To think that my first semester of college will be over this friday makes me realize how fast time flies. The first few weeks of college were tough, tiring and full of anxiety. Being in a new environment, a different state and not knowing one single person was something that I did not prepare myself for. Throughout all of the tears and the frustrations, I had to constantly remind myself that I am at The University of Akron to gain an education and become a successful individual. After only being at The University of Akron for three weeks, I dropped two classes. Shortly after dropping those classes, I received an email from my advisor asking to schedule an appointment. While in my academic advisors office, she proceeded to tell me that most students who drop two or more classes tend to not graduate. These words frightened me and even made me regret the decision to attend college as a whole. I sat there and thought about how disappointed my family would be and wondered if I would be successful in college. Since then, I have learned that there is a lot more to being successful …show more content…
In the beginning of the semester, I thought it would be enjoyable to take Anatomy and Physiology since I had already taken it in high school and actually received a high grade. I had heard from many students that this class is much harder in college and will often have a big lecture setting with more than three-hundred students, but I brushed this off and went into the classroom with a positive attitude. I quickly learned that big lectures were not the classes that I would succeed in, instead I preferred a small classroom setting where I am able to ask questions whenever needed. Throughout the semester, I also learned that I prefer online classes when it comes to mathematics and social sciences because they can be self-taught and I found myself often uninterested during the
Picture this. You are heading off to college to begin the next chapter of your life. It is a moment you have always been waiting for. You are past the high school drama, and are ready to start taking classes that will allow you to obtain a degree in something you have always been passionate about. It’s your first week on campus and you are invited to a party being hosted by a group of upper classman. You show up to the party and immediately are handed a red cup with what you know is something you shouldn’t be drinking. You take a sip anyway and soon start talking to that guy in the corner who at first seems friendly, but soon begins to take advantage of you. Just like that everything changes. This is a situation millions of people face every
I decided to take Chemistry and Calculus just to have classes with my friends. Unfortunately, I was not able to pass these classes. Failing these classes affected my education and it affected me. It affected me education wise because my GPA dropped immensely. Because of my GPA dropping I was not able to graduate out of high school with honors. I was really disappointed in myself because before taking these classes I was on track to graduate with honors. I still remember when I meet with my counselor and she told me I was no longer in track to graduate with honors. I remember breaking into tears because that was one of my high school goals. When I first decided to take this classes with my friends I never thought it was going to affect me as much as it did. All I wanted was to have classes with
A college education is an incredibly important achievement that numerous individuals set out to pursue. When choosing a potential employee for a position within their company, employers world-wide favor those that hold a degree. Those that hold a degree display a standard of excellence. Although, countless individuals set out to pursue a degree, many do not stick with it and end up dropping out within their freshman year. There are many reasons that this may happen. Some of the reasons that an innumerable number of students drop out within their first year of college are due to the high cost of tuition and school related expenses, stress, and the lack of self-discipline.
"Tomorrow is the first day of what I will become." I wrote this in my diary the night before my first day of college. I was anxious as I imagined the stereotypical college room: intellectual students, in-depth discussions about neat stuff, and of course, a casual professor sporting the tweed jacket with leather elbows. I was also ill as I foresaw myself drowning in a murky pool of reading assignments and finals, hearing a deep, depressing voice ask "What can you do with your life?" Since then, I've settled comfortably into the college "scene" and have treated myself to the myth that I'll hear my calling someday, and that my future will introduce itself to me with a hardy handshake. I can't completely rid my conscience from reality, however. My university education and college experience has become a sort of fitful, and sleepless night, in which I have wonderful dreams and ideas, but when I awaken to apply these aspirations, reality sounds as a six thirty alarm and my dreams are forgotten.
I felt as if I was on a different planet, as much as I tried to understand I was still lost in the woods. That day I got home nearly in tears because I didn’t want to fail the math class, for a second I thought about quitting, but then with a positive attitude, I decided to give it a second opportunity. College was different from high school, attending College is like going to a shopping center, the same people enter the same store, but many of them don’t know each other, and the classroom walls are plain white, no painting or decorations. The students are responsible for their actions, assignments and attendance if they pass or fail their class is their responsibility. Returning to school is a whole new experience, in a way I felt excited to be able to expand my knowledge and prepare for a better future. On the other hand, I am blessed with more responsibilities than just school. Now I am compromised to my kids that depend on me. It’s not just homework, also helping my kids with their homework, doing laundry, cleaning the house, and caring for my kids. To be honest, it’s not easy attending college it’s like having another child. I commit to my classes and assignments, just how I do it with my children. Attending college and being a mother, a spouse, and an employee does squeeze my energy. I knew it wasn’t going to be simple, but I also knew it was not impossible. I continued my education, and I know taking baby steps will benefit my future. “The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice.” (Brian
"Let us sacrifice our today so that our children can have a better tomorrow.” (A. P. J. Abdul Kalam) I am a young single mom who always dreamed of attending college, but I grew into the belief that somehow I could only achieve this by attending school part-time. I worked twelve hour shifts, four days a week, thinking that this was the only way of realizing my dream. I wanted to graduate without sacrificing time with my daughter, my reputation as a mother, or our finances. Every time I recalculated how long it would take me to graduate, a sense of dread would pass over me. I had to acknowledge that going to college two classes at a time was going to be too slow and that I would not pass if I went full-time and worked full-time. Meanwhile, my life continued. Soon, I was expecting to get married and have more kids. I thought of giving up on my dream of a college education, but I eventually realized that going to college was the way I could achieve a happier life. I also had to come to the conclusion that I was not a bad mom, nor should I feel ashamed for being poor while attending college. I then began my college life with one constant reminder running through my head, "It's better I do it while I'm still young."
The past three years have been difficult, yet the most rewarding. During high school I foolishly squandered the opportunity a collegiate high school offers. I’ll always be grateful to Mr. Cass, a past teacher; for losing his temper and speaking the unspoken truths of our class’s reality. It gave me the wakeup call I desperately needed, and shed light to the depth of disservice I’d done myself. The fall of 2014, I started community college with a new-found respect for education. I worked diligently in my
But I have learned so much from both the hardships and the happiness. I’ve learned how to be strong on my own; I’ve gotten to know myself. I’ve learned how inspiring my peers are, and have thus made a greater effort if recent semesters to find more balance in my life. I’ve discovered that, cliché as it may be, good things come when you least expect them. Georgetown has taught me to put myself out there, to take risks, and to not be afraid of failure. While my classes have also been incredibly valuable, these are lessons that I will carry with me throughout the rest of my life. I look back on freshman me, wishing I could tell that young, timid version of myself how much is to come—how the college experience, especially at a place like Georgetown is so much more important than GPA, image, and becoming CEO of a club. It’s about making memories that will last a lifetime and discovering who you are and who you want to
For many students, starting college can be a stressful and overwhelming experience, mainly because most students have never had this much responsibility all at one time before and they are unsure of what to expect. Before coming to the University of Georgia, I was like most new students with many worries and fears about transitioning from high school to college. I was one of the few lucky ones that my experience at UGA was better than I could have dreamed!
Throughout my twelve years of school I have realized something. That out of all the classes I have took, I have only truly enjoyed a small amount of those classes. Most classes don’t catch my attention very well or the content is dull and unexciting. That is why I’m looking forward to attending college, so I can find and take classes that actually interest me.
Tuesday morning is the busiest time in my week. As I wake up thirty minutes before the class begins, time always forces me to prepare for the class quickly. Actually I want to eat breakfast with a cup of coffee but I do not have time to do so. I regret that I stayed up late last night.
Showing you what it is like entering the first year of college. Have you ever been in a situation where school can be stressful in many different aspects? I found out being prepared has its likes and dislikes. Here’s my experience on time management, financial, academic, also social life stress.
My journey as a student has always been focused on the path to college and success. Before I even set foot in kindergarten my mother, a college dropout, always told me that “honor roll wasn’t an option” and that I would be attending college in the future and achieving a degree. Most of the time I made these requirements. Most of the time I was awarded honor roll or had a newly edited list of colleges to attend, but sometimes life got in the way of my dreams of achieving success.
I wish I could write my younger self a letter. I want to tell her all the amazing things that will happen in college and not to be so worried, but I also want to tell her the bad things that happen. I know time travel does not exist, so I cannot, and young me would be mad at current me for spoiling stuff. Instead I write this reflection on what I think have been important lessons I learned from my first semester of college.
I can honestly say that I thought my first semester of college had went better than I thought it would’ve gone. Academically, my grades are really good and I know that I have above a 3.0 GPA so that’s cool. Also, I thought that the professors were going to be jerks and not really care if we understood the material or not. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The professors were so helpful and kind every step of the way. However, I developed quicker socially than I had anticipated I would. At the beginning of the semester I was mostly in my room and lonely, but now I know a lot of people that I can honestly call my friends.