by Pedro Perez, Sonoma State University
Perhaps I did really well in high school, but now as I have started my second semester in college I see the ups and downs that one faces in college. I have found new things and learned much more than I did in the first semester. I still remember when I gave a speech when I graduated from Mission High School last year. That was something major for me. I mean, I was stepping up. But there is no doubt that things change. What I have realized during the beginning of the second semester of college is that, it doesn't really matter what you did in high school as long as you make the transition to college, because high school success, or lack of it, doesn't automatically apply to college.
When I started college with a clean academic social consciousness, along with a lot of independence and willingness for critical decisions, I began the transition from high school to college. The decisions that I have been making and the actions I have taken during this first year of college will have a major impact during the rest of my college experience and life. I’ve discovered that college is about the things you need to do to not only survive but to thrive. And many of the tools, skills, and habits I will develop through college cannot only be used to help me succeed in college, but in my future career as well. When I got back up to school, here in Rohnert Park, I sensed that the first few weeks on campus were extremely critical for me. It was during this time when I had to make critical decisions that could and will influence the semester.
During my second semester in college, I learned a lot of things that are involved when you attend college. The first thing I’ve realize is that being organized is really important. For example, in high school, my teachers tended to lead me through all the homework and due dates. In college, the professors post the assignments, often for the entire semester, and expect you to be prepared. As a result, I have to use calendars or anything that will help me know when assignments are due. Additionally, I certainly had to find the ideal place to study. For me it turned out to be my room, in addition to a cozy corner of the library. This decision has helped me stay organized and avoid as many distractions as possible so that I can get my work done on time.
Also throughout the course of this semester, I’ve realized that professors spend hours preparing their calendars so that students will know exactly what is expected of them and when. Because of this I have learned that one of the lamest excuses a student can give a professor is: "I didn't know it was due today." This is why being organized has helped me a lot. Meeting with my professors has helped a lot. Speaking as a student, I can assure there are only upsides to getting to know my professors, especially if later in the semester I run into some confusion. I’ve become aware about how professors schedule office hours for the sole purpose of meeting with students. I see this as an opportunity to take advantage of that time, besides I can always get more knowledge about the classes I’m taking.
Furthermore, I have talked to some of the academic advisers, here at Sonoma State University (SSU). I really enjoy talking to academic advisers, especially because these are the people who will help me with course conflicts, adding or dropping courses, scheduling of classes for future semesters, and deciding on majors and minors. Advisers are a key resource for me, and they seem to be the people I will turn to with any academic issues or conflicts.
Seeking balance in college for me has been something really important. This is mostly because since I realized that college life is a mixture of social and academic happenings, I wouldn’t like to tip the balance too far in either direction. So in order to keep a balance with school activities, I spend some time at the gym. Spending time at the gym helps me make sure I set aside some time and activities that would help me relax and take the stress out of my day or week. For this reason, I always think about this motto "I should always study hard, so I can be able to play hard." "Studying hard" to me means that I have to strive for good grades. This is because I don’t think that grades come to you naturally in college. Consequently, one has to earn them in college. And to me, that means setting some goals for myself and then making sure I work as hard as I can to achieve them. For example, taking advantage of the math study resources and writing center on campus has been really important for me. Undoubtedly, SSU has learning labs and tutors available that have helped improve my math and writing skills during this semester. I’ve been able to take advantage of all the cultural and social events that happen on campus, mostly because they make me think about San Francisco.
Finally, I should say that taking advantage of the network of new friends and professors, that I have been approached to, has been fun while learning as much as I can possibly learn. I feel ready to get the most out of my college experience. I am ready to get the most of my second semester in college. It has been over a month since the semester began and I already feel like I have learned a lot besides getting to know more people. That’s why I should say with a lot confidence, that I am determined to make it through my freshman year and beyond.
