Semester Reflections

Semester 1

I was always looking forward to university life. Sure, it's difficult sharing the same room with a roommate and having less privacy in general; but, I've found living on campus to be liberating. I come from a small townhouse where I lived with four other people (and now a dog); my family always wakes up early; and, I've always had to balance my family life with my personal life. Now, I can wake up, eat, sleep, and study whenever I want. I've also picked up a lot of hobbies since I have so much more free time: gaming, reading, digital-drawing. When I'm out of the dorm, it's fantastic having a gym, dining-hall, and a plethora of study spots within walking distance. For next semester and sophomore year, I'd be fine with my current living arrangements; but, apartments definitely appeal to me down the road. 

I'm pleasantly surprised with how much more efficient the workload is. I'm sure every class is different; but, I've found I have just enough work to keep me busy but not too much that I can't balance my relationships and hobbies with my academic life. I feel like my classes are far more practical and cover way more content in a shorter amount of time. I can't imagine redoing my insane workload in high school, where I'd consistently only get four to five hours of sleep.

Arts Scholars is a more interactive and engaging class compared to my lecture-style classes. I really enjoyed the Look Club assignment where we could write a review of any work of art (movies, music, paintings); and I wish we did more assignments like that. The activities outside the classroom, like field-trips and Craft and Chats, allowed me to practically use the ideas discussed during colloquium. I wasn't expecting our second unit where we tried out different art styles. The Vogue-dancing class was undoubtedly the biggest shock of the semester. I can't say I enjoyed it; but, I will never forget it. What I mean is hopefully, someday, I'll be asked about my college-experience and all of the surprising, crazy things that I did. My dad always talks about how he sang telegrams in a gorilla costume. I can truthfully say that I took a Vogue-dancing class and absolutely despised it. If I could give advice to incoming college students, I would tell them to try new things, but also do more of what you love.

I've faced a number of challenges this semester; but, I've come such a long way and I know I have the power to overcome these challenges. The biggest one for me has been socially. My situation is different since I already know a lot of people from my high school. I find it hard to reach out to unfamiliar people because I assume we won't have much in common. However, eventually, through more classes, clubs, and friends of my friends, I'll realize this is not true at all. Academically, my motivation certainly dwindles over the semester. I attribute this less to the workload and more to neglecting healthy habits because of it: good eating, constant exercise, sufficient sleep. With a little more discipline and experience, I'll become more accustomed to the demands of college-level courses.