My Experience In College

During my high school days and the last few semesters when I was at Sandhill Community College I was way too comfortable. I slacked off and all I was thinking about was just getting doing the minimum to just be finished already. Recently, I was pushed by the looks of my grades that I just needed to get things done; I wanted to be free, not to do my best, just to finish so I could say I passed all my classes. Now I realize life isn’t about just getting by, but about bringing all you have to be able to become successful in what needs to be done. In the next paragraphs I will explain what I expected to happen, what actually happened, what I learned, and how I will apply what I learned to future plan.

Before English I had only taken a nursing college class and it didn’t really feel like a college class because I was doing something I really liked. In the English class it was like a real college course and I had to actually sit there and listen to a professor, it was so boring at times; but writing the papers was fun. I had learned to write fast and efficiently. I didn’t know what deadlines were and how serious they were until this class. If you missed one assignment another would be quickly following, and soon you would have five papers to write and they would all be due the next day. I learned this the hard way when I missed doing an assignment and had to stay up all night writing papers. It was hard to adapt to college life but I got the hang of things after a while. I feel very much prepared for college thanks to this course. I learned to manage my time wisely, having to juggle college courses as well as my high school classes. At first I didn’t know if I really wanted to continue my education at a college, I didn’t think I was ready to transition into that life. I still have to improve on things needed to be successful in college, but I believe I have learned enough to make it through the next level. Now I feel well prepped and ready for whatever life throws at

When I was younger and thinking about college I always pictured it as I saw it in the movies, you sleep all day and have fun all night. Know what I know now I understand the importance of college and I think of it a little differently than before. I know that I need to work hard and study hard to be able to succeed at my fullest potential in college. I have had a few experiences in my life that have helped me realize that I need to work hard to get the output which I was hoping for in the beginning. I’ve seen my sister diagnosed with diabetes her first week of high school, I’ve witnessed my dad struggling through cancer and conquering it, and I have made it through 6 month of grueling and time consuming physical therapy to make it so I could use my shoulder again. Through these experiences my perspective about hard work and perseverance has changed dramatically, and for that I am thankful.

As a new student in college I thought it was going to be just like high school that there was no need to study since the teachers would give us credit for everything and we would pass the classes like nothing. However, I was totally wrong for having that mindset for college. Once you are a college student everything changes. It is extremely important to find good study habits that will help you with your learning skills and that will make college a little less difficult.

The transition from high school learning to college learning is a big change. We are taught to remember and recall information, but never actually analyze and create. There are many factors that can determine whether or not you are cut out for college learning. Even if high school was hard for some college learning might be there specialty. Especially if your like me and prefer hands on learning. I have experienced that classroom learning is not the proper way to learn, and it is difficult to switch from memorization to interactive college learning. This is due to the fact that in college learning you are given so much more freedom to pass or fail on your own, while in high school you are guided and hand held by most or all of your teachers. I plan to make the learning transition by following a couple simple disciplines I set for myself. I will make studying my first priority, keep a clean clear mind so that I will have no distractions, take as many notes as needed, and interact more with classmates and professors. By following these simple rules I should make it through the transition without falling behind.

To put into words the feeling that I got when I stepped onto the college campus was nothing short of electric. That same feeling is what drove me to the social scene and away from the reason that I wanted to attend college in the first place. My first semester was definitely a transition period from high school to college, which is what I told myself, was the reasoning behind my poor grades. The grades I received thereafter were not those of an “adjusting” student, but ones of a person with a drinking problem.

Some of those goals that I look forward to accomplishing in college are one finishing the semester with passing grades. I know I can accomplish this goal easily but it’s going to take a lot of work and commitment. The little time that I’ve been here already at school I see that college is different than high school. In high school the work was easier and the teacher would help you more one on one so that you would learn it more. But in college is not that much help. Most of the classes are bigger then high school classes. Also, the teachers don’t help the students one on one like the teachers in high school. The class have way more people in there in then high school. So, it’s taking me a little time to adjust to college school life. I’m going to

The other day I received my mid-term grade. It was not horrible nor was it the best. The B grade I received made me realize how I need to step up my game and work harder. In my family, the pressure of making all A’s is in very high demand. I constantly have, grandparents, my parents, and other family, asking me how my grades are. I recently made a bad grade on a History test and it made me very upset, but I had to ask myself why? Am I furthering my education because I want to be accepted and make my family proud? Or am I doing this for me? I have decided to focus on the big picture of making good grades for getting a good job, expanding my knowledge, disciplining myself, and for myself. I do not like to use the word, “Disappointed” to describe how I feel but rather a, “Challenge”. Seeing the grade I am making makes me want to work harder to make a better grade. Focusing on the big picture is important but so is understanding and using my learning styles to my advantage.

College is all of what you make it. You meet many new people, and see many faces. You will start new friendships, and possibly end some that you’ve had for a while; just know that it’s okay when it happens. Friends come and go, especially in this big transition. That’s what the college experience is, one big transition. Whether you are moving to a new city/state or even just moving down the street, college is a whole new chapter. It does pay off to be social in college, but you still need to have that balance of social and academics.

I am now going to graduate next fall or spring, to allot myself more time to enjoy school. This semester has been stressful to say the least. However, I have learned a lot about what I value most in my life: family, work, and then school. I wish I could have had less stress this semester, but I think it ultimately will help shape my future for the better. I believe taking more time to complete my degree over a longer period will allow me more time to enjoy and adequately contribute time to courses as I can work less from reduced tuition from taking fewer courses at one time.This semester was an eye opener. I have never been a bad student prior to this academic semester. Now I am not sure if I will even pass any of the courses I am taking. However, instead of letting it get me down I have used it as an opportunity to work very hard at the end of the semester and try my best, even if I cannot make my goals. Effort and motivation are some of the most integral professional skills I can think of. I may not have exemplified these characteristics throughout the semester but I aim on improving these skills.

My college life experience started in 2016, when I finally decided what it was I going to become. College will not only help me with my own personal goals, but it will help with preparing for my future career. Marketing Management is what I am studying for and I know a few things that I expect to learn while educating myself on this specific subject. There are, of course, many new things I am looking forward too when getting my diploma and degree. Once I receive my degree from Coastal Pines Technical College, I will want to achieve great things in my life and make sure that I keep trying once I get there.

My first semester of college taught me the importance of balance. When I got to college, I thought life would be easy, especially when I learned that all classes were not mandatory. After the first day of classes, I had made the resolution to be relentless about my schoolwork and remain focused. However, I did not realize how many diversions there were in college. Every other weekend there was a party or even going on. At first, I remained diligent about my school work. I stayed in my room and did all of my readings and homework early so that I did not forget to do it. After a while, however, I began to envy my friends who had stories about how much fun they had at the parties.

As a student, I can tell why some of the frustrations occur when the conscientious seldom does not pay off adequate. No wonder thirty percent of first-year college students drop out. Every second of college life feels intimated since the future of student mostly rely on how they manipulate the time. I wonder if I can keep myself into college, or will I be counted as one in those thirty percent of first-year college students. I don’t want to be that statistic; I won’t be. The present that I hold highlights my past, where life granted me one last chance to change my destiny.

I am not your typical college applicant. I was born in Myanmar (Burmar). I came to the United States when I was only 13 years old. I was clueless when I had arrived in America. I didn’t fully understand America’s education process. It was a complete drastic change from where I had came from. I was placed in a sixth grade class, but I was supposed to enter the eighth grade. It was something I had to get used to, because I didn’t speak english and everything was completely new. It was scary because I didn’t know anybody except my family.

My first semester of college wasn’t quite what I was expected. My classes turned out to not be overly stressful or difficult. I liked all of them, started martial arts again, had my first job, and am ready for the next semester. I was pleasantly surprised that I adjusted relatively easily to the greater independence going to college afforded me and that I think I am relatively well-prepared to continue with my undergraduate years. I’ve learned that I still have issues with managing my time efficiently, I still feel psychology is the right degree for me, and that I have a lot of things I want to study and not as much time as I had believed to study them.