Dear Students: this is your eighth and final FRSM 1000 blog – congratulations on making it this far! Since this is your last blog, I’d like for you to reflect on your first-semester Xavier experience and answer the question, “How am I different now?” You may as always take this in any direction you like, just make sure that you write at least 250 words.
Blog Post #8: How am I different now? Monday, Nov 3 2008
Uncategorized 11:05 am
When ever I look back at August and my very first weeks of school, I can really see where I have matured in some new way. My first few days here, I met people I hadn’t seen since elementary or high school post katrina and I was happy to see that some of them actually remembered who I was. I can say that some of them remembered exactly who I was and what I brought them through the years of knowing me…LoL. I do believe my first semester here has taught me the true meaning of actually studying BEFORE the test not an hour UNTIL the test. Procastination is not something that I can rely on anymore because I have noticed that if I do not seriously do my assignment when it is due then my grade suffers. When this happens, I suffer because let’s be honest who wants to tell their struggling parent who is sacrificing tons for you that you’re not doing well in class…not me because the long guilt driven talk comes after that makes you wish you had turned in that ONE assigment on TIME. Besides the school work, my first semester has given me an insight on becoming a more social person. I mean sure I pretty much talk to everyone but not all the time I feel 100% comfortable doing that. But since Xavier is hoem to many diverse people with their own distinctive thoughts, socializing has become abit more easy for me. I really like making new friends and enjoying my years to come here. I value my time better not that second semester looms around the corner and the bonds I have created with new people. Freshman seminar allowed me to meet with people with different backgrounds and yet still connect on some profound level that we were all able to understand one another on. So if you ask me I am different. Not physically yet mentally because I stood strong even though I had my doubts about certain classes I didnt give up i held to the fact that I was going to pass regardless of now grade because I knew I could do better and achieve what I truly deserved…now that I have stopped all procrastination…LoL^_^
I have definetly changed. When I first got to Xavier I was somewhat judgemental. I would automatically cast someone as being a certain way based off of what they looked like or what I heard about them. However I have learned that nothing is as it seems to be. People I never thought I would associate with I do and those who I believed I had nothing in common with I have come to find we share many of the same interest. I have found y own identity here. I know now that I am an eclectic individual that can not be confined to stereotypes or generalities. I am me and I have a mixture of everything from loving jazz to henna tattoos just flowing in my blood. This is what I love about Xavier or college period. Another thing that I realized has changed about me is my study habits. I was so accustomed to just doing enough and sliding by with good grades. However here it is completely different. You MUST study at least two weeks prior to any test or quiz. You MUST start all assignments early. You MUST be productive with every second that you have. I have recently learned these things. It feels good to know that I can maintain good grades based off of the hard work I put in. I used to procrastinate and slap projets together. I have learned to do everything in a timely manner. I have come to find procrastination as inappropiate although frequently I am late I am putting my best foot forward in all that I do. I am officially a non judgemental, timely college student and it feels wonderful.
The past few months was my first time ever being on my own. It was my first semester in college. I never knew what it would be like to not see my mom and dad’s face everyday but I found out quickly. I must say that it was very hard but I slowly adjusted and learned so much from this first time experience. I learned that even though I love my family very much, I will not self-destruct without them. I love my family very much and I knew this before going to school but it took me a few weeks to realize that I really, really loved them. I can honestly say that I am different now. I know what it feels like to live with complete strangers and also have to share a bathroom with them. This was the hardest adjustment for me because I like to have my privacy. Sometimes I just like being alone and that is not possible when you live on campus. I also tasted new food that I would have never dreamed about trying in a million years. I listened to music that I thought I hated and ended up liking it a lot. People always say that college changes a person but I never actually though that it change a person this much. I look at this as only the beginning. I think that I will find myself changing more and more as these four years go by. With all of the changes that I have made I would say that the major change is that I am now open to new things.
If I could reflect on my first experiences of becoming a college student, I would say that I’ve changed a lot. Back in high school, I always had my older brothers to protect me, to watch over me, and to always hover over my shoulders. I never had to fight my own fights; I always had my brothers to protect me through out my entire life. When it was time for me to go to college, I thought by moving out of state, this could be my opportunity to finally be on my own as an independent. I was terrified during the first weeks of school! As an international student, my transition was extremely difficult. Not only was I new to being on my own, but also new to the American Culture. I felt that I wouldn’t be able fit in, and that everyone would be able to tell how different I was from everyone else.
Since then, I’ve joined various clubs around campus, and have found a close net of friends who all went through the same issues that I dealt with. I truly understand the definition of being independent, and I’m so proud of how mature I’ve become while living here in New Orleans. I wasn’t able to follow my old routine by depending on my brothers anymore; I walked my own steps for the first time in my life. So far, living on my own has had its pro’s and con’s, but of course I’m proud of my decision of moving to New Orleans. At one point, I felt that I really wasn’t able to continue strong, but with hope and determination, I was able to keep my attitude positive. It took deliberation and strong will, but I’m such a stronger person now, and I can honestly say that this semester has changed my life in so many ways. I’m no longer a little girl, but a young adult, and been able to survive the vigorous ways of college life. I love every moment, by learning from every mistake, and enjoying the times while being in college. I fight my own fights, walk my own walks, and have become an independent woman.
Lookng back at the beginning of the sesmester I can see that I have done a great deal of maturing. My attitude towards certain things are bent in certain areas and I actually take things into consideration. In my personal life I went through the people that I called my, “friends” and made some adjustments and directed those who did not mean anything to me out of my life. I looked back on some of the things I have done and realize it was not worth it. When it come to my school work I have done a number on keeping up with my assignments and making good grades on them. Even though I can do a better job in that area I know that will come with dedication, pratice, and hardwork and with the resistance of temptation I know I can do a much better job of what I am doing right now. I am different in a way that only those who know me well will be able to tell and distinguish between the old me and the new me. In what I have become and what I was going to becom. Also my views on life and how they differ now.
Being in JROTC has taught m patience and perservance. Before this training I was unsure about my future and I was not sure if I had a future but I realized it and I am happy to say that I am different, and it is for the betterment of my success.
I am different in many ways than one now. As the first semester of my freshman year of college slowly comes to a close, I am finding out different things about myself. I am learning new things like how to manage my time wisely and also that time is very valuable so you should take advantage of every minute. I’ve also learned the importance of not procrastinating and waiting to the last minute to complete assignments because after a long period of time, it catches up with you and then you become in over your head with homework that you have to race to complete before the due date. One thing that I’ve learned while being in college if I haven’t learned anything at all is that COLLEGE IS NOT A GAME. You really should stay on top of everything because if you don’t you’ll find yourself suffering from it. My first semester at Xavier has taught me a lot of things that are going to better my college life in the future. Freshman seminar has been a great learning experience for me as well. My insight about the city of New Orleans differs greatly now. Things that I didn’t know about New Orleans I now know like the music, and how the New Orleans way of life is like no other. You won’t go anywhere else and be able to say that it’s the same because it probably won’t. In closing I would like to say that Xavier has changes me academically, personally, and has strengthened me a lot. I know now why people say that Xavier students are like no other because they really do prepare you for the road ahead.
I am different in so many ways. I would have to say the number one difference is my responsibility. Coming to college and leaving home is something that opened my eyes to everything around me. Not having my family daily to support me gave me no option but handle my business. When it comes to the little things like buying my own laundry detergent, not having my parents refrigerator to go to, I realize all my decisions fall on me. The other major change i have made is dedication. Their have been so many different days when i did not want to get up for ROTC. I am still amazed that I can constantly wake up at 4:45am Tue, Wed, and Thu. I gain more respect for myself daily than I think anyone else ever could. Finally I would have to say I’ve changed into a better person. I study, exercise, and socialize. With the academics Xavier provides I have no choice. Studying is essential for me to pass my classes, exerciseing to stay in shape for my scholarship, and socializeing so i dont go crazy. I have learned so much from my first semester here at Xavier University.
My first semester here at Xavier has been very challenging so far as academics. Its all a matter of getting use to my teachers and also learning them and there grading scale. I have changed a lot well my mind set has im use to having my mom cook dinner an washing my clothes and things like that. Now that I’m pretty much on my own I have learned how to look out for myself. Its nothing like being at home you cant just run to the next room when something goes wrong or something bad happens you have to learn how to stick in there. There’s no more, my mom asking me did you do your homework are you studying like you should be. All the knocking on the door telling me to get off the computer is over, I am really on my own every thing that I do will be my decision and my choice. I have learned how to deal with other people’s attitudes. Learned to let go of the childish things and to focus on getting my education and I’m not her to impress anybody or make people like me I’m here to get my education. When I first moved in to KD I was really excited about staying in the dorms and meeting new people. I thought I was ready for my mom to leave me but I guess I wasn’t it was weird my first night in the dorm room it was cold and everything else it was nothing like I imagined it to be. But I have learned to deal with it, and having friends makes the college experience a lot easier to deal with.
How i am different now? When i look back and think about my first semester here at Xavier University i think of the many challeges that i had to go through to get to this moment. I have never been this far away from home and since i have such a big and connected family i could always rely on them. To be with me and to do things for me and i really didn’t have to do much on my own. Since i have been down here it is has basically forced me to grow up to be independent is a way. I had to realize that i couldn’t rely on other people to help me do what i needed to do for myself. I am a twin. And my twin sister and i both came down here together and we are roomates so i was already comfortable with my living mate. We both have different majors so we don’t really see each other that much but just the fact that she is here with me helps me. The curriculm at Xavier is not that difficult right now. It just taught me that the way i studied in highschool is not the way i have to study in college i have to put in alittle more time to get the grades i want. Living down here i had to adjust to the freedom i was given. Because when i wAs in high school i didn’t have a choice on whether or not i wanted to go to school i had to but down here you also really don’t have a choice but it seems like you do. I have learned how to deal with different attitudes and i have learned to live with other people who are not my family members. I learned how i have to stay on top of my school work in order to get the things i want.
It has been a couple months of college life and yet, it feels way much longer than that. Maybe it’s because I have surpassed more than I thought I could handle. College life has been a huge transformation for me because, as sad as it sounds, I have never learned much from high school. Projects and tests were always last minute assignments and somehow, I still managed to pull it off. Being in college has taught me to do things way ahead of time because chances are I will not be able to get back to the previous assignment since there are many other things to do on the plate. I have also learned to be more responsible and take care of things by myself instead of depending on others to remind me.
Being at Xavier has taught me something more important, values and discipline. You can’t take things lightly because in everything that you do, there will be serious consequences to follow. Therefore, I have to think twice before I speak. I have also learned that hard work and determination pays off in the end. There are many nights I feel like closing the books and head for bed, but I would remind myself that good things don’t come easy and if you want something that bad, you have to work hard for it. This keeps me motivated and continue learning.
This is only a beginning and without a doubt, there are many things I will continue to learn.
Usually, the first semester of college teaches freshman students such principles as time management, hard work ethic, etc. I must admit I am not different but better yet aware. I have been through many obstacles and leaped hurdles to make it to college and I felt and still feel that my mental toughness would dominate any struggles Xavier would have to offer. I will say that I came into college assuming I could breeze through like high school. I would soon realize that college is only hard when you allow it to be. You can not expect to pass a test if you have barely studied. You can not go to class and expect to learn and comprehend if you are not completely focused and just that; learning. I now approach everything I encounter here at Xavier with the athletic motto: “Hard work does not guarantee you success, but without it you have nothing.” This means that even if you spend hours studying that does not mean that you will definitely get an A on you test. Sometimes you have to go beyond what you believe you are capable of. But if you take no steps at all the only thing you will certainly be capable of is failure. I had goals to finish my freshman year with a 3.8 GPA. Because I was not focused and determined to work for every single point of that GPA I will most likely have a 3.5 GPA. But, instead of allowing myself to sink further I buckled down and put in that extra effort that is necessary not only to survive in college or graduate school but to survive in life period.
-David Howard
Wow what makes me different? What makes Tandeka different is it the way I dress that define my personality, is it the smile that people see when around me, is it the jokes that I make or is it that Tandeka is just misunderstood. I really can not answer what makes Tandeka different but what I can answer is that Tandeka is a bunch of everything mix together trying to understand life and herself. As I preparer on august 14 to leave the life that I knew behind to start a new chapter of my own I began to doubt my choices, then my fare began to control my mind. On the plane to a place that would soon be home for me the thought of it scare me. Even thought my family and friend were all so proud of me and all depending on me to rise against all obstacles to make it in life, I felt as if I was under much pressure I felt as if I fail I would not only fail myself but the faces of those who see me as if I was going to be the first African American female president. Tandeka is stuck in a world where she see life in a hold different way I mean she understand what is expected of her but at times get lose in her own mind and feel as if she running out of time, yes she scare of time. She hate it when there 20 minute left on a test she hate feeling helpless and in many situation she feel trap with no way out. My first semester here at Xavier has been very challenging so far as academics and as understanding what I want in life.
My first semester at Xavier has been an intersting experience. I haven’t changed much but i have learned new things and inherited knowledge from my fellow Xavierites. Being away from home has really impacted my life. I have the freedom and the choice to make imperative decisions. Though i miss home, i really needed to get way in order to learn and experience. Being here in New Orleans teaches me the respnosibilty i will uphold as an adult. Though i havent gone thru much change i still have experienced a from of change. The best thing that has happen to me also happened to the world. Barack Obama was elected the president of U.S.A.That was really the only change that impacted my life. I still have a lot to learn and i am willing to learn and utilize what i already know.Xavier is helping mold me into a successful individual but i still have a ways to go. -JC
How am I different now? Well now I see things differently, more openly, and also directly. I no longer see one way, or one path, I see multiple opportunities, and continuous directions, and all while maintaining focus. As everyone knows, knowledge comes with a price, and what that price may be, may depend on the circumstance, and while others may try to find out what that price is, and what it may compel you to relinquish in order to receive that knowledge, I’m thinking about how can I make that knowledge reward and pay me. I am trying to find out multiple ways to receive that knowledge, and also aim for more knowledge by while so. You may say greedy, or even foolish and I may agree, not agree to the being foolish, but to the accusation of me being greedy. I am a greedy individual, I want it all, 40 acres and 40 mules, why settle for one? I have more of a drive, boldness, and a determination. I may laugh, smile, flirt, joke, and play, and even though I am 17 years of age, know that it is nothing more but a facade, a smile for the cameras, being politically or in this case publicly correct. While behind the scenes, with no access granted until now, I am now different in everyway, and I label myself a winner, Rickey y’all.
Being in college here at Xavier University of Louisiana has changed me in numerous ways. I have been able to get my feet wet on a wonderful college experience. I have been guided by many of my professors and advisors on what to do to succeed. Being out of state Xavier has also allowed me to be a more stable independent women. I am not only making decisions that can make or break me but i am experiencing life. I now have the opportunity to make something of myself in this world. I have changed on a maturity level. Although i am still being presented with adult life hood. Xavier being Historical in numerous ways has changed my perspectives out on life. Being in a new are and understanding the New Orleans culture has brought a change on me also. Being from California we have a much different way of life style. But the most important is my education. Xavier has opened my eyes by leading me into the workforce through a proper education. Now a days in the society living with no higher education is a challenge. But i have the ability to pursue that here. I have changed from being a high school student. Managing my time is the biggest change for me. The work load is also a big change. The amount of money my scholarship spends for me to come here is also another change since my high school did not have a cost. Overall i am happy with my change. I would not take any of my experience here back for nothing. Its a new chapter for me.
I am different now in numerous ways, but lets talk about one in particular. Going to Xavier has made me learn to plan ahead and keep a planner. In high school, I went to the same classes everyday, and the teacher kept it on the board. So there was no need for too much planning. Back then if someone would have told me that a planner would be my next best friend, I wouldn’t have believed them. Now I know. I have so much to do on a day to day basis I can’t remember it all by myself. How much I dread going to out of class events for freshman Seminar, I have to do them. I have to even schedule time to do school work. This includes studying. Some might say, well you know you have to do that. The problem is it will slip my mind, and i’ll find something more interesting to do. I don’t live on campus, and I have a job, so that means I have to schedule these dates with my job, and be able to commute back and forth. Since I have to commute, I have to set times to do different tasks. Besides the time of class, I have to decide how long it would take me to drive, and what if there is traffic. So now I plan better. This is my story to any incoming freshman. One way to help you in college is to own a planner. Trust me you’ll need it.
Wow! It’s the end of the semester already! Where did the time go? I can still remember participating in the freshman orientation, meeting my new friends for the first time and, of course, the first day of my classes. I remember my first day of Dr. Schafer’s Freshman Seminar class quite well. I had to take the long quest from Xavier South and it took forever to find that hidden room in the corner of the Norman C. Francis building. By the time I did find it, I had to walk in after class started. Since then, I have come to love his class and the thought-provoking environment that he creates with his, spontaneous in-class poems, music analyzation, and debates. They really make you thing and give you an appreciation for life, the opportunity to be at Xavier, and, most of all, New Orleans and its unique culture.
From the almighty wise words of the upperclassmen, I was led to believe that the freshman seminar class was a boring, pointless class that Xaiver’s Faculty required all freshmen to take to make their lives even more difficult. However, I must disagree. In fact, I actually learned a lot in my freshman seminar class. I have to say that my favorite part of the class has been the thought provoking conversation/debates that you held in class. I believe the last debate was the right way to end our last class of the semester! It was quite entertaining and a lot of fun.
I have truly enjoyed your class this past semester, Dr. Schafer! So much so, that I pre-registered for you Freshman Seminar Class II next semester. So starting in January I will see you nearly every Monday (with the exception of the days we have symposiums) at 11a.m