The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered what I imagined my classes in college would be like. Due to every single one of my classes' online nature, their structure was different than any in-person class I had ever had. Most notably, when it came to class discussion and asking questions during a lecture. For example, my English class contained at least two discussion boards a week rather than voicing opinions during class. I was not a fan of this because I have no fear of speaking and can eloquently express my thoughts when speaking. The same cannot be said when I must write my opinions down on (virtual) paper; it makes the task much more tedious and time-consuming to complete. Secondly, asynchronous lectures are much harder to physically get through than when I am just in class, taking notes surrounded by people who are also hard at work. Specifically, for my CHEM135 class, lectures were prerecorded and particularly unengaging. I typically like science courses but not being able to ask a quick question during the lecture or meet with the professor after class caused a drastic decline in my enthusiasm for the course. One of the most surprising aspects of college courses was that homework was to be done through a website, graded, and you only had a specific number of tries to get the problem correct. I had initially been expected most homework to be optional or at least only a completion grade.
In CPSG100 we spent a large quantity of time learning what science was, its definition, and how people are misled by pseudoscience. I was certainly not expecting to discuss what I considered to be such basic or fundamental knowledge. However, after the first few pages of the Kida reading, I understood why it was important to discuss what is and is not real and how crucial it is to think critically about the world around us. I particularly enjoyed the Kida reading because it made me feel like I was not crazy for questioning why we believe what we do as well as providing some responses to my questions. As we moved on, the definition of "science" became crucial; one cannot argue on behalf of facts and scientific studies if they do not understand the term they are arguing for. Defining a concept before arguing it is something that this class taught me was essential to having a meaningful discussion. All parties must have a common ground to reach a logical conclusion, if not every argument is open to subjectivity and fallacies. We have not yet covered the science behind why the globe is continually changing. Still, I have no doubts we will be covering that material next semester. The outside-of-class activities lack sociability, but as stated before, I believe this is due to the online nature of class and social restrictions that are in place for the safety of the public.
University life is drastically different than my life at home was. At home, my parents helped me more with everyday tasks and decisions (I am a very indecisive person) I had to make. Once I got to college, however, I had to make small decisions that were not worth fretting over, so I had to learn to just choose and accept the "consequences" of my actions. These decisions do not have to be complicated, but I just had to accept what I chose and trust it was not the end of the world for choosing the "wrong" thing. I also get much more sleep on average here than I did when I was in high school, about seven to eight hours. Sleeping has most notably benefited my state of mind because I feel more awake and content for a larger portion of my day. Since I live in a dorm, I also do not have a kitchen, so I must walk to the diner. This proved to be a surprisingly pleasant experience because it forces me to walk and get some fresh air, additionally allowing me to have some quiet to my day as I walk there and back.
My number one piece of advice to future SGC students is to know how you work and not expect it to drastically change when you come to college. For example, I am very meticulous about the assignments I complete. Therefore, it takes me much longer to complete tasks and study effectively. On the other hand, if you are a quick worker, you might take more classes in a semester. By knowing your work style, you can schedule your day and not be disappointed if you do not complete everything you hoped you would. I would also warn that the first few days will be less enjoyable and socially draining from having small talk with so many new people. My last piece of advice is to make lists of everything, work to get done, housekeeping items, future things to keep track of, etc. I have found lists to serve as a mind dump and clear my brain, thus focusing on what truly needs to be done. Lastly, do not be afraid to tell people no. If you know you should study and are stressed about work, do not hesitate to kick your friends out of your room. It is essential to make meaningful friendships in college, but do not forget you are here to expand your knowledge and learn.
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