Post #4

This Summer Session has been very tedious.  With all the work due and having class everyday, I have felt overwhelmed to some extent every week. Between blog posts, second drafts, and chemistry exams, I feel like I need to take a step back... a breather.  Whenever life gets to this point for me I pause and try to remember I need to realize where I am.  I like to always find something positive and be optimistic about my situation, regardless of where I am or how I am feeling.

As I begin this college life, I want to not only live in the here and now but enjoy the hear and now.  I am excited to take certain courses and not just learn dates and facts (which seemed to be the only thing we did in high school).  I plan to take part in educated discussions about different issues of the world, and decide how I will make an impact.  That is all very exciting to me. :) But to answer the question of how I will live in the here and now, I feel the best way to accomplish this is simply put my best foot forward.  That way I will be fully engaged, and I won't have any regrets.

In high school, I used to be the student saying "I can't wait to get to college, so I won't have to take all these unnecessary classes." Thankfully I later found out the plan was not for you just to be an expert in one field but have a good overview of many topics.  Now I'm more mature, and I am more eager to learn. I plan on using my drive for learning and wanting to be knowledgeable as my purpose for a class.

Coming to a four year institution will definitely be beneficial in the long run for many reasons.  (Reasons that I am sure we all know of since we're here).  I honestly didn't come here just to be a cool smart person, but that's cool with me too. :)  I came to UNCC to gain the education needed to become a successful nurse practitioner.  The other intelligence I'll finish with will be icing to my nursing degree cake.  

I honestly struggle to challenge growth on a daily basis.  In example, instead of reading along with my chemistry, I want to be in the position where I am reading ahead of the class and already have notes written before the class discussion.  I need to push myself to contribute more... more work, more studying, more effort. Although I don't feel I have reached my potential to soar in my classes I know I am still a work in progress and I will continue to challenge myself.

Post #3

Hello :) How is everyone? I'm having a pretty awesome day so I hope you guys are too.  Its so funny how life works because I just got off the phone with my family, and as I come to start off this blog it leads me right into my HIGH of the week. :)  When I called my mommy and daddy, I was feeling kind of down; I missed my best friends and little sisters (surprisingly).  I was going to call and vent to my mom (yes I tell her everything), but when she answered the phone she had so much enthusiasm about how proud she was of me for doing so well.  She then told me about how our family and church family continuously reiterated to her of how proud they were that I was in school and "handling my business".  This of course made me smile. :) Then I called my dad and he just told me how much he missed me and how he has been bragging about me at work (which of course led him into a speech about how my actions are bigger than me; they affect my family as well, etc. etc. --typical dad).  I was soooooooo ecstatic all my petty feelings of missing home were concealed for the moment, and I've made the decision to keep those feelings hidden.

My low of this week is definitely minor in comparison to my high; I try to make sure this is always the case.  I went to get my 49er ID made, since I had been putting it off since last week.  First off, I'm sure everyone was aware of the weather the last couple of days (rain, overcast, humidity), so my hair already wasn't on board. Also I learned upon taking my picture, the camera doesn't have flash and you get one shot.  So I'm trying my best to groom as quickly and effectively as possible, and take a pretty picture.  My picture actually turned out okay when you take into account the circumstances, BUT something is wrong with the machine so when it printed, there was a white line that split my face in half and misaligned it. -____- Really?

In this week, I have learned a lot in certain classes.  My English 1101 class for example. :) I almost feel like an entirely new writer.  I have learned the correct way to revise papers.  What it actually means to "revise".  How to distinguish between revising and editing.  I have learned to stop and ask myself am I simply stating what I have to say or am I explaining to where I tell a story.  I have learned how the difference between transactional, expressive, and poetic writing.  In my chemistry class it has been more of review than learning new stuff (I'm definitely not complaining.) I have learned how to use a clicker though lol. 

My learning process can be improved if I start studying everyday and not just when I think I need to. Also, not waiting til the day before or the day of to complete my work.  I'm sure that will help me beast my classes when fall semester starts.

Sleep
Sleeping is the best
Sleep relieves all stress
Sleep is what you need you're feeling cranky
You sleep best when you have your favorite blankey
No sleep deprives the brain of a notion
No sleep will make frustration you main emotion
When people don't sleep they act like clowns
It's pretty simple, just go lay down
Honestly it seems so hard to come by
If that's the case, why haven't I?

Post #2

I can't believe it.. I'm now in my first full week of summer school in COLLEGE! As the days progress I am happier with my decision to UTOP.  My classes are going a lot better than I expected, especially my English 1101 class! :) I rarely like english classes as much as I'm enjoying this class.  I love Ms. Ingram's positive attitude and the enthusiasm she has about our work; it makes me excited about completing my work.


My first college assignment actually went smoother than expected. I LOVE the idea of peer groups and revising our papers amongst ourselves before turning it in.  I really enjoyed everyone sharing their work and honest feedback with me about my work.  We even met after class to continue with our group discussion. 


I plan on adding more detailing to my paper; I also have a lot of grammatical errors that need tweaking.  


I'm not exactly sure what the difference is between revising and editing. Up until this class, I thought they were the same thing.  In my personal opinion, revising is the act of getting feedback from other classmates; its a chance to add or skim from my story to improve its appeal to readers.  Editing is more grammatical and a opinion not so much.


Although I am not fond of reading textbooks, it is more interesting than the monotone, bland high school textbooks I'm used to.  I'm not sure how well I will do once I have a full schedule, but I definitely have high hopes.

Post #1

The idea of being a college freshman is still very surreal to me. I'm here! I made it. I know what a big deal it is; it shows that I'm achieving the goals I've set for myself! Who knew it would happen so quickly?  I'm honestly blessed and want to make the most of the experience.  I feel surrounded by positive people with the same aspirations as me and it's very refreshing.

When I reluctantly signed up for UTOP, my only plans were to get a general idea of the campus for the Fall.  Now that I am here, I hope to make cool friends, and work hard so that I will have a head start for my GPA as well as learning my way around campus.


With English 1101, I want to better my writing skills because I know they need improvement.  I also would like to receive feedback from my peers, so they can also help me improve my writing.


I thought long and hard about what my "strength" is in writing, which was very difficult since I suck at writing (it's okay, I'm not in denial).  My strength in writing is subject-verb agreement, and I am sure of this because I know I would not be in college without at least this.  Although I am not a writer, I am proud of some work that I have completed.


I wrote a very personal poem in a creative writing class about my grandmother's death.  I am proud of this poem because after reading the poem aloud in class, three students and my teacher were in tears.  It wasn't that I wanted to make them cry, but I felt as though it was the first time I had successfully illustrated my feelings on paper and people actually understood me. Which leads me to my next point, my weaknesses in writing.  I feel as though I struggle to organize my thoughts in a way to make them flow.  It always seems impossible to get in a groove that I am happy with when writing.


My plans to make UTOP and UNCC strive is by simply doing my best and trying hard.  You cannot go wrong with trying your best because then you have no regrets.


I am most excited about starting school and experiencing these next few years of life!! There's sooo much to look forward to there's no way not to be excited :)


My list of good things include:
--an awesome month of June
--my new roommates! (they're hilarious)
--knowing that my new home will be this beautiful campus


Things that make me anxious:
**one day becoming homesick
**staying on my Ps & Qs in college


Recently I was cleaning out my closet for school and my mom found my old "yearbook" from second grade.  It was really just a collection of writings and worksheets with pictures of our class; we laughed as we looked through it and I reminisced.  I came upon this one page in which we were asked what we wanted to do when we grew up (the typical career question for youngsters), and my answer actually shocked me.  I stated that I wanted to become a nurse, so that I could help people and make them feel better.. This is so crazy to me because that is in fact what I want to do! Nursing is my ideal major and I will be entering UNCC as a Pre-Nursing major. :)  I think its pretty cool how as a 7 year old, I was already setting forth goals and I'm ready to make them happen! :) Nothing will hinder me from becoming a nurse practitioner..


As I prepare myself for college, it seems the butterflies never stop. I am excited, but indefinitely I'm nervous.  I just keep wondering will I let myself drop the ball.. Will my course load be too much and I fail miserably.. I'm not sure if that is normal or not (I'd like to think it is) but I know I'm not planning on failure so all I can do is try my best, be prepared, and stay prayed up!


I'd like to think for the most part I have come into my own. I've gone through phases that I'm not proud of, and I only see myself improving from here. So in my eyes, I am unique in the fact that I can always find a positive outlook on things; there is always a brighter side. :)  I am unique in the fact that I am always bubbly, always laughing or smiling, and always trying to uplift those around me.  So remember my name because I'm a good person! &Who doesn't want to be surrounded by people who aren't there to bring them down or cause unnecessary problems? Oh lastly, its (Shu-nee-tra) .. it will be so much easier to remember if you know how to say it right ?