Throughout my first semester of university, some aspects of my classes are different from what I expected when I arrived. I understood that college classes were in big lecture halls with hundreds of students, but contrary to my expectations, I had classes with smaller class sizes. For example, my communication class is more intimate, with about twenty students. In this class, I’ve gotten to know my professor on a personal level, and it is overall easier to communicate with her. Before arriving at the University of Maryland, I believed it would be easier to talk to my professors in these bigger lecture halls. With the number of students in these classes and office hours overlapping with other class times, I simply became one name out of hundreds. Some professors are excited to teach, while others read material off slides, which is a concept I understood before arriving. Additionally, with some professors, there is a generational gap between them and their students. This gap makes it hard for students to connect to a professor and discourages them from pursuing a professional relationship. Furthermore, an aspect of university classes that I appreciate heavily is the use of a well-defined syllabus. I enjoy looking over the syllabus during the first week of class and knowing exactly what assignments, quizzes, and midterms are due, in addition to how much they contribute to my overall grade. Personally, I work a lot harder for my grades in university than in high school. In turn, I am prouder of myself throughout the semester. Additionally, the cost of attendance motivates me to do my best in all aspects of my academic life.
Coming into CPSG100, I did not expect the class to cover such a wide range of topics within science and global change. I assumed we would focus mainly on environmental issues and climate-related discussions, but throughout the semester I learned a lot more than I anticipated. One thing I did not expect was how much time we spent on logical fallacies. I had never learned about them in depth before, and understanding how flawed reasoning shows up in the real world has genuinely changed the way I view arguments and media. I also did not expect the class to go into the structure of scientific studies and the scientific method the way it did. We looked closely at how research is designed, what makes a study reliable, and how easily results can be misinterpreted. Lastly, learning about extinctions and past extinction events was something I did not realize would be so major in the course. Understanding how today’s environmental issues connect to patterns seen throughout Earth’s history put everything into perspective. As for outside-the-class activities, they were more enjoyable and hands-on than I expected. Cleaning the aquatic garden was tiring but meaningful, especially because we could directly see how it connected to environmental maintenance. Our trip to the Natural History Museum in DC fit the course well, and for my excursion, I went to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. The new exhibit on the extinction of the dinosaurs related perfectly to what we were reading in The Sixth Extinction, and it was funny seeing the book in the gift shop afterward. Overall, the outside activities made the material feel more real and helped me connect the classwork to actual environmental spaces.
Life as a university student is different from what I imagined in high school in both quiet and unexpected ways. I always pictured college as busy, loud, and constantly moving, but some of my favorite moments of this semester have been the calmer parts of campus life. Whether it is walking back from class, doing work alone in my dorm, or taking time to rest, I enjoy the slower pace more than I thought I would. At the same time, I have also made some really good friends, and that part of my college experience matches what I hoped for. I enjoy going out with them, exploring new places, and overall feeling more independent. The social aspect feels exciting and new, and it has helped me adjust to campus life in a positive way. However, something I did not expect was the shift in friendships from back home. With everyone living their own lives, it becomes harder to stay connected. Losing some of those friendships simply from not talking as much has been strange, but it also feels like a natural part of growing up. Overall, university life is a mix of independence, calm routines, new friendships, and letting go of old ones. It is different from what I imagined, but in a way that feels right for where I am now.
Advice I would give to future SGC students to ease them into college life would be to be free, be yourself, and learn to be content with your own company. I believe it is important for students to explore all aspects of life that the University of Maryland provides. During the first semester of college, your life is changing in a very drastic way. It is typically the first time in your life where you are in complete control of your entire day — you’re free to do whatever you want. In this time, study, make new friends, join a club, or even start a new hobby. There is so much to do on campus and so many new experiences to try. With this freedom, try new things and step outside your comfort zone. Next, I would suggest being yourself. Although this is a time to reinvent yourself, it is also the time when your adult life begins. Why start it with a version of yourself that isn’t truly you? By being yourself, you’ll naturally find the right people in your life. Lastly, I would advise them to be accepting of their own solitude. With all the freedom and new experiences that come with college, there are also quiet moments where everything slows down. Learning to be alone, especially in a new environment like college, is critical. When campus gets less busy and you’re left with feelings of back home, it can feel isolating — but accepting that reality and pushing through it is just as important as all the exciting parts of college.