The Topic: As you finish up your first semester at the University (and in SGC), it is a time to reflect on the difference between what you expected this to be like and how this experience actually played out. In what ways was life as a college student different than you expected? Specifically address:
Also, please feel free to address how the semester worked in relation to your non-academic life: the difficulties, the benefits, the disappointments, and the unexpected highlights (if any!) of the situation you found yourself in this year.
After finishing my first semester at the University of Maryland, I am reflecting on the reality of college life in comparison to my expectations from this summer. Coming into college, I was not quite sure what to expect, but I heard stories of family and friends enjoying college, even going as far as to describe it as the best four years of their lives. So, entering freshman fall, I had high expectations for the next eight semesters. Thankfully, my first semester here has been an amazing experience. I have met caring friends, lived in a different environment, and enjoyed all my classes. These first four months have passed in a blur; there have been hours spent studying, long nights talking with friends, and early morning chemistry classes. Over the semester, I've grown an appreciation for the time I will spend here, and a nostalgia for the time I've spent so far. In a way, college is exactly as I imagined it would be, filled with surprises and hiccups, but always turning back to the picturesque world I've dreamed of.
As for my classes, there are many differences from what I expected. College courses are more difficult than I expected them to be. Studying for exams is different than high school tests because there is much more independent learning and practice required. That being said, I enjoy the flexibility of being able to set my schedule however I want and study when it fits my productivity windows. Many of my classes are based almost entirely on exam grades, which I expected, but oftentimes adds pressure to each exam. I enjoy lecture classes, but they are harder to focus in than in small classes. On that note, I like my Monday/Wednesday/Friday lectures better than Tuesday/Thursday lectures because I enjoy the shorter time blocks. I find it more helpful to have classes more frequently so I do not forget material when I don't have as much exposure to it. Collectively, I really enjoy my classes, even if they also create challenges in my academic journey.
In CPSG 100, we have covered a wide range of topics. I expected the class to focus more on climate change, ways to address it, and the science behind global warming. While we did spend some time on these topics, and I learned a lot, we also covered a variety of other topics. We had a few lectures covering the background of science, and while these were not necessarily the most interesting, I think that it is important to get everyone on the same page about the processes of science. This was particularly helpful for me to remind me of the process of science, as a Biology major. My favorite lecture was the pseudoscience lecture the week of Thanksgiving break. Sitting in the classroom with only a few of my fellow classmates and learning about the effects of disinformation and pseudoscience on the rise of Nazi Germany was very interesting, and not something I expected to learn in a Science and Global Change class. I am grateful that we approached different topics that allowed me to take a break from my STEM-heavy course load and learn other topics. For the outside of the classroom activities, I find the readings and discussion questions to be very manageable. The readings are interesting, and the questions also incite me to think. This class and the program in general have caused me to open my mind to new ideas and push the boundaries of my knowledge. I have made new friends through the class and generally enjoyed my experience in it.
To future SGC students: take advantage of the opportunities offered to you during the Scholar's program. You will have the opportunity to meet people from a variety of different majors, backgrounds, and communities. Take the chance and reach out to these people - they may become some of your best friends. Additionally, I'd tell them to appreciate the class for what it is, but not to take advantage of it. Scholars is not supposed to be a difficult course, but it still requires effort and thought. Make sure to do the readings and pay attention to the lectures, because the topics covered are important to everyday life. They will relate to important processes for your other classes and foster a strong background in science that will help in life. The basic lessons about the processes of science ensure you are an informed person and will be able to verify whether information is accurate, so you do not fall prey to misinformation or pseudoscience. Lastly, I'd tell future scholars to enjoy the class. Many of your other classes will be stressful and challenging, so make sure to have fun while learning. Science and Global Change grants you the chance to learn many different new things. Branch out and pay attention to all that is being offered to you, all while meeting new friends and having fun.