This first semester of my college experience has been a rollercoaster of events and emotions. I joined the Track team on scholarship to try and help myself calm down by working out. I had never wanted to stop doing something so much in my life. I called my dad and talked about quitting school and just dropping out to work (which was like 2-3 weeks ago) but I didn’t, I was able to preserver and make it to the end of the semester. I was able to work with many people that I can now call my close friends. CODES has done so much for me; it brought me close to individuals and helped me learn about certain things that I would not otherwise have known.
This is a group from our CODES class that I have been blessed to call friends (missing JB) without these individuals I don’t know how I would have been able to make it through this first semester. I can say that about other people that I already knew before I came up here but finding new friends just warms a certain side of my heart. It’s sad to know that EJ is transferring schools to pursue his dream in athletics, but I understand why he is choosing to do so, and I hope he has the best time at the new university. Takara has been a friend since Day 1, I was very nervous to talk to anyone in the class, but Takara somehow was able to open me up and allow me to express myself. Kaydence and Kyra have been very nice, and always go out of their way to help me if needed. JB is an amazing friend; I feel like he and I have bonded very well. We always help each other when we need, and we always have something to talk about or laugh about.
This is the Cross-Country group that has taught me so much in this first semester of college. Again, without these individuals I would have never been able to make it through this. I have grown so close to them, and I would consider them family. Most of them are pretty old and most of them are graduating this next year but I know that the friendships will never end right at the end of the year. Each and every one of them have been an amazing mentor in showing me the ropes of what exactly a D1 athlete has to do to stay on top of themselves.
I know what I have to do to keep myself above the stress level for next semester and that is to not fall behind on homework. I’m going to push myself into making sure to work on it the day that I get it assigned otherwise I will end up struggling like I am right now in catching up on late work. I am kind of stressed out because they need to be done before Thursday, but I know that I can get it done I just need to implement a study tactic that I was taught by my friend.
All in all, I think I have learned a lot over this first semester of college and met many new people.
Second Semester
This second semester has been much easier than the first semester for me. I have been able to find a balance between athletics and my academics, I’m no longer stressing about getting my work done since the classes are about what I enjoy. The main reason why I feel like everything has been easier is because I have been injured during this track season. I haven’t been able to compete the whole part of outdoor which has really brought me down, but I never stopped hanging out with the team and working out upper body.
My classes have switched from the basic gen eds that everyone has to take to classes that are relative to my major. I have started to work in those classes and learn more about Construction than I had in the past. I have fallen behind with some work however since the school year is almost done. I always find it to become very difficult to focus on the last few weeks of school. This weekend I will catch up on all of my work so that I will be able to study for the two exams that I will have.
I enjoyed the CODES classes because our final exams are project based and I like doing that better than having to study or tests.
I am so happy that I was able to stick with it and stay in school rather than dropping out and going to work. Even though I would have probably made a decent amount of money I now understand why schooling is important for what I want to do. I’ve always loved the work that has to be done to accomplish a certain goal.
Overall, I am glad that I went through the first year of college with help from my new friends and can’t believe that it is already over. I am excited for the next semester and ready for what both CODES classes have to offer. I am ready to see how our impact with MOBOT is going to help the community.