I learned a lot in my first semester at IUPUI. During my application process, I felt like I received a lot of help. I made many calls to the university for various questions I had about scholarships, FAFSA, meal plans, benefits of studying here, and benefits of living off campus or on campus, and on every call I felt welcome because they were always friendly when answering. When I attended Bridge Week, Mrs. Weddington welcomed all the students with a smile and a willingness to help us make this new experience fun and as stress-free as possible. At my Bridge Week, we did a 'Scavenger Hunt' activity in which I learned a lot about what the IUPUI experience is truly like. I had not done a complete tour of each space or the help center that was on campus, so when doing this activity I was very surprised by all the resources available to the students, and I understood that if at any time I needed help with anything, I was going to receive 100% help from the college. It was a nice experience that made me feel more welcome at the college.

 

In this first semester, I also learned a lot about my strengths and weaknesses. I remember a specific example of when I had an exam and I felt I had prepared enough. That same morning, I got up earlier than normal and reviewed a little more to have more confidence in myself. I remember that as I answered question after question on the exam, I felt confident in myself, that I had everything in my mind and I was going to pass that exam with a high grade. When I handed in my exam and realized I got a low grade, I had just a few seconds to decide how I was going to let it affect my day. I had to choose between getting depressed or taking it as an impulse for the next exam to study even more, and I chose the second option. It was an important moment since I have been prioritizing my mental health more, and I have realized that one must be mentally strong so as not to let your day, week, or year fail simply because you failed. I began to see failure as learning not as something bad. After that, I have continued to procrastinate a lot, but I have also taken the time to analyze myself and learn what the best strategies are for me to maintain my concentration and desire to continue learning.

 

A great lesson I learned was that to be successful, knowledge and consistency are key, not only in college but also outside of there as well. Having the desire to learn more things than a set of classes and a college schedule can give you. Learning does not occur directly in the classroom, but rather in how you decide to learn from the information gained outside of that space.

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"The more you learn, the more you earn." - Warren Buffett

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"I was the sum total of the obstacles I’d overcome.” - David Goggins