First Year in Review
Year in Review
What’s that? You mean to say freshman year is over? Well, that was quick. Looking back, though, I certainly do have a lot of good memories and experiences upon which I can build. Altogether I have been very satisfied with my freshman year, and I hope that this year of my life is not lost to time. In the year lie many important lessons, some of which I have realized, and others still which I am sure I will only fully understand at a future point in my life. I hope the recollection of some important happenings, and what learning I can draw from those events will help me make my freshman year as meaningful as possible. I also hope this learning will stay with me as I continue throughout my personal life and career.
I have experienced a multitude of new things this past school year. I will recall three of them for further reflection. I would say that earning an A in Calculus II was very important for me. It showed me that even in a hard class, I can manage my time, dedicate myself to a goal, and perform in the classroom. These were all anxieties I had coming into college, and by doing well in Calculus II, these worries were more or less swept away. I now know that I am capable of doing whatever is sent my way, though it may take some time and dedication.
Another important event in my freshman year was Workfest 2013. This was an incredible experience. It showed me the importance of stepping out of my comfort zone, getting out and seeing the world beyond my home, meeting new people, and donating oneself towards a common goal. The community we worked with at Workfest was unbelievable, and they showed me what a positive impact a supportive community can have on one’s outlook on life. It also showed me the devastating effects that a lack of community can have on an area. Without someone to fall back on, many of those living in the Rural Appalachian area we served have fallen deep into poverty. We volunteered to go down and help them with renovations in their homes. But, they also helped us more than I can know. They opened themselves up and made themselves vulnerable by asking for help, and then inviting us into their homes. They showed us a way of life completely different from our own, and how despite life-altering setbacks, a person can always rise above and have hope. The family we helped really did give me a new appreciation for hope. They also made me realize that service was more than just doing work. We were directly helping and showing care for a family we did not know. We were supporting them, and they could feel that love. Their gratefulness in return was more than any payment I could desire. I can apply what I have learned from this experience every day. By making an effort to interact with strangers and spread positive sentiment, I can help create a feeling of community wherever I go. I can also volunteer more in the future without being afraid to dedicate myself to a project. The relationship formed with those being helped makes all of the effort worth the while.
An additional experience was being a Bearcat Buddy. Besides being a fun way to help out some kids, Bearcat Buddies taught me a lot about education, and myself. I learned that despite differing backgrounds, my buddies and I became fast friends, and a trust developed between us very quickly. I also learned that public education systems sometimes do not manage to keep every student on pace with where they should be. Teachers simply do not have enough time. Tutors, at least at Ethel M. Taylor, play a crucial role in the education of many young students. This is a great opportunity for tutors, and it also helps those students who are struggling. I learned through tutoring that I am not always the best teacher. I have also come to the conclusion that I may be too hard on myself. Regardless, my students were always patient and kind with me. Of course, I was always patient with them, and this allowed a very peaceful tutoring atmosphere, which I believe is best for learning. Ultimately, I wanted to instill in both of my buddies a love for learning, as that can carry them farther than any tutoring session can. I attempted this goal by always maintaining a positive and somewhat playful attitude, listening to them whenever they had a question or a story to tell, and by challenging them. I believe a challenge overcome is one of the best motivators for any student. From this experience I have gained a lot of information. I can be very hard on myself, even when helping others. I think that I am so critical because I want my help to them to be as beneficial as positive. I am glad that I am hard on myself, though, because it keeps me doing my best. It further develops my interpersonal and communication skills. I just cannot let my criticisms demotivate me. I have also learned that so many students are behind in school. This is a scary fact, and I have seen, sadly, the correlation between going to an inner city school and poor performance. Obviously this is not always true, but it showed true in this case. This is a disheartening realization, and to combat this trend will take a cultural shift in attitude and behavior. Schools need more funding, so the areas need to have more money, so wealth needs to be brought to poorer areas. This is a socio-economic issue that will take time to remedy. I think parent attitudes towards education are also affected by the socio-economic situation in which the family lives. I am blaming no one. And, so clearly, this is just my very narrow take on a broad problem that is different in its many occurrences across the nation. I hope to tutor in the future to help the situation, as well as continue to teach any person when given the opportunity. I also hope to have a greater consciousness of the socio-economic effects of my future decisions.
I would also like to reflect on the relationships I have formed this year. The honors retreat allowed me to reconnect with some old friends, while making several new ones. My learning community offered me instant friends with whom I routinely eat and hang out. This is probably my most important friend base, and I would begin to feel a bit alone without them. They have made UC a much more comfortable and pleasant place. To have a friend base grants me a sense of belonging to the university, and also a small sense of attachment. Next academic semester, which for me is the spring, will be interesting, as a few of my good friends from the LC will be away from school. I have made other friends, weirdly seemingly as many second semester as I did first semester. I think that in the beginning of the year, I made a few friends, thought I was set, and then did not try very hard to make new friends. I sort of put most of my eggs in one basket. When those eggs turned out to be less than they promised, I was left bitter. This experience made me realize that you should never stop making friends, and that to put too much trust in a new relationship can end up poorly for a person. Second semester, I was not sure whom I would meet; however, I made so many new friends. I joined an acapella group, and became more social in my classes and clubs. Weirdly, entering second semester I had seen some people and thought, man, they’re cool, I wish we knew each other. Eventually, I ended up meeting and becoming good friends with everyone about whom I thought this. I do not know if I willed it to happen or what, but I sure am glad it did. I’ve met some truly remarkable, friendly, and caring people who have shown me that even though we’re very new friends, there can exist a healthy trust between us. I guess I love to feel trusted. It makes me feel like a more trustworthy person, and that is a quality I value greatly. I just hope we all remember each other when I come back in the spring!
Moving forward, I have learned a lot of new things, about my academic field, and also about myself. I will try to remember these things as I continue with school, my summer job, and my co-ops. I have learned that I really enjoy stepping outside of my comfort zone. I think all three of my important experiences showed me stepping a bit outside of that zone. When you are uncomfortable, that’s when personal learning can actually take place. I will challenge myself with more classes than in the past, I will try to keep making new friends, and I will try to listen to myself instead of the social pressures around me. If I could give myself one piece of advice as I enter my second year, I would to be true to myself. Don’t get caught up in the world around you and lose sight of your values and who you are. Naturally, I bend my semblance to fit in better in social situations. Everyone does. I would like to make sure that this does not carry on to an extreme, as that can and probably has led to an uncertainty of my identity. But, we’re all figuring this stuff out, no matter one’s age. I think next year I will definitely participate in an honors experience, perhaps another honors seminar. Inquiry to Innovation was an awesome experience, and it taught me a lot of practical skills. And, if the opportunity arises, I may propose another experience, as I have gotten so much more out of Bearcat Buddies due to the multiple reflections I performed as a part of the project. This year has been very good to me, I hope I have been good to it, and I cannot wait for all of my future occupations to come!
What’s that? You mean to say freshman year is over? Well, that was quick. Looking back, though, I certainly do have a lot of good memories and experiences upon which I can build. Altogether I have been very satisfied with my freshman year, and I hope that this year of my life is not lost to time. In the year lie many important lessons, some of which I have realized, and others still which I am sure I will only fully understand at a future point in my life. I hope the recollection of some important happenings, and what learning I can draw from those events will help me make my freshman year as meaningful as possible. I also hope this learning will stay with me as I continue throughout my personal life and career.
I have experienced a multitude of new things this past school year. I will recall three of them for further reflection. I would say that earning an A in Calculus II was very important for me. It showed me that even in a hard class, I can manage my time, dedicate myself to a goal, and perform in the classroom. These were all anxieties I had coming into college, and by doing well in Calculus II, these worries were more or less swept away. I now know that I am capable of doing whatever is sent my way, though it may take some time and dedication.
Another important event in my freshman year was Workfest 2013. This was an incredible experience. It showed me the importance of stepping out of my comfort zone, getting out and seeing the world beyond my home, meeting new people, and donating oneself towards a common goal. The community we worked with at Workfest was unbelievable, and they showed me what a positive impact a supportive community can have on one’s outlook on life. It also showed me the devastating effects that a lack of community can have on an area. Without someone to fall back on, many of those living in the Rural Appalachian area we served have fallen deep into poverty. We volunteered to go down and help them with renovations in their homes. But, they also helped us more than I can know. They opened themselves up and made themselves vulnerable by asking for help, and then inviting us into their homes. They showed us a way of life completely different from our own, and how despite life-altering setbacks, a person can always rise above and have hope. The family we helped really did give me a new appreciation for hope. They also made me realize that service was more than just doing work. We were directly helping and showing care for a family we did not know. We were supporting them, and they could feel that love. Their gratefulness in return was more than any payment I could desire. I can apply what I have learned from this experience every day. By making an effort to interact with strangers and spread positive sentiment, I can help create a feeling of community wherever I go. I can also volunteer more in the future without being afraid to dedicate myself to a project. The relationship formed with those being helped makes all of the effort worth the while.
An additional experience was being a Bearcat Buddy. Besides being a fun way to help out some kids, Bearcat Buddies taught me a lot about education, and myself. I learned that despite differing backgrounds, my buddies and I became fast friends, and a trust developed between us very quickly. I also learned that public education systems sometimes do not manage to keep every student on pace with where they should be. Teachers simply do not have enough time. Tutors, at least at Ethel M. Taylor, play a crucial role in the education of many young students. This is a great opportunity for tutors, and it also helps those students who are struggling. I learned through tutoring that I am not always the best teacher. I have also come to the conclusion that I may be too hard on myself. Regardless, my students were always patient and kind with me. Of course, I was always patient with them, and this allowed a very peaceful tutoring atmosphere, which I believe is best for learning. Ultimately, I wanted to instill in both of my buddies a love for learning, as that can carry them farther than any tutoring session can. I attempted this goal by always maintaining a positive and somewhat playful attitude, listening to them whenever they had a question or a story to tell, and by challenging them. I believe a challenge overcome is one of the best motivators for any student. From this experience I have gained a lot of information. I can be very hard on myself, even when helping others. I think that I am so critical because I want my help to them to be as beneficial as positive. I am glad that I am hard on myself, though, because it keeps me doing my best. It further develops my interpersonal and communication skills. I just cannot let my criticisms demotivate me. I have also learned that so many students are behind in school. This is a scary fact, and I have seen, sadly, the correlation between going to an inner city school and poor performance. Obviously this is not always true, but it showed true in this case. This is a disheartening realization, and to combat this trend will take a cultural shift in attitude and behavior. Schools need more funding, so the areas need to have more money, so wealth needs to be brought to poorer areas. This is a socio-economic issue that will take time to remedy. I think parent attitudes towards education are also affected by the socio-economic situation in which the family lives. I am blaming no one. And, so clearly, this is just my very narrow take on a broad problem that is different in its many occurrences across the nation. I hope to tutor in the future to help the situation, as well as continue to teach any person when given the opportunity. I also hope to have a greater consciousness of the socio-economic effects of my future decisions.
I would also like to reflect on the relationships I have formed this year. The honors retreat allowed me to reconnect with some old friends, while making several new ones. My learning community offered me instant friends with whom I routinely eat and hang out. This is probably my most important friend base, and I would begin to feel a bit alone without them. They have made UC a much more comfortable and pleasant place. To have a friend base grants me a sense of belonging to the university, and also a small sense of attachment. Next academic semester, which for me is the spring, will be interesting, as a few of my good friends from the LC will be away from school. I have made other friends, weirdly seemingly as many second semester as I did first semester. I think that in the beginning of the year, I made a few friends, thought I was set, and then did not try very hard to make new friends. I sort of put most of my eggs in one basket. When those eggs turned out to be less than they promised, I was left bitter. This experience made me realize that you should never stop making friends, and that to put too much trust in a new relationship can end up poorly for a person. Second semester, I was not sure whom I would meet; however, I made so many new friends. I joined an acapella group, and became more social in my classes and clubs. Weirdly, entering second semester I had seen some people and thought, man, they’re cool, I wish we knew each other. Eventually, I ended up meeting and becoming good friends with everyone about whom I thought this. I do not know if I willed it to happen or what, but I sure am glad it did. I’ve met some truly remarkable, friendly, and caring people who have shown me that even though we’re very new friends, there can exist a healthy trust between us. I guess I love to feel trusted. It makes me feel like a more trustworthy person, and that is a quality I value greatly. I just hope we all remember each other when I come back in the spring!
Moving forward, I have learned a lot of new things, about my academic field, and also about myself. I will try to remember these things as I continue with school, my summer job, and my co-ops. I have learned that I really enjoy stepping outside of my comfort zone. I think all three of my important experiences showed me stepping a bit outside of that zone. When you are uncomfortable, that’s when personal learning can actually take place. I will challenge myself with more classes than in the past, I will try to keep making new friends, and I will try to listen to myself instead of the social pressures around me. If I could give myself one piece of advice as I enter my second year, I would to be true to myself. Don’t get caught up in the world around you and lose sight of your values and who you are. Naturally, I bend my semblance to fit in better in social situations. Everyone does. I would like to make sure that this does not carry on to an extreme, as that can and probably has led to an uncertainty of my identity. But, we’re all figuring this stuff out, no matter one’s age. I think next year I will definitely participate in an honors experience, perhaps another honors seminar. Inquiry to Innovation was an awesome experience, and it taught me a lot of practical skills. And, if the opportunity arises, I may propose another experience, as I have gotten so much more out of Bearcat Buddies due to the multiple reflections I performed as a part of the project. This year has been very good to me, I hope I have been good to it, and I cannot wait for all of my future occupations to come!