Conclusion/Introduction:
Controduction
In conclusion of the first semester, it was quiet and experience. Not
exactly the kind of experience you would consider pleasant, but it was most
definitely a life changing experience. I almost feel as if I am a new man. I
live my life differently, and maturely, if that makes any sense. I just overall
have a different perception of life. I am more appreciative of life in general,
not that I was ever not appreciative prior to the incident, but I thank God for
every morning I wake up and I am alive. And what other ways do I feel alive? Seeing
other people smile, seeing other people happy, because you just never know what
someone might be going through. One move on your part can either greatly impact
someone's life or it can lead to their demise; like in the case of bullying.
But that's a whole other topic I would rather not get into. Plus what can you
possibly lose from making a great impact in someone's life? Absolutely nothing.
Academic/Overall Accomplishments:
Second semester was academically a huge improvement. I Love Science,
specifically Bio but I couldn't do Chemistry to save my life! Withdrawing from
General Chem. with a C- after midterms, I was questioned; "But why did you
leave? You should have stayed with it, it gets easier as you
go..."Well....See..the problem is...I know myself pretty well and I know
what I am capable of academically and there's no way that I could have survived
Gen. Chem. I, II, Organic Chem. I and II, successfully. The word is
successfully.
Not a D- or a D or a C-,
successful as in an A-, B or
B+. I can no longer allow myself to be an average student; I just refuse to let
that happen. Yeah I did not have the best grades in high school nor did I have
the confidence. But guess what?
I see
high school as "That was then, This is now!" One of my favorite books
of all time by the way. Anyways, switching from Bio to Healthcare, I thought life
was going to be a piece of cake! I wouldn't have to spend my whole entire
college career in the Shields Science Center, not a lot of homework, and more
socializing with friends. I did expect some reading and writing in Literature
and Philosophy. Was I right? Of course I was! As for picking up a minor in
Studio Art, I really had no expectations in terms of difficulty. I was just
overjoyed to be able to get back into something I was absolutely born to do,
especially at a college level. My intentions were to make it more of a stress
relief factor, but that was actually not the case at all. Taking Portrait
Workshop and Figure drawing back to back actually became more of a stressful
activity, especially during finals time. Both professors were absolute experts
in their fields and had expectations like no other. They truly introduced me to
the world of getting out of my comfort zone as an upcoming Artist and feeling
more comfortable and confident in challenging myself to that next level. The
level didn't think existed. My overall GPA first semester wasn’t exactly what I
expected it to be. I did not expect it to be my best, but I also did not see it
being as low. So low I cannot publicize it.
Second semester was a complete turnaround for
sure. A 3.43 from a low 2 GPA? That’s some serious improvement if you ask me!
The dramatic improvement did bring up my overall GPA but not to where I wanted
it to be. If I am not mistaken, my one of my major goals for the second
semester was to bring my GPA up to a low 3, at least in the 3 range. I
unfortunately came short of it for obvious reasons. It was extremely
unrealistic, especially having a low of a GPA as I did. I mean it would have
been realistic if I was a straight A’s student.
As much as I do not want to publicize my overall
GPA, I will admit that as of now it’s at 2.88. Would it cross that 3.0 mark
after my summer Stats class? I guess we’re just going to have to wait and see. Besides,
I am not ashamed to publicize my GPA because it is only temporary. Aside from
my lack of confidence coming into college, I did make a lot of mistakes in
terms of time management and study strategy. But I did learn from my downfalls,
I did discover what works for me and what doesn’t academically. And as for time
management, ask anyone who knows me on a personal level. Like how the great Michael
Jackson was the king of pop, I am the king of time. My whole entire life as of January
2012 has been about time. From the moment
I wake in the morning until bed, time, time and TIME! And why is this relevant?
Basically what I am saying is that I am not ashamed of publicizing my overall GPA
because as of this moment, it is just going to increase. I know what it takes to
become a successful student after all these years and I cannot wait to see how
much more I am going to grow academically, and socially over the next three
years.
Although I did not accomplish the goal of bringing my overall GPA up to a
low 3, I was successful in everything else. My other goals going into the
second semester were, apply for the ALANA-A Big Brother and Sister, the Peer
Mentoring program and to participate in KRUP, the Katrina relief community
service in New Orleans. Went through the whole interview process and was
accepted into both programs. ALANA-A I felt like was more of a given because I
was a part of the IEP family all year. And they knew me well and what I was
capable of in terms of leadership. Peer mentor on the other hand was more of a,
“leadership had been implanted into my head for the past eight years at the
Burton Camp, so let me give it a try and see what happens”. It surely was worth
the try because that is really where some of the realest people at Stonehill
aside from my ABS family. People I can fully trust and depend on in difficult
times. I cannot forget my Bible Study crew of course. Those dudes really keep
me sane; talking about guys I can fully give my heart to. Talking about my
Bible Study crew, KRUP was hands down the best experience I’ve had at Stonehill
without being at Stonehill. Talking about NOLA, I recently made a comment to a
coworker about not being like the others and she responded, “I know right? A
kid from beaver, in college, full time”. Beaver being the “ghettoest” part of
Framingham, where I guess everything goes down. This comment goes a long way
because it reminded me of a quote by Pastor Burnside whom I met while in NOLA
for Spring Break. It goes “Sanctification by association”; meaning making an
impact on your surrounding and not letting your surrounding impact you. Like a close
friend once said, “you’re hungry for success”. That explains it all. It’s been
an awesome year and I cannot wait to see where Stonehill takes me in the next
three years or so.
