The Topic: As you finish up your first semester at the University (and in SGC), it is a time to reflect on the difference between what you expected this to be like and how this experience actually played out. In what ways was life as a college student different than you expected? Specifically address:
Also, please feel free to address how the semester worked in relation to your non-academic life: the difficulties, the benefits, the disappointments, and the unexpected highlights (if any!) of the situation you found yourself in this year.
As the youngest child in my family and the second to attend the University of Maryland, I am extremely grateful to have an older brother who paved the way for me here at UMD. Although he majored in Information Science and I am majoring in Chemical Engineering, he provided me with a plethora of tips and useful advice to be able to succeed as an undergraduate student at UMD. Over the summer, I also had the privilege of participating in the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Bridge Program. As I finish up my first semester at the University of Maryland and in SGC, there are few expectations I had that were met and a few that were far from accurate.
To start, there were a few expectations of college life I had prior to my first semester that proved to be inaccurate. One expectation that made me painfully nervous for the semester, but ended up being far from accurate, was that I would be completely on my own. I thought if I were to be struggling in a class or confused about my 4-year plan that it would be all up to me to just figure it out. Summer Bridge did help get rid of this expectation for the most part. During the Bridge program we stayed on campus for four weeks, and we experienced dorm life and going to classes. The coordinators and mentors never failed to inform us of the sea of resources available on campus. After officially beginning the school year, I have used many of the academic resources available such as Guided Study Sessions, professor office hours, and academic advising. Specifically, one class has been very helpful for guidance in my major: CHBE100 (Exploring Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering). This class has helped me create my resume, become aware of the many different paths I can take as an undergraduate in the major and in my career, and options for graduate school. The expectation of becoming completely lost with no help or guidance ties into a second inaccurate expectation of mine which was that I would drown in coursework and that the workload would be unmanageable. I consider this an inaccurate expectation because my first semester has taught me the importance of time management and how to build this skill. So far I have not drowned in coursework and was able to adjust to the workload. Another expectation of mine that was proven to be inaccurate was that I would not make any friends. The friends I made in Bridge during the summer refuted this expectation of mine before I even began the fall semester. My roommate is another great friend I have made, and I am blessed to have her. The structure, delivery, and required graded items of my classes are kind of what I expected. I definitely expected a challenge, but it is not unmanageable like I was worried about.
Regarding life as a University student, university life is kind of what I thought it would be. There are a few expectations I had that proved to be accurate. I live in Centreville, and the dorm is how I expected it to be with some things I knew about the school before coming here. I expected the busyness because UMD is a very large campus, and this year's incoming Freshman class is the largest UMD has ever had. I also expected to have a lot of fun during events that the organizations I am a part of hold, and I can attest to the fact that that expectation came to pass. In CPSG100, there were some things covered in class that I did not expect, such as topics like "what is science," and "mistakes we make in thinking." These were valuable topics that have taught us how to evaluate arguments and think critically before believing something. There is nothing that we have not explored yet that I was expecting. The program is called "Science and Global Change," and the topics we have explored have everything to do with science and global change.
After completing one semester of college, I would think I am qualified to advise future Science and Global Change students. Some advice I would give includes: stay organized in school work and in general, seek help early when you do not understand a topic, attend all classes unless you really cannot, do not neglect self-care, and get involved in non-academic activities. Staying organized helps you not feel scattered everyday and helps you get things done. Creating a routine and sticking with it helps with this. Seeking help early looks like not being afraid to ask questions, attending professor office hours or GSS, or simply asking a friend in your class for help understanding. This has helped me not fall behind a lot, and I have seen that when I don't seek help early I regret it deeply later down the line. Attending all classes ensures you don't miss valuable information in the lecture and any announcements the professor may give. We should not neglect self-care because it helps us stay grounded when our academic life gets hectic. Finally, creating time to be involved in non-academic activities helps us build social skills and bond with others that share common interests. This is a great way to make amazing friends.
Outside of academics, I decided to get involved in three organizations: the Black Engineers Society (BES), the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), and Bethel Campus Fellowship (BCF). In BES, which is UMD's chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), I was able to become an official member. In addition, I ran and was elected to the position of Freshman Representative for AIChE. This position has been a blast doing outreach to my class and working with the executive board to plan events. Also, through the College Park Scholars Program I became a Lakeland Stars Tutor. This consists of one two-hour tutoring session every Thursday from 3:30pm to 5:45 pm where each tutor tutors one kid from Paint Branch Elementary School. I have been able to bond with my tutee and help him with his homework each Thursday. Another aspect of my non-academic life is making time to still do the hobbies that I love. I go on walks regularly to clear my head, and I work out in Eppley. During Thanksgiving break, the pressure of having my last Differential Equations and Chemistry midterms the week we were to return to campus weighed heavily on me. However, I was able to learn a piece on the piano that I had been wanting to learn for a while. I experienced the importance of rest and taking a break from academics to do things I love to avoid burnout.