It has been almost a week since graduation. These past four and a half years have taught me so much and I have overcome so many odds. Things are a bit up in the air at the moment, but that is okay. I have grown so much, both as a student and in my own personal life. Down below are some reflections from my 9 semesters of college - ranging from the good to the bad.
When I started as a freshman, things seemed to be all over the place. I was living in a rough situation but had a great support network from my high school and church that kept me going. Towards the end of my first semester, my life changed - for the better. I also came into college a bit clueless - including very little money sense, confidence, and the normal struggles we all have had as freshmen. I started my second semester of freshman year living on campus - and that was definitely different. I had never been away from home for long periods of time, but I adjusted to it. The biggest thing for me during that point in time was engaging in the student activities on campus. My friend C.M had to come into the dorm and get me to go to events, which I generally avoided. I also met Dr. C.H, who became my mentor throughout most of my time in college. She was very maternal, which at first, was something I definitely wasn't used to but ended up being a good thing for me to have in my life. At the end of freshman year, I reconnected with my father and stepmom through facebook.
Sophomore year was low-key. I met my other mentor, Dr. C., found out I had an interest (I never would have guessed spiders would become an integral part of my academic interests) in entomology, and was asked to help with mosquito research (in Panera Bread - and it still stands out to me, even to this day). During my sophomore year, I decided to go off of my medication for ADHD, and have learned to embrace both the positive attributes as well as the difficulties. Thankfully, I had a professor who was very observant and understanding of different learning styles, which helped me find ways to succeed academically. During this time, I had developed strong friendships with a few people, which have helped me to become a better person.
Junior year - this was probably the point in my college career that I struggled the most yet many opportunities revealed themselves. The first semester of junior year was the semester I took 18 sh, plus had a work study (10 hours a week). I took five classes, with three labs in three different sciences (experimental psych, gen chem, and parasitology) and I quickly learned I had no clue on how to manage my time well - especially since experimental psychology was time-consuming during my weekends. This was also the time in my college career I went back and forth between biology and psychology (I started off psychology then went to biology - then wanted to combine the two. This never worked out, however, I have 24 hours in psychology because of this and was considered an "honorary" psych student), Having the work study helped me with gaining money sense, as well as a feeling of being responsible. The second semester started off a bit rocky - partly in concern I was in the wrong concentration and a feeling of defeat from the previous semester when I had a lower GPA than I wanted to have. However, I pulled through the semester with the support of my friends and professors and EVEN SURVIVED ORGANIC CHEMISTRY! The first semester of junior year was when I learned I really enjoyed other types of psychology, especially behavior modification- even if it was challenging - and I even found ways to talk about behavior modification and psych studies. I also gained a love for vector borne diseases and ecology, although it felt like at the time I was barely making it. Also - the second semester I started working for public relations as their work study - and I did not think that I would ever become a writer, let alone be able to have work published. (and there was some kicking and screaming but it was worth it to have my work published)
Senior year - so many ups and downs in three semesters. The first semester felt like a continuation of junior year but it went well. I took classes that were interesting: entomology, health psychology, and microbiology. I developed my passion for collecting bugs, even collecting spiders for a week at a time (for identification and to watch them - although that wasn't the wisest idea on my end). This was also the time that I was hoping to graduate in December but in retrospect, I was not ready to graduate then. I had my first internship (the reason for starting the blog) and fell in love with field work and public/environmental health. I also saw how my background in biology, psychology, and environmental health became intertwined. The second semester was a bit of train wreck. I had struggled through physics, not really sure why - seemed to be a testing issue, but I never quite knew. I also took the hardest class I ever took in college (trumped all the chemistry courses), which was neuroscience. I am glad I took it but it was a lot of work with the labs and presentations, weekly discussion boards, two day lectures with a lab component, and the huge research paper/lab on steroids. I learned a lot and it was with on my favorite professors, who definitely made the class fun. I also got the opportunity to be an SI leader for Spanish. This definitely was an interesting job and I learned spanish again, ultilized psychology, and learned some about teaching. However, I had to drop physics and spent most of the semester with a nasty cough (seemed like bronchitis mixed with a sinus infection for two months straight) - later found out I had moderate asthma and stress worsened it. But I survived the semester with a solid 3.0 GPA, made new friends, and learned new things (also figured out how to intertwine different topics). The final semester wrapped up nicely and went much smoother than previous semesters. I managed to obtain a 3.43 GPA, while juggling 15 credit hours, add an extra 3 hours for Spanish (SI), being a supplemental instructor/tutor for Spanish, work study, research/presentation prep, on and off work for an internship (for a start-up nonprofit group) and what I do at my church - it was a bit of chaotic semester. I spent a lot more time with friends this semester, especially the last few week since I am moving 12 hours north of NC. I also have gotten to know some great new people and I am thankful for the lessons and things they have taught me.
Stayed tuned for some blogs on various topics...
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