I find it fascinating that so many students, even juniors and seniors in college, stress over whether or not they belong to the same group that they did in high school. Honestly, college is a fresh start, but so many people refuse to see it as such. I personally graduated high school without any real friends, and now I have several that I would consider either my best friends or very close friends.
You enter college to learn, and one thing that you need to learn to survive in this world is how to adapt and accept those changes.
This is all for today.
Good eventide,
Melissa.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Saturday, April 9, 2011
That All-Consuming Madness
There is typically only one thought on the freshmen student's mind: What the bloody hell do I major in?
The trick to picking a major is simple, really: Don't choose a major until you have taken about half of your general education required classes, and your elective classes should be in several different areas of study. For example, my elective courses included Drafting/Design, Anthropology, Philosophy, and History. I chose Anthropology as my major after taking both Intro. and Cultural Anthropology courses, and History as my minor.
One thing to keep in mind, though, is that you should also do preliminary research into the fields you are considering. What are the career options associated with that major? How much schooling does it typically require? Are you willing to dedicate that much time and energy to the pursuit of this area of knowledge? Is this something you can see yourself being happy doing years from now? If you are unwilling or unable to meet the requirements of that field, perhaps you should consider switching majors.
Another important thing to consider is your minor! Quite a few majors, depending on the degree type you are pursuing, will require you to have a minor. Your minor should be something you are interested in and can apply towards your major-oriented career later.
Meeting with your academic advisor can be stressful and you will probably view it as unneccessary. I personally met with mine once, shortly after enrolling at my community college for the first semester. I was able to plan out my entire course schedule for the four semesters it takes to earn my Associate's by myself, using the course guide and a print-out of the degree requirements. Many colleges do require you to regularly meet with your advisor, however, and they are often better equipped when it comes to planning courses and staying on track.
It is most important, I feel, to tell the freshmen students entering college for the first time that picking a major/minor is something that can be delayed. They should never feel pressured into picking something simply because their peers already have chosen areas of study to pursue. Many Seniors in colleges and universitites all over the world change their mind a month before graduating, and the average student changes their major over ten times throughout the course of their academic career.
I just needed to put this out there, for anyone who is struggling with this decision.
Good eventide,
Melissa.
The trick to picking a major is simple, really: Don't choose a major until you have taken about half of your general education required classes, and your elective classes should be in several different areas of study. For example, my elective courses included Drafting/Design, Anthropology, Philosophy, and History. I chose Anthropology as my major after taking both Intro. and Cultural Anthropology courses, and History as my minor.
One thing to keep in mind, though, is that you should also do preliminary research into the fields you are considering. What are the career options associated with that major? How much schooling does it typically require? Are you willing to dedicate that much time and energy to the pursuit of this area of knowledge? Is this something you can see yourself being happy doing years from now? If you are unwilling or unable to meet the requirements of that field, perhaps you should consider switching majors.
Another important thing to consider is your minor! Quite a few majors, depending on the degree type you are pursuing, will require you to have a minor. Your minor should be something you are interested in and can apply towards your major-oriented career later.
Meeting with your academic advisor can be stressful and you will probably view it as unneccessary. I personally met with mine once, shortly after enrolling at my community college for the first semester. I was able to plan out my entire course schedule for the four semesters it takes to earn my Associate's by myself, using the course guide and a print-out of the degree requirements. Many colleges do require you to regularly meet with your advisor, however, and they are often better equipped when it comes to planning courses and staying on track.
It is most important, I feel, to tell the freshmen students entering college for the first time that picking a major/minor is something that can be delayed. They should never feel pressured into picking something simply because their peers already have chosen areas of study to pursue. Many Seniors in colleges and universitites all over the world change their mind a month before graduating, and the average student changes their major over ten times throughout the course of their academic career.
I just needed to put this out there, for anyone who is struggling with this decision.
Good eventide,
Melissa.
Friday, April 8, 2011
The Former Mirrors The Latter
Beginnings and endings always reflect the same emotions, the same tribulations, identical losses and gains. The only change is that you have grown from one transition to the next.
All throughout my childhood, college was something to aim for, a target at the end of a field, if you will. College was where I learned how to achieve my goals and make my dreams more attainable. By the end of this summer I will have earned my Associate of Arts degree and transfer to MSU to work on my Bachelor of Science Degree. My love of learning has never been stronger; financial matters seem to make this love impractical, though, and I fear that many students will soon surrender their dreams in favor of more...immeadiate financial gain.
The reality of college is far from the television shows and movies that we see in our youth. It is more studying, with fewer wild nights of partying. You will spend more nights of slurping energy drinks and correcting printer malfunctions than it tending to steamy love affairs. And finally, you will lie awake at night, wondering if what you are doing is worthwhile, if you are suited to this life, and if you will ever graduate and enter into "The Real World."
The truth is, the real world is all around you, even in the little bubble that is a college campus. Your fellow students, such as myself, work full-time or part-time jobs between studying, classes, labs, baby-sitting, chores, and errands. We are adults, all living real lives in the real world. We just happen to be training for a better occupation while doing it.
Anyway, this is it for the moment. Although I am taking this semester off, I am still doing some independent research between shifts at work, my "social calendar", and keeping my ferret and two-year-old niece from hurting each other.
Good eventide,
Melissa.
All throughout my childhood, college was something to aim for, a target at the end of a field, if you will. College was where I learned how to achieve my goals and make my dreams more attainable. By the end of this summer I will have earned my Associate of Arts degree and transfer to MSU to work on my Bachelor of Science Degree. My love of learning has never been stronger; financial matters seem to make this love impractical, though, and I fear that many students will soon surrender their dreams in favor of more...immeadiate financial gain.
The reality of college is far from the television shows and movies that we see in our youth. It is more studying, with fewer wild nights of partying. You will spend more nights of slurping energy drinks and correcting printer malfunctions than it tending to steamy love affairs. And finally, you will lie awake at night, wondering if what you are doing is worthwhile, if you are suited to this life, and if you will ever graduate and enter into "The Real World."
The truth is, the real world is all around you, even in the little bubble that is a college campus. Your fellow students, such as myself, work full-time or part-time jobs between studying, classes, labs, baby-sitting, chores, and errands. We are adults, all living real lives in the real world. We just happen to be training for a better occupation while doing it.
Anyway, this is it for the moment. Although I am taking this semester off, I am still doing some independent research between shifts at work, my "social calendar", and keeping my ferret and two-year-old niece from hurting each other.
Good eventide,
Melissa.
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