CSPG100 differed from the courses that I would have expected from college. The experience was very interactive. Coming into college, I had the feeling that all my classes would be large lecture halls where all I would do is take notes and listen. CSPG100 was completely different, as the main focus was on interaction and making sure students felt a sense of community and immersion in the learning. The events and activities throughout the semester helped me learn about my classmates and make myself comfortable with campus life. Service day was an especially great experience which set off the semester in the perfect direction. The people in my peer mentor group which I worked with at the aquatic gardens service day are people that I still hang out with outside of class. Scholars initiated these friendships. I am very grateful for this. As for the assignments, while I was surprised by the amount of work which was being assigned (especially for a one credit class), they ultimately helped me to solidify my knowledge of the subjects covered in class. For example, the quizzes and weekly questions gave me incentive to look over my notes and find out more about global change and our world.
Some assignments threw me off a bit, as they seemed to have little to do with science and global change. I speak of the portfolio and design assignments in particular. Initially, they seemed pointless and almost felt like filler for the class. Additionally, these assignments were very challenging for me considering I never worked with computers or code before. However, upon reflection, I now understand their practicalities. Applying for internships, some companies requested my personal website. CPSG had me prepared. I already had a semi-professional website up and running from these assignments. Also, now I know more about html code and design which can be applicable to my engineering courses and career.
I also thought that we would cover more modern day events. Most of the material we learned this semester was about the past. I am more interested in climate change today, but I do understand that to know about the present you have to know about the past. I look forward to the coming semesters where we will finally be able to apply this knowledge to the current day.
My other classes were also very different from what I expected. Although I have several classes in large lecture halls with hundreds of students, I feel like it is more engaging that what I had previously thought it out to be. I have met tons of friends from these large lecture halls, and everyone is talkative and there for one another. This is especially true for my engineering class, where we had to build a fully autonomous OTV in groups. During the process and all the struggles we faced, every groups was there to help eachother. It was a great experience and I feel like I know a lot more about Engineering because of these group-based projects. Overall, my classes were much more engaging and interesting than I expected.
This semester I lived in Centreville. I really enjoyed living here this semester. Living at college was not too much of a foreign idea for me, as I have seen what it is like through my brother. My brother is currently a senior here at UMD studying Fire Protection Engineering. I remember moving him in at Hagerstown his first year, and seeing what it is like in the freshman dorms. It obviously was nothing like home. The bathrooms were communal, all your possessions were in one room, you had to share a room with someone. While these seem like negatives, I actually got excited from the prospect of going to college and living in these dorms. It had an air of freedom and self-reliance. So throughout high school I worked hard and I made sure I could make it into schools so that I could be independent. That was my goal, and I feel like I have achieved it.
Here at college, everything is dependent on the choices you make. In high school, classes were mandatory. You had to show up or else you would get a phone call home. This is not the case in college. In college, you can skip any classes you like, but you're the one paying tuition so it's all up to your judgment. The same also applies to clubs and activities. Nothing is mandatory, but just look at all the things out there. You would be a fool to sit in bed all day instead of pursuing a new hobby or meeting new people.
On top of choices, another thing that I have to say is important about college life is balance. There are three things which as a college student, you must find a solid balance between. These things are work (classes, homework, exercise), sleep, and a social life. All of these things are essential not only to the mind, but the body as well. If you find this balance, you will be happier on a day to day basis. While achieving this is difficult, especially as college students, it is something that you need to get used to. Balance will be one of the grand challenges of life, even as you move on past college and get a job. That is my advice to any future SGC students: try to find a balance within life, and joy will meet you along the way.
I am happy with how I did this semester. I believe that I have found a well rounded balance in my life, and I look forward to the rest of my college experience.