Taylor's "Expectations vs. Reality" Reflection Essay

As my fall semester of freshman year wraps up, I have realized that college is quite different from what I expected. There have been a lot of changes, like meeting new people, understanding the campus, finding an outlet, and handling classes. Since my major is engineering and most of my high school friends chose different paths, I was worried about making new friends and staying connected with old ones. Thankfully, with good time management, I have been able to have dinner with my high school friends almost every day and made great friends in engineering through a summer program for minorities in engineering. Adjusting to the campus was a big challenge. Moving from having all my classes in one building to having them spread out across UMD, which is a pretty big school, was tough. But I have learned some shortcuts and realized that Google Maps is not always reliable. I knew I needed an outlet beyond classes, especially with a demanding major like engineering. I found club cheer, and with my 12 years of cheerleading experience, it felt like the perfect fit. I am so glad I decided to try out in the spring before my freshman year, even though I was not sure I would make the team. Now, I am on the team and will be competing in Florida in April. Through all these experiences, I have learned that college is a constant learning process, both academically and personally. The biggest reality check has been how different college classes are from high school.

One specific course that was pretty different from high school was my College Park Scholars class (CPSG100). The structure of the class, meeting only once a week with some connecting courses to be completed by the end of sophomore year, was not what I expected for university classes. I anticipated more rigorous courses, but compared to my other classes, this one is more relaxed. That said, it still has its challenges. The class is longer, so the professors usually teach the material visually using PowerPoint presentations, followed by in-person assignments to help us understand the topic better. I expected many university classes to follow this format, minus the in-person assignments, which ensure we grasp that days material. The grading was also different from what I anticipated. The scholar professors aim to make students successful and are more understanding, knowing these courses might not connect to student majors. They just want the work done well. I initially thought professors would not care much about student performance since they get paid regardless and, especially at UMD, might be more focused on their research than on student success. However, this class has shown me that they do care and want to help us succeed.

Knowing that my Scholars class is about Science and Global Change, I expected that would be the main focus throughout the semester. Instead, a lot of the lectures involved learning various terms to understand different types of prompts. It felt like we did not fully dive into global change topics until the second or third to last week of the semester. I was surprised that the class covered topics like lying, BS & logical fallacies, the honor code, and theories. I was expecting discussions on how to slow down climate change, the difference between past predictions of the future world and current reality, and why some people still get scientific data wrong despite all the evidence. Additionally, I did not expect our first out-of-classroom activity to be cleaning up a pond, even though they get muddy and invasive species every year. However, it was explained that the people who maintain these ponds did not have enough help to keep them in top shape, and they need the community to lend a hand to help keep the beautiful garden alive.

Furthermore, by living in Centerville, university life can be quite different from what I envisioned in high school. In high school, college seems like a place of constant freedom and fun, but the reality often involves balancing a lot of responsibilities. I found out that the workload is more intense, and I needed to manage my time effectively to keep up with classes, assignments, and extracurricular activities. Additionally, the level of independence I have in college requires me to be more self-disciplined and proactive in seeking help when needed. The social scene was also different, with more diverse groups of people and opportunities to connect with others who share my interests. Overall, while university life can be challenging, it also offers a unique chance for personal growth and exploration.

From my college experience so far one piece of advice I would give to future college students is to be open to unexpected learning experiences. College courses might not always align with your initial expectations, but they often offer valuable insights and skills that can be incredibly useful. Embrace the diverse topics and activities, even if they seem unrelated at first. For instance, you might find yourself learning about logical fallacies in your scholar class or participating in community service projects like pond cleanups. These experiences can broaden your perspective and enhance your problem-solving abilities. Stay adaptable, engage actively in all aspects of your courses, and take advantage of the opportunities to grow both academically and personally.

Last modified: 02 December 2024