This year has been both a big adjustment and a welcome change for me. Over all the classes I took this year, AREC200 stood out to me the most. This class was an analysis of the Chesapeake Bay and the economic, environmental, and political factors involved. This class especially stood out to me because I had grown up near the Chesapeake and being able to see a piece of my childhood in an academic light was very fascinating. This class was an I-series and I did it to fulfill gen-ed credits. Not only did it fill two gen-eds but it became my favorite class of the semester. I would highly recommend this class and any other I-series to incoming freshmen. These classes take a different approach to topics and explore specific interests that you would not think to study. I would also recommend taking time to explore all class options before you make your schedule. There are a lot of classes that you wouldn’t think to take unless you look for them.
I have been able to grow closer with my HIST131 TA. When you make the effort to go to office hours and review sessions they host teachers and TAs will take notice of you and be able to help you more. This happened with my history TA after I made an effort to participate in discussion as well as show up to extra workshops. It is difficult to always go to the extra sessions but it plays a big part in creating a strong relationship with you and the faculty.
One of the best ways to make friends on campus is to join clubs. These are great ways to meet new people with common interests. This semester I joined a professional fraternity and helped me make new friends. This makes the semester so much more enjoyable as I have more people to study with and take classes with. Not only does it improve my social mood but my academic life as well. In order to make friends you really have to put yourself out there, everyone is adjusting so don’t feel uncomfortable just be yourself.
One of the things I was least prepared for was how much you need to manage your own time. You have a lot more projects and big assignments in college. You need to keep track of everything and prepare in advance. A lot of times I would forget about something and have to cram it in at the last minute leading to poorer grades. This applied to studying as well, there was a lot more content to keep track of so you have to start studying early. Using a google calendar or another planning method is vital to keep track of assignments. The calendar on canvas is also useful to visualize, but not all assignments will show up so don’t solely rely on that.