Overall, some of the courses that were the most surprsing to me included my Computer Science class CMSC250 and CMSC216. I have previously meddled in mathematical concepts covered in CMSC250 including combinatorics, number theory, set theory, and others. At first, I felt that it was a very useless topic to study with very little practical application. However, through CMSC250, Discrete Structures, I learned how these topics connected to the computing world. It was truly eye opening for me to see how seemingly silly mathematical concepts could connect wiht real world applications in the computing world. The class was both challenging and rewarding. I look forward to the sequel class CMSC351 next semester where we will go even more in depth with these topics. Another class I found interesting was CMSC216. The class made me code in C which was a language I was unfamiliar with. That itself was a new challenge I was ready to face. However, it was also using UNIX instead of a normal compiler which made it even more challenging. Nonethless, it was an interesting and fun class to learn.
Developing connections with faculty is something that is particularly difficult for me. Coming into UMD was a unique experience. I was more used to learning in smaller, more intimite classrooms of 20/30 students in high school. All of a sudden, in a 300 person lecture hall, I felt more like an outsider and just a face in the crowd. It is definitely very diffcult to connect with the lecturer in a scenario like that. I found most of my success in the smaller discussions where I could really shine and stand apart from the other students. Scholars also provided a fantastic opportunity to meet faculty. Dr Holtz and Merck have both been very friendly and welcoming to me. In a school so big, they stand out as people who truly care about their students and I am glad that scholars have helped me connect with them.
Connections with peers is something much easier to do than connecting with faculty. Their struggles are your struggles. It is easy to bond when both of you are struggling with similar things, whether it be finals, tests, projects, or other things. Again, even though lecture halls can be isolating, going to discussion and meeting the same people in lecture is definitely comfortable for me to do. It is easy to talk to your peers and I also definitely encourage asking for help if you need it. I also think it's very nice to live in a dorm environment since everyone around you is so neighborly. It is very easy to bond with your floormates and neighbors even if you don't share any classes. Varying interests between us have been important as well and help develop deeper connections.
I think at University, the most difficult thing for me to adjust to was no supervision. Previously, if I were to make a bad purchase, I would have someone to look in the eyes and help me reconsider before getting that starbucks coffee. Here however, it has definitely tested how responsible and disciplined I have to be in order to keep self control. My academic performance has been much better and I think the freedom that comes with College can be both a blessing and a curse. It's important to keep yourself physically along as mentally healthy. To succeed in a new environment and I think that is something everyone should remember. Health should be your biggest priority and your decisions should reflect that.