Dear Students: this is your eighth and final FRSM 1000 blog – congratulations on making it this far! Since this is your last blog, I’d like for you to reflect on your first-semester Xavier experience and answer the question, “How am I different now?” You may as always take this in any direction you like, just make sure that you write at least 250 words.
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I am different now than when I first came to Xavier for the simple fact that I am on my own. I have no family here in New Orleans, and I had to find a way to do almost everything. Money management has been an issue and when I found out how aggravated my mother was when I kept calling for money I began to spend wisely. For instance when purchasing dorm foods, I realized that the off-brand can taste just as good as a name-brand item. I have learned to use my time more effectively. During High School I could usually study the night before the test or due an essay the night before it is due. Now I have come to realize that last minute anything will insure you an unsatisfying grade. I study for a test almost a week before the actual test. I prepare an essay almost a few day depending on page limit that it is due. I don’t have as much idol time as I use to. I now use that time to prepare something or catch a snooze. My T.V seems to be of little use, it is rarely watched and now collects dust. As a person who would like to participate in extra-curricular activities I know that I mind as well leave the T.V. at home. Sleep is a small gift, because I never feel like I’m getting enough. I have learned to appreciate a home-cook meal or just to be able to eat out as much as I like. The cafeteria food is no prize, but I have found certain things that I like. Overall, I fell I am a more humble and manageable person from my first semester at Xavier.
Im different now in many way. It just seems as it was last week when I started my first week at Xavier. I felt very much lost and wanted to be back in my home town. I learned that College is nothing like High School. You dont have people consitintly reminding you to do things, when your next test will be, when your next paper is due. You have no one telling you to study or keep your grades up, like you had in High School. So of these things, I had to learn the hard way. In College you have to start studying for tests a week or so before the test date. Something I never did in High School. It was the usually. Studying the night before or just looking over the notes before the test. Which you cant do in College and expect to pass. Even though I live at home. (My family moved here to New Orleans with me for me to go to College here.) I have learned that you cant relay on them or other people to get your work done for you. I have also learned to manage my time wisely. I feel as if these things have changed me from the person I was in High School. Im sure all of us had made mistakes of not studying ahead of time already in College and hopefully next semester will be better. I just didn’t know College would be like this.
I feel that i have made a lot of changes. I look at life in a totally different way. I no longer live for someone else i now live for myself. I have become more mature in my decision making. I no longer blow off class to go hang out with my friends. I feel that my Dr.Schafer has changed my way of thinking some two. i now focus on my studies harder than ever. I appreicate everyday that i have on this earth. I live everyday to the fullest, I live everyone like its the last. I dont even hang out with same friends anymore. I broke away from thuggish ways of my cousins and friends. Im now a bonafide school boy. I have made a lot of connections at Xavier also. I have learned to take responsibilty by horns and not let it drown me. I have learned how to forgive and forget. How to grin and burry. During the semester i felt into some troubles but i fought my way out them. This semester tought me alot of things. My Xavier experince has been wonderful, sure it started off a lil shakey but in the end its turning out great. Who would have thought that i would have came to college and met such great people. I’ve just made such great friends. I also learned how to be come invloved in activities that don’t get you in trouble, you know productive stuff, stuff that can help the community rather than hurt it ya know.
I have grown so much from this first semester at Xavier, but in so many ways I am still the same. I have Always had a strong work ethic, and have always made very good grades. When I took summer classes I realized that college wouldn’t be as hard as some people exaggerated. I feel like the people who say that it is so difficult are the people who were not used to working as hard in high school. Although my high school had trhe same intensity level as many other public high schools, I always to the initiative to take the more difficult classes. I know that this really helped me out in the long run, because I am used to the heavy work load. Because of my high school experience, I was really well prepared for college, so a lot of the things I have experienced here so far, I am already used to. For example, the same independence that college professors offer to us, I was already quite used to. The best change that u have experienced since I have been here is about procrastination. Since I work well under pressure, I have never stressed out about getting things done far ahead of time, because when I pull all nighters, things always work out okay. I began to carry that characteristic into college, and It was no problem, but I just know now that although I can still wait till the last minute to do things, its a lot less of a hassle just to do things as soon as you get them so that you don’t have to worry about them later.
After this first semester, I have realized how much my family means to me. Not to say that I was not appreciative before, but I really do not take them or my home life for granted anymore. Staying in a dorm is very humbling. It makes me look forward to every single holiday in the year. Also, I have realized through my academic perfomance that I am very capable of college coursework. This first semester has not been bad at all. I do feel like I am forced to think way more than in high school – from analyzing documents and writing papers to taking tests in chemistry. I am not surprised with my independence; however, I do feel like I am a lot closer to my mom. I talk to her at least three times a day now and she even texts me throughout the day. My college experience so far has really made me realize how strong our relationship is and that she is truly my best friend. I have also learned how to manage my time much better. College is truly about managing your time. I have finally adjusted to a new routine and a new lifestyle. The things I miss most about home is the convenience of just going anywhere I want in my own car. However, hopefully that will all change next semester. In addition, I have met many new and interesting people from many different places. So far, I have enjoyed the majority of my classes.
I am different now from the way I think to the way I live ever since I started going to Xavier. Xavier taught me three important things to be responsible, independent, and determined. My responsibility is to get my things done on time and not to rely on others to help me, I have to go searching for what I want. I learned that if I were to rely on someone I MUST have a back up plan cause not everyone is perfect. Independence makes me feel grown and forces me to do things on my own with out having to depend on others. I learned that nobody will push you to do your work or to even come to class no such as detention or suspension, so if your going to do it you have to want to do it. Also being independent now carries on a trait later on in the future where I don’t have to look back at others. Xavier showed me that my determination has to strengthen because of the challenges that are around me. Being determined is set in my mind which will help me achieve my goal. Ever since I started college my study habits and vocabulary have increased, this makes me feel intelligent. I am different also by being a freshman in college still in the process of becoming a sophomore. It’s amazing to me that six months ago I was a senior in high school which is the ending of high school but the beginning of a new college life known as “the real world”.
How am I different now? As i made the transition from high school to college i was a little nervous because I didn’t know what to expect . On the first day of class we were handed a syllabus with all the dates that we needed to know on it, contact information for our teachers, and office hours for days we wanted to discuss our grade or anything else. The first three days I really found out what to expect. Reflecting over the period of time since I first started I have becomee a stronger person although I do have my lazy moments. I also believe I have become a hardworker. During the first weaks of school I was doing well untill I evacuated for hurricane Gustave. I was still evacuated a weak after school resumed and I had a lot of make up work and test to take. I didn’t do well on my test but I did well on my other assignments. When I got my midterm grades I was upset but I didn’t give up because I knew I could do better. Now I am more focused because I don’t want my first semester to be a waste of time. I also make use of the touturing center that is available for us. Every since Ive been asking people and going to the toutoring center for help my grades have changed tremendously! I also feel I have a better connection between my peers and the professor/Doctor. Before I was shy and I didn’t want to say anything. When the teacher would call on me in class I would act like I didn’t know the answer because I was scared to speak. I feel college has made me a more mature person overall.
How am I different now, since I started Xavier University? I think I made a slight change since my first day on the campus of Xavier University. Going from high school to college is a pretty big transition. I was always so used to people on my back constantly telling me what to do and when things were due. I was also so used to having a billion rules to follow. Since I started college it is not anything like high school. Being in college has made me more independent. I have to remind myself to do things because I do not have teachers constantly reminding me when i needed to turn things in. I also learned that I cannot depend on others, or rely on anyone but myself. Now, i know how to manage my time wisely. I also picked up better study habits. Now, I am more confident in myself. I am also really social. When i was in high school, my counselors always asked me what i wanted to be and what i expected out of life. Now, I know what I want in life and I know what really matters. Before, people always told me things that I did not really understand. But now, I am in the real world and actually know what they were talking about. Being in college is helping me grow into a better person and a young adult. I am making wiser choices. I also understand that the things that meant so much to me before do not really mean much to me because those things would not get me anywhere.
I know this may seem bad but I do not believe I have grown the way I thought I would since my stay at Xavier. I thought I would grow into a well-rounded person. I thought that I would experience and try different adventures. You know how you hear crazy college stories from older friends; I thought I would have one of those stories. I still do the same things that I did when I was at home. I thought that I would find myself, but I really haven’t done much soul searching. I don’t feel like I need to soul search. I am content with where I’m at mentally and spiritually. I guess I transitioned from high school to college so smoothly that if I changed, I didn’t notice a change. Maybe I haven’t changed. Maybe it takes weeks or months for some people to change, while others it takes years. I think my appearance has changed. Everytime I go home my family tells me I look older, but I don’t feel older. I really feel like the same person from high school only now I don’t have the familiar faces I grew up around. They have been replaced by new faces that are becoming familiar in a new city. I guess by meeting these new people I have become more tolerant, but I have always thought of myself as a tolerant person. So I guess this new tolerance comes from learning new things from new people and then tolerating what I have learned. I don’t think I have changed or grown, but I can say that I know more about other regions of the country.
Collge year is suppose to be the most transitional year of my life. I don’t feel any different from how I did when I was in high school. I am still the same person and I still do the same things or routines daily. I thought I would be able to grow into a strong yuong adult. But I still feel like a teenager. Many students are a lot older than me and it makes me feel like a kid when I am surrounded by many older college students. I am still seventeen years of age and won’t be eighteen until decemeber, so that makes me feel even yuonger. I know eventually I will get the hang of college life, because I still have many years to go. It suprises many people knowing that I am in college. Because many people would suspect that I am still in high school. I rememeber someone once ask me what is my level in school and I said freshman. And what was really funny was that that person thought I was a freshman in high school until I fooled them and said that I was a freshman in college. So that perosn was pretty suprised. I think its a good think that I appear yuonger to many people. I know for a fact 2-3 years from now, I would feel very different. Maybe not now, because it is only my first semester of college and I am still going through many new experiences. Even though I will be older in the future and different, I will still be a kid at heart.
Throughout my experience at Xavier, I think I have change for the better. I become better at making decisions on my own and developing multitasking skills. I learn how to manage my time better and figuring things on my own. When I was in high school I was not focused and I was not determined to do anything. As a college student, I want to acheived more and accomplish everything. I want to make the best of grades so that I can get into Pharmacy school. I have become more motivated and because of my motivation to get into Pharm school, it has helped me to make high grades. My expectations changed and now I have high standards for many things that I want to accomplish. Before, I was careless and I played around a lot. Things are different for me now. I can not stand failing or doing things at the last minute. I realized that school comes first and having fun can be saved for later. There are always time to have fun, but not enough time to waste. School has become extremely important and in the near future I want to make it. I want to acheive success.
There are many ways that I am different the first main one would be I have a different domineer about myself and the way I approach situations. When I come across moments where I get upset and want to loose my temple I stay calm humble and relax. When I first came to Xavier I knew very little about its founder Saint Katherine Drexel but with my freshman seminar class I learned more than what I ever expected. It was nice to listen to different music styles and be able to analyze them. I know I am different because my confidence on succeeding is higher than what it was in the beginning of freshman year. I look at myself now and can smile at my accomplishments and the goals I am completing. The conversations I have wording I use is much much different than before. Some of the people I was with last year even tell me I have changed and matured and with that I am gradually accepting the responsibilities of an adult and a young woman. By staying on campus I once went home every weekend and over the time I began to spend more weekends at the dorm residence. Realizing that I am growing to better myself and take on things I never had to do before. Yes I still have many of the same qualities I still have but more of me have changed. I also am now very demanding but very goofy and laugh a lot more than what I did before. Out of everything these things seemed to have changed the most.
I am different in many ways. Before I came to college, life seemed to be way more easier and laid back. There weren’t many worries in my life. High school seems like a piece of cake when I look back at it now. It was much more easier. When I first attended Xavier, I htought to myself that how hard could this be. The first week of school was a shock to me. I realized that it was time to get to work. their is no time for playing. I do not see how people party so much when they are in college. Before Xavier, I used to have lots of fun. Now sometimes I feel like I need a break. I feel like I am more of an eager person whereas I am really concerned about my grade point average. It is not just important to me. It is also important for my finances, I mean if I lose my scholarship, then maybe I’ll have to cahnge to a different school. Coming to college has shown me how to take resposibility for my actions. I mean no one is going to do the work for you and it does not matter to the teachers if you attend class or not. They are going to get paid regardless. They are not going to call your parents if you decide not to attend class. It is your choice. I do realize that now is the chance to prove to myself that I can achieve what I want out of life and that I can be better person. I mean I am still the same person as for as I know, but now it is time to grow up and realize what my purpose is in life. Basically I believe that I have changed for the best. My life now is more of a routine. It is like I wake up, go to class, do homework, study, go back to bed and start all over again. Everyday I feel like I have learned something new. The only thing that I am not used to is staying on campus because I am used to being with my family. I get really homesick a lot. I feel that it is better because I am closer to my classes and I can sleep longer. Basically I feel that that I have changed for the best although there are some things that I don’t like or understand.
I am a very very different person from what I was at the beginning of the semester. I even talk differently. The most important thing that I have learned while attending Xavier is that time management is the key. It effects grades, personal time, and even your financies. I know this because I have conquered this skill, but with much struggle. I also feel that I have matured a lot in a small amount of time. In various situations I have handled them in an adult like manner. I have gained independence, I don’t rely on my parents as much. I have to buy my own groceries( this has really made me realize the value of a dollar). Before coming to Xavier I never had to share my room. Living in a dorm has been a compromise that I am very proud.
Typically, I would think of the holidays as just a way to take off of school. But I have realized that the holidays mean much than that it is a time to bond and spend time with family. I took the time that I spent with my family for granted before I lived on my own and now I look forward to just hearing relatives voices. Though I don’t see my parents often, I talk to them daily, sometimes more than three times a day. This has made my relationship with them stronger because they communicate with me as if I am an adult and not a child. Overall, my experience here has impacted me in a positive way.
When I look back at myself at the start of the semester, I can see that I have become very different. I have begun to take school more serious and have a greater appreciation for my own education. When I first came here, I did not expect the work load that was given to me and as the semester progressed, I realized that I had procrastinated too much. I began to stress over school and it took over my life. I began to break down and it caused me to make a great deal of mistakes. Despite these hardships, I pulled myself together and studied hard for my classes. I have established a study ethic that has enabled me to make the grades that I have wanted from the beginning of the semester. If I had developed this sooner, school would not have been so hard for me. I realized this when it was too late in the semester, but it was a good learning experience. It allowed me to take advantage of my own free time to do my work. Xavier has given me a chance to make something of myself and to prove that I can accomplish anything that I want. I have finally come to understand that school should be taken seriously and that I should not procrastinate ot the point where I must stay up late doing my work the night before it is due. Xavier has enabled me to be the best I can be and help others as well.
Before I began my college life, I was naïve and had believed that college was going to be as easy as high school. As a result, I started to pick up a bad habit and procrastinate on my first four weeks of college. I was often found starting an assignment day of the due date or the day before. In addition, I also began to slack off on my studying and reading assignments. I basically had a “C” or a “B” average in every single class, which is lower than most of my grades in high school. Regardless of the constant reminders that my grades were dropping, I continue to have the mind set that I would easily pull the grade up. However, by the middle of the semester, I realize that my grades were not as high as I had expected for my first freshman semester. In addition, with my grades, I was on the edge of losing my scholarship and possibly the end to my college life at Xavier, since the scholarship was the only means of financial support. As a result, I was forced to achieve every quiz or exam with a perfect grade in order to increase my average. For over ten weeks, I have been constantly up studying for quizzes and exams, regardless of the date of the quiz or exam. Currently, I have an “A” or “B” average in most of my classes. Although changes are not drastic, it occurs every second of the day and is only visible over time. Unfortunately, the transition, from high school to college, was initially a bad change, but it taught me a valuable lesson and continues to help me strive for success.
Hmmm…how am I different now? Well, one thing for sure is that the pace of class material being taught at college is pretty much faster than high school. I thought I was getting used to this pace during the first four weeks of college but I can’t deny the fact that Im a procrastinator at heart. I always do assignments the day before it’s due and it’s taking a toll on my grades. What is worse is that the amount of class material being taught at college is more of burden on me than high school. I have less free time and need more time studying for quizzes or exams. Well, I can’t say Ive change since college since im a procrastinator at heart but I do wish to change for the sake of pulling up my grades. I also wish to change in many other ways so that I won’t end up with regrets on whatever I do. So all you people out there should realize that time is precious and time will never wait for you. This is a harsh reality for me and I still try to learn from my mistakes little by little. Anybody can change if they believe in themself and put forth the effort in achieving their goals.