I stick by my assertion in my 1st semester reflection that college classes are much more variable than what I experienced during high school. I always read course summaries and occasionally previous students' reviews before registering for classes, so I usually know what to expect from each class I take. However, if I had to pick one pleasant surprise I had this semester, I'd probably say it was taking CHIN315, Modern Chinese Literature in Translation.
I initially signed up for the class because I thought it would be easy for a Chinese speaker like myself, but I still had to put in effort for my various assignments. My high school classes never really covered literature by non-Western authors, so taking a class focusing exclusively on Chinese literature and culture was a new experience for me. In addition, my professor encouraged open discussion about each reading, and there was never an implication that there was only one correct way to interpret a certain text. Finally, we were required to create presentations for two of the readings, basically leading a class session, which shook up the traditional structure of a class and gave everyone some teaching experience. I found that was a creative way to encourage people to read and do work outside of class, since everyone would be incentivized to put together a coherent and detailed presentation, not just for themselves and their own grades, but also for their peers.
I feel like the best way to find these sorts of "hidden gem" classes is to just take classes you're genuinely interested in, rather than classes you're told to be interested in. As I've said countless times during Scholars Ambassadors events, college is a time to explore academic interests and take a diverse array of courses.
Mentoring and FacultyI admit, I haven't really looked into direct mentoring relationships with faculty members, so I can't really comment on any successes or failures on that front. I feel that the most successful way to develop relationships with faculty members is by reaching out and providing assistance; at least that's what I'm planning to do in the future.
However, this semester, I have started to increase my involvement in programs I hope will eventually lead to me interacting more with faculty members and developing strong relationships with them. Earlier this semester, I joined Scholars Ambassadors, and next semester, I will be joining the SGC Peer Mentor team. I hope that these extracurricular experiences will give me opportunities to develop closer relationships to faculty members.
University Life RevisitedLast semester, I noted that at college, I had to go out of my way to have social interactions, and that has remained the case for me this semester. However, I feel that being a member of Scholars has helped me make friends easier, as it gives me a smaller community to get to know on a more consistent level.
I feel like the biggest obstacle to making friends is availability. During high school, both classes and the campus are smaller, so it's easier to see someone you know when you're in class. However, that is not the case in college, where classes can be huge and you could sit next to someone you'd never see again. As such, I feel like the best way to make friends in college is to seek out opportunities through clubs and smaller classes. That way, if you meet someone you get along with, you can consistently meet up with them throughout the school year.
Culture ShockWhile this may seem like a minor thing to be surprised by in the grand scheme of things, I was most shocked by just how much walking I do on a day by day basis. I used to think that my high school campus was huge and innavigable, but it is still nothing compared to college.
I didn't keep track of how much I walked per week last semester, but this semester, I started playing Pokémon GO again, which has given me a reliable way to track my steps and activity. This semester, my schedule was a lot more hectic than it was during last semester, and on Tuesdays I would have 5 classes in a row. Correspondingly, I walked a lot across campus, totaling up to over 30 km walked per week. I definitely could not have anticipated this level of physical activity during high school.
As an out of state student, I feel like a lot of the aspects of college I was most surprised by were simply aspects of living in Maryland I had never considered before. For example, Maryland's weather is rather unpredictable and dare I say terrible, which I was certainly not used to at first. The days of not checking the weather before I go to class are behind me.
Final ThoughtsCompared to my first semester, my second semester at UMD was certainly more hectic and stressful. My schedule was split between classes, studying, and trying to become more active on campus, but I feel like I'm finally starting to fit into UMD. I'm certainly looking forward to what next year will be like.