Semester Reflections

Semester 1

This first semester has been interesting, to say in the least amount of words. The University of Maryland is a large, deep place, filled to the brim with interesting groups of people who bustle around with so much life. College wasn’t so much frightening as it was new, and while I have experienced plenty of new things in my life, this was at a new caliber, something so beyond me that I couldn’t dream to imagine it until I’d stepped foot on campus for the first time. 

Let’s just say I've had an easier go of it than I thought I would. 

Finally in an environment where I don’t have to pad my hours with intellectual pursuits that numb my brain, I have found school to be fun for the first time in a long time. From my PLCY and GVPT major classes, to my Creative Writing workshop, to a class on the effects of climate change, I have duly enriched the several corners of my brain that have consistently asked questions that I haven’t been able to find answers to, until now, at least, which has been supplemented by the various groups I’ve joined across campus. And while the work has been plentiful, and at times quite difficult, I can say that it has been informative and valuable work to complete, which I couldn’t really say about many other school assignments I’d done before. 

This leads to me Arts Scholars. I remember being uncertain about what the program would entail, even after researching it after receiving my acceptance to the university.  And I have to say that I’ve learned things that I didn’t think I would. This was primarily accomplished through the final project prompt and assignment, which I found a fascinating way to personally tap into art as a device for making change and influence within ourselves and in our societies, which is what I’ve always felt art has been for me for a long time. Furthermore, several of the events (the Spoken Word workshop being my favorite) were ones I didn’t expect, and opened my view to the several interesting forms of art, and how art intersects with life, culture, personal experience, society, and everything in between, while also just being interesting take a part in as a spectator and student. 

Throughout this semester, I’ve noticed myself getting better at some of my flaws, such as organization and time management, primarily because I am now doing work that truly excites me, which motivates me to get it done in a prompt manner. However, as the semester comes to a close, I have found myself falling back on some bad habits, but moving forward, I simply need to take a long break and come back next semester, fresh and ready to take on a new set of challenges. I thrive off of the difficulty of experience and newness now, and so as the year (and my academic career progresses), I’m excited to see where I take myself going forward.