As the first semester of college comes to an end, I have reflected over my experiences and how much I truly learned. Walking into college, I expected a huge change in lifestyle and culture, which did in fact happen. However, I found myself adjusting very quickly and learning how to balance all the different aspects of college. Initially, it was challenging to find time to socialize and focus on my studies, but I eventually learned how to manage my time and make sure I got to do everything I wanted.
As a student, I found my classes to be challenging. There were many days where I felt out of control and unable to handle everything on my plate. It was certainly weird having large, in-person classes, especially after the past year and a half in the pandemic. It took me some time to adjust to the in-person system again. I was also not used to having classes with over 150 students. I had always been in more intimate styles of classes, so that was also a new experience for me. I did enjoy the aspect of self-studying and doing work on my end in order to be most successful. Grades were very stressful for me this semester. I was definitely not used to heavy exam grades impacting my overall grade immensely. But, overtime, I learned how to study better and understand how to answer exam questions efficiently and accurately. Apart from academics, I have indulged in my hobbies by joining clubs. One of my passions is singing, so I was dedicated to staying involved somehow. I auditioned for and joined an acapella team called DaCadence. Being a member of this group brings me so much joy because I simply love performing and singing with my friends. We recently had a showcase which went really well, and we also will be competing at a national level in the next semester. Having an extracurricular activity to look forward to each week truly brightens my mood and releases a lot of stress I may have pent up throughout the week.
In CPSG100 specifically, I did not expect to cover topics on logical fallacies and pseudoscience; I was intrigued when I first read it on the SGC website. I expected the majority of this class to be oriented around climate change and the environment. I found it very interesting to talk about "fake science" and how much that impacts our society today. I enjoyed making connections on how people perceived science and issues we face as a society. In the future, I hope we discuss theories that have yet to be proven, especially those involving time and space. I have also enjoyed the out-of-classroom events. My favorite event was the excursion to the Philip Merrill Environmental Center. The building was very interesting, and I learned a lot about how humans can reduce their impact on the environment. I also loved learning about the CBF and their work/goals.
Living on campus, away from home, has definitely been the biggest change from high school. I live in Centreville hall. When I was in high school, I fantasized decorating my dorm and being independent in college. After arriving here, I definitely did not fulfill those visions I had for my dorm, but I did learn to be independent. I did not realize how much I needed to do to take care of myself until I got here, which has been an exceptional learning experience. I enjoy living on campus because not only have I learned so much, but I get to live with my best friends and find pockets of time during the day to socialize. In addition to just living away from home, I had to learn to live with another person. I met my roommate online prior to coming to UMD. Though we bonded online and spent time getting to know each other, I was nervous the dynamic would change once we started living together. However, once I met her and we began to adjust to each other’s lifestyles, I grew closer and closer to her. I believe that happened not only because we had a lot in common, but because we both put in the effort to meet in the middle over everything. When I was applying to colleges, I really wanted to go out of state and experience something entirely different. When I ended up making the decision to go to UMD, I was not sure if I would enjoy seeing so many people from high school and being so close to home. I eventually realized that staying in Maryland did give me a safety net, but it also pushed me to explore more and step out of my comfort zone. I constantly approach new people and try new things I may have been afraid to do if I lived in an entirely new state.
My advice to future students is to not stress out and try to plan your entire college experience before getting there. Although you should be prepared, it is okay to let go a little and have fun. Do your research on the school you are attending to get an idea of what opportunities are available. Also, try to find classes that actually intrigue you in order to figure out what you actually enjoy and what you want to pursue. Overall, college is definitely different than what I expected or what I am used to, but I have learned a number of useful life skills and I am excited to keep learning more!