First Year: 2022-2023
During the first semester, I primarily focused on academics because getting good grades was my first priority. It took some time adjusting to the new way of learning. I was used to working hard in high school, but the hardest thing to adjust to was the grading scale. Each class had a different grading scale, so I had to pay close attention to every classes requirement. I was also apprehensive about taking exams because in high school I rarely had to take exams due to COVID and being exempt, but in college I took 4-5 exams per class. During the first few exams, I was anxious and felt a lot of pressure, but then, with practice, it became more normal and I created a strategy to do well on the exams. This was an important experience because I will be taking many more exams, overcoming anxiety, and adopting new study methods throughout the rest of my academic career.
During the second semester, I had adjusted and was ready to add more activities to my schedule. I started to volunteer at Cincinnati Children's Hospital weekly for two hours. This was a manageable way for me to start getting volunteer hours. This experience also helped me learn more about the hospital environment and work toward my goal of becoming a doctor. I work closely with patients and their families bringing them activities and entertainment. From doing this, I have seen how hard it is for patients to stay in the hospital for long periods of time and it has made me a more compassionate person. In May, I also completed my first honors experience by traveling to Tanzania. This experience left me with a new perspective on my life in America. I am grateful for the resources and opportunities I have and I now know to not take anything for granted.
One of my greatest concerns going into my first year of college was adjusting to all of the changes all at once. It was daunting to move-out, start new classes, and make new friends. I put a lot of pressure on myself to succeed in all of these areas and do everything perfectly. This resulted in me feeling stressed and I did not spend much time enjoying my time or relaxing. This year tested my resilience and ability to adapt, but now that I have completed my first year, I am going into my second year with more knowledge and experience that will help me improve for my second year.
Next year, my goal is to maintain a good GPA and continue to add activities to my schedule that will not only bring me closer to my future career, but also implement time to take care of myself and enjoy the moment. I already plan on volunteering more, becoming a Biology LA, and working as a Medical Assistant, but I would also like to get involved in research and student organizations.
