ones to cheer you up anytime you need or when things get particularly hard. Be there for them and they will be there for you.

In terms of academics, I was least prepared for studying for big exams. We never had finals or giant tests in high school, so I was unsure how to effectively study coming in. For me, there was a trial and error period to find out which studying method works best for me. Coming in a freshman, my advice is to be prepared to put in more time studying then you think you need. These exams are different from high school and you may have to adjust to new ways of preparing different from what you're used to. You will be okay though, and make the most of your freshman year. I cannot believe mine is almost over. This has been one of the most exciting, rewarding and challenging years of my life, and I can't wait for the next three.

Last modified: 5 May 2022