Beyond Science in Science Class

​

          At the end of the last semester at Concordia University Portland I asked my freshman biology students to do one thing I never asked before: to comment on what they learned in this class in addition to biology itself. Their reflections are below in the order in which they were received (I only made some of them a little shorter, and removed personal comments).  S.P.

​

          "...If I had to learn one thing during this semester of biology 212 I would say that I learned that you can find beauty in everything. Even if initially something seems plain, or uninteresting, there is always a way to appreciate it. However, the real talent is not knowing that everything has beauty in it, the real talent is being able to find that beauty in everything. Small things
such as the way moles communicate, or large things such as the circulation of air in the atmosphere, each one of these when looked at can be seen to be incredibly complex and magnificent. This semester taught me to not write off something, even if it doesn’t appeal to me right away.
          Another thing I learned from this semester was to seek the ability to look at something from different points of view. As you stated multiple times, a botanist, zoologist, and natural biologist can go into a forest, even look at a small specific area of a forest, and all find a unique and special way of looking at it. Looking at something from different points of view allows us to see whatever it is in a new depth. People each see different parts of somethings, and together, with a combination of each person’s angle, we can understand and see things in ways that we never have before.
          I think that these ideas are important because they allow a way to form relationships with people. Being able to understand how people see things, and how people see the beauty in things allows us to understand and connect with them on a deeper level. I believe we are here on this earth to love people and show Jesus’ love through that. To truly love someone I have to care for someone, and if I’m able to understand that that person sees the world differently than me I can more easily connect with them.
          Overall my conclusion is that the world is a much more complex and interesting place than I first thought. While in Bio 211 I learned a lot about the human body and its processes, in Bio 212 I learned a lot more about the world as a whole. With the ability to look and see that the differences in interests and the complexity, or simplicity, of organisms, all together create a
world that is connected in more ways than you can imagine. People have passions for different things and see their beauty in different ways, and just because I don’t see something as beautiful or interesting, doesn’t mean it isn’t. The world is larger than you think, and if you take the time to look at it, it will surprise you in ways to did not expect..."

*

​

           "... Being in your class taught me to waste no time... I really did cherish the class days... having motivation to do anything is hard. We lost our school, lost some friends... Yet, for some reason I am here still doing your assignments because I am still being motivated by your love for this class and your work. This is what I’ve learned about my general attitude. I want to be passionate about what I do in the future and right now I should be passionate about the climb to get there. I am passionate about learning everything that there is to learn right now and having that attitude helps with everything around me. Finding a new college was also hard. It was a big challenge knowing that I will be starting from scratch with new friends, new coaches, new professors, and new teammates. The little class we had of 8 is something I will always be fond of. You taught us all to know each other and become friends and that helped each and everyone of us in the process. I am scared about my future at the new school but that little class we had were all strangers to me at one point. I hope you are doing well and staying healthy..."

*

​

          "... This entire semester... has been quite challenging for me. Although there have been some hard times, I believe these experiences have given me a new perspective. I have enjoyed learning in this class and feel that I’ve gained a new found appreciation for ecology. I went into my biology major focused on the human body, and honestly didn’t really care or want to explore ecology too much. I’m coming out of this course now realizing how important biology is in the ecology world and how much it contributes.

          One of the lessons I learned during this semester working with bio was to be persistent and not give up. I’m typically pretty good at taking exams, but in this class I struggled. Since this is new to me, it was pretty discouraging to see how I scored, but not give up and keep moving forward. This course was fast moving..., so it kept me on my toes. It really taught me to not drop the ball and not to procrastinate. Against my best efforts I often procrastinate, but with this class I made a change and it helped tremendously.

           Another lesson I learned during this semester was all things have a purpose. This was brought to light to me during our field trip and the research portion afterwards. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to not take something at face value. Something I thought to have no purpose or meaning like a snag, actually served a purpose and was essential for habitat around the woods. This shows me that however boring or useless something might appear, there is a hidden complexity and purpose
even if I cannot see it. This class has taught me to analyze information and use my own thoughts to write a conclusion.
          I believe the lessons I’ve learned in this class will last me a lifetime. Being persistent even though a situation might look grim is a trait that will hold onto forever. New perspective, appreciation, and understanding of the complexity of what might seem plain is something to value. In work or an everyday setting, being able to contribute my own thoughts and
conclusion is very important. These traits and actions are going to contribute to my success as a professional, and a human being.
          Overall, this class has taught me to work hard, be persistent when times are tough, explore the unknown, and don’t take anything at face value. The world is much more complex and interconnected than I originally thought. If I could draw a conclusion from my experience that I will apply in the future is to analyze information on my own and draw my own unique
conclusion to the given situation. Going past the obvious solution and understanding why/how the answer makes sense. As I move to the next college in pursuing my degree, these valuable traits are something I will apply relentlessly to achieve my goal. The things I’ve learned at Concordia this last year will shape me into the person I strive to be..."

*

 

          "... At the beginning of this semester, I was a bit overconfident. I was overconfident because I felt that I knew your teaching style and your personality... I was tremendously wrong. I fell behind a couple of terminology quizzes and then I was already in the hole with the readings since your quizzes are compounding on each other. This taught me a huge lesson that I need to be up to date with everything from the beginning and to constantly check my schedule (syllabus) so I do not far behind... I guess to summarize that is to not procrastinate and to get things done as soon as it is assigned
so I won’t get frustrated and stressed out about it later.
          Another lesson this class taught me was to speak up when I think the answer is supposed to be right. During our first test corrections review, I felt that some of my wrong answers were actually right. Since the question could have been related to more than one of the questions... You also commented to me after class in person which really stood out to me and that is probably the main reason why I remember this event. Not procrastinating or falling behind and speaking up when you have a question about something are 2 essential things needed to be successful in life and in any field of work... Whatever university I transfer to, I need to be on top of things from the first day as well as everything else in life. If I fall behind and miss a car payment in the future, I will get hit with interests and fees which could cost me a hell of a lot more..."

*

​

          "... In all honesty, this class was daunting and I was worried that I would not be able to do all of the assignments. However, I surprised myself and successfully completed each task with a pleasant grade, and more importantly, I retained and enjoyed the information that I learned. In doing so, this course gave me confidence in my academic abilities, which will translate into my career after my schooling. As I move forward in school, I will look back on this course to remember that I can complete any task and to have more faith in myself.

          Speaking of tasks, this class also taught me to take big tasks and to break them up into smaller bits. Once again, at the beginning of the term I was already panicked about the final project as it was a large assignment, but the outlines helped
make the project more manageable than it first seemed. I also did my own "breaking down" of the project and completed it step by step, and I am quite proud of my ending result. As a I pursue a career in science, I know I will be faced with large tasks, such as a lengthy paper, but I now can skip the anxiety phase and tackle the assignment in smaller segments. I can also use this principle in my life outside of work and school as I continue to take on more adult responsibilities. In essence, I have learned to view large tasks as a group of smaller tasks, not as one impossible assignment.
          Biology class also reminded me of a third lesson which I find to be the most valuable. Our field trip... helped me remember to simply slow down and appreciate my current surroundings. As demonstrated previously, I am notoriously known by my family and friends as a worrier and I often fret about the future. I'm far too busy worrying about the next step to enjoy the step I am on now, but the field trip forced me to focus on the present, and, to no surprise, I had a nice day. I needed a reminder that the present is to be appreciated. In a scientific mindset, paying more attention to my current surroundings will improve my observational skills and thus make me a better scientist. In conclusion, I learned key lessons from this course that I plan to use in my schooling, my career, and my personal life. I am now equipped with a greater confidence, and method to complete intimidating assignments, and a changed perspective on how I want to live. This biology course has certainly taught me more than I expected and I am grateful in many ways for the experience..."

*

​

          "... The coursework and discussions in Bio 212 forced me to face my culpability in biosphere degradation as a Westerner in a new way.   The dialogue regarding lifestyles and carbon footprint played a pivotal role in transforming carbon footprint from an abstract concept in the textbook to a real issue that I contribute to daily.  Topics such as deforestation and extinction also hit home in a new way during class discussions on how palm oil and cattle ranching, which contribute to my diet, are driving forces in these issues... The scientific research behind these problems was a major part of this class, but the ethical responsibility as an inhabitant of this planet and biosphere and a citizen of a nation of privilege was what really hit home this semester.  My responsibility to the biosphere as a beautiful system is to preserve the natural wonder of that system.  My responsibility to the other inhabitants of the planet and our descendants is to maintain the natural order that in turn sustains human life.  As a person of religious and scientific conviction, the responsibility to the environment and my brothers and sisters is to preserve the naturally balanced, interdependent system of the biosphere and to fight degradation in all forms.  A large part of this involves investigating my own role in the forces of destruction, which industrialization has made so easy to take advantage of. 

          In a world where participating in environmental destruction is as easy as flipping on a light switch or buying the cheapest food option at the grocery store, any resolution to protect the climate and the environment must be willing to engage in some kind of counter-cultural action.  I am glad that sustainable action can start with small steps, and I have already begun implementing certain changes with the intention of building sustainable habits...  I believe that environmental issues are going to be the biggest challenges this generation and future generations will face, and a big part of making a difference will consist of not being part of the problem. I am thankful for the emphasis Dr. Polozov gave to sustainability in Bio 212.  This ethical consideration in the context of our science curriculum has been formative in my thinking on the topic of sustainability and personal responsibility.  As I continue in my scientific education and endeavors I know I will build off of the sustainability foundation laid in Bio 212..."

* 

 

          "... The most important lesson I have learned in this class is good things don't come easy and in order to get those good things you have to work extremely hard... This class challenged me a ton and I honestly don't think I was ready coming into BIO 212 because I was extremely successful in BIO 211 and I was expecting things to be roughly about the same, but to my surprise it wasn't... I was not prepared for your class like I should've been and I just want to give my apology to you because I feel I didn't try my hardest in your class, and as crappy of a thing that is, I hate to say it, but it's true and I am really disappointed in myself for that...

          ... a lot of people in today's society expect things to be handed to them for a little or no price, and especially little to no
effort in getting this thing. I don't want to generalize this to everyone though, because I know that a ton of people work for what they have, and they worked extremely hard, but for some people it's true... This especially happens to myself when things get hard and difficult and I tend to quit or become unmotivated. I think it's important to remember that things do get hard and to keep pushing through those hard things and good things will come out of it...
          My conclusion that I can draw from this class... is that sometimes things do get hard and sometimes it's okay to fail, it's okay to not complete something to the best of your abilities, and most importantly just get back up and try again. Your class really did challenge me and it was something that I had never experienced before, which is why I think it was so hard, but when life gets hard and you get knocked off your feet. Stand back up. Try again and again and again, if you keep failing, just try one more time and you never know, that last time could be your successful round. I plan on taking this into my future education and even in my future career... I am going to keep trying until I pass and having that mindset, in my opinion, can make your whole life successful and that is important..."

*

 

          "... Working in BIO-212 class was really fun. I enjoyed it and I learnt a lot of things from the class. The very first life lesson I learned was that “Examination was a celebration of knowledge.” At first I didn’t understand what that meant, but after taking exams that I was prepared for and I felt comfortable with, I understood what he meant by “celebration of knowledge.” I really liked gathering in groups to discuss things that we studied at home and asked questions in class. These little gatherings made it easier for every single person to discuss in class no matter how shy the person was. I really like my other colleagues in this class because they are all smart, cooperative and helpful. We created a group chat where we all met outside class and discussed what we learned in class and certain assignments. I really enjoyed class and how he mixes it with comedy, inspiration and interaction. I also liked how the class was not just a reading and writing, but instead we also watched videos, we went on a field trip, and we had assignments that had to do with our everyday lives..."

 *

​

          "... One lesson I have learned during this semester is to manage my time well between academics, extracurricular activities, social life, and my own personal health. Before college life, I was sure that I had my time managed well, but college is a new experience. This experience came with more responsibility, freedom, and workload...
          This class taught me to be on top of all things by keeping track of assignments. This was applied to life in general because it sparked my interest in using planners and reminders for general tasks throughout the day. I was able to create a routine that fit me best, while being able to tackle all my responsibilities and maintain a healthy mind. The life lesson of managing your time is extremely important. 
          One conclusion that I can draw from my experience is that there is trial and error in everything that I do. I have to accept that everything I do will not be perfect, but with great time and effort, my full quality will shine through anything that I do. This mindset will keep me grounded and humble through trials I am put through in life. It will help me to produce quality work and move forward knowing I put out my best even with difficult obstacles. Even with difficult obstacles, I vow to not give up..."

*

​

          "... One of the lessons that I have learned this semester working in BIO-212 class is time management... Asking questions
in class and having a close atmosphere where it was comfortable for me to ask questions and be able to get an answer to where I can understand helped a lot as well. I also learned how to use more scientific journals and how to put it in APA.
          Going on the field trip gave me a more real world understanding of the class, for even till this day I connect it to everything that I do and everything I see, whether it is just taking a walk outside or playing on the course. I was able to appreciate the world around me. This class gave me a better understanding on how I should act to help the planet because it is
where we live, as well as an understanding of certain aspects of ecology that I never thought I would think about or discovered. I started to pay more attention to the atmosphere around me, and personally changed my habits after we did the carbon footprint assignment and tried to encourage my friends and family to cut off and change certain things within their life as well
to help the future of the planet..."

*

 

          "... The lesson I have learned during this semester when working in BIO-212 class I would have to say is patience. I’ve been patient all my life but I don’t believe to the extent I learned from this class... Each week was different in our BIO 212 class and some things were exciting and I’d have to wait for or other times I’d be extremely tired on a day and would want to be done with my only 2 hour class but in the end it was always worth the wait... Many days I would be very excited to go to this bio class because even though I found it hard to sit for so long and have my brain focused for so long, I was always excited to learn something new and I knew I would learn something new every lecture... I see patience as a very important life lesson and something I definitely would not wish to be without, especially right now, and I am very grateful to have been taught it even more this semester..."

*

 

          "... Throughout the year in Bio-212 I’ve conquered many obstacles and learned many things about
myself along the way... It was a very difficult struggle throughout the year, but I continued to push through and do the best I can. I as well learned it is extremely valuable to talk to others such as your peers and not just instructors or tutors... Getting together as a group with your peers once and a while can do wonders when solving a problem. It is important that I learned these things because now I can better utilize my resources and come up with better ways to learn for myself... Now that I will be reaching my upper division classes, communication skills are going to allow me and others to work together and gain the knowledge we need for our futures.

           As a pre-med student, I need to be able to handle an incredible amount of workload and stressors. Bio-212 gave me the
opportunity to have a large course load and test how my body reacts to it. Now I know certain times of the day when my brain is burnt out or how early to start certain assignments and projects in order to do my best. These simple skills are going to better me for my future in medicine and prepare me for what is yet to come. Although I am not where I want to be yet
and haven’t quite figured out some details to be successful in a class like this, I am thankful that I have experienced what I did. I know the struggle now will better me for the future..."

*

 

          "... I learned that my idea of sufficient effort is indeed not enough. Bio 212 did not fit the idea I had... More effort was going to be required to not just receive a good grade, but more importantly to learn as much as I could from the class. I learned a lot about my work ethic through this class and it was a good checkpoint for me to reevaluate and try to improve upon it. I found that I have a bad habit of mentally limiting myself. I was also reminded how important it is to push yourself to learn about things you don’t have as great of interest in. I was also able to learn that if I don’t think something applies to my interests, I need to reconstruct my thinking and try harder to make connections.
          I think from my previous experiences in past classes I have allowed myself to get comfortable and lazy honestly. I think it was important to recognize this and figure out why I was allowing myself to have such behavior. With other classes I found the material was easier for me to understand and it did not require as much time to understand. This will not always be the case though, and as I progress through my academic future it is good for me to understand that I will not always understand things with ease. Things will also require more of my time and I will need to manage it accordingly. I also discovered why I was
doing this which was important. I found that I was mentally limiting what I thought I was capable of, and I was doing a huge disservice to myself. My mental limitations were holding me back even more than any actual barriers I had. If I am not pushing myself there is no way I will ever know my true capabilities. It is also important that I realized even if ecology doesn’t interest me as much as other subjects, I can relate it to things that I find interesting and I now have this knowledge that I can use in future scenarios.
          I have concluded that I cannot rely on others to push me but that I need to do that on my own. Hard work is important, and I know I can continue to work hard throughout my future endeavors. I have been reminded to take pauses and reevaluate myself frequently and, in the future, I will continue to check in with myself. I will also apply my knowledge I have
learned from all subjects to whatever I am doing. I will be conscious of how I could view a problem from different disciplines to determine a solution. I am privileged to be receiving an education and I would like to continue to push myself to prove that I appreciate the opportunity to be an educated member of society..."

*

 

          "... When I first started Biology 212 at the beginning of the semester, I have to admit I was a little scared
and worried. I had heard that the class could be a little challenging. However, I was up for the challenge. As the weeks went on, I began to be more comfortable in such an active learning class. Of course, I ended up enjoying the class immensely and I loved getting to know and talk to all of my classmates more. I was sad to see it end so soon and that we were unable to finish off the year together.
          I believe I learned quite a bit about things other than biology in this class. I learned how to be an active student and how to engage in a class to the point that I was able to benefit myself and my classmates. I think this really forced me out of my comfort zone because in other classes, I am not usually one to speak out and put the spotlight on me. This biology class, however, has allowed me to grow as a student and become someone that is not afraid of saying the wrong answer even if I’m
totally confident, because I knew that I had classmates and a professor that were not there to judge, but to help me learn.
          After our class went on our biology field trip, which I really enjoyed, I started to become aware of just how many plant and bird species were present in Oregon alone... Nature is so alive and exciting when you take the time to notice it. 
          I believe a huge lesson that I learned from this class is that your education is what you make it. If I put in the work and am actively trying to learn, then I will be able to excel in my academics... I’m proud that I was able to successfully accomplish all of my assignments and slowly but surely, improve my grade. This is an important lesson that I know will follow me throughout the rest of my college years and help me learn to the best of my abilities in any classroom. Thank you Dr. Polozov for everything!!!!!!!"

*

 

          "... This semester in Bio 212 has been a really interesting time, all my junior and senior friends told me how the class was going to be and the amount of time that would take me to be prepared for it, but I came into class the first day with a different mindset, I was going to be successful in this class, no matter what. Although the semester hasn’t been very usual, I think
this class has been very strong and committed to the process of learning.
          I think that the most important lesson this class has taught me, beyond the content, is that everything is related to everything because something that might not affect us directly affects someone else, some animals, some ecosystems, without us knowing.... Since I’ve been in this class I have had more precautions with everything related to the environment. To sum up, I would just say that this class has made me change my point of view in almost everything, from the working methods in class, studying, papers, labs, assignments, and most important, it has taught me a lot, not necessarily contentwise, but I have learned all the whys and hows from Ecology and Evolution, it has made me connect all the dots in my head. And I just have to say that this will, of course, change the way I make decisions, work, study and value the things we have around us more than before..."

*

 

          "... Over the course of this semester, I have learned a lot about myself as an individual and as a student. When
first stepping into this class, I thought I was already as good of a student that I needed to be. I had assumed
this because I had never had issues completing any class prior. I quickly learned a lot about myself as a student because Bio 212 forced me to put in the work without any room for procrastination.

          At the beginning I would find myself getting behind on vocabulary and notes without even realizing it. My time
management skills were not as developed as I had originally thought. This led me to switch up my routine quickly. I began to alter the way I studied and would be frequently reading my book and studying vocabulary periodically throughout the day which was actually making a difference. I found myself learning the material in a different way than I ever have before. I was able to apply the things I learned in class to the world around me and I feel that I have a better understanding of our world because of it. I think that overall, the biggest life lesson that I have gotten out of all this is that you cannot become complacent with yourself in any way. We are just like the Earth, constantly changing and altering our path. We must adapt to each situation and change things about ourselves if it will make us a more successful individual. I think that this is extremely important not just for me, but for every person on this planet. I will never achieve my goals if I do not continually check myself and hold myself accountable for the things I am supposed to do. That is why this class was so beneficial for me to take, otherwise I would not have reevaluated my own habits as a student.

          The conclusion that I draw from the experience is that I will continue to be challenged throughout
life in more ways that go beyond the classroom. I look at my challenges in different ways now though
because of this class; I get excited to take them on and become a better individual because of it rather than
view them as an inconvenience. I am so thankful for my short time as a student at Concordia University
because I have become a better student and human..."

*

 

          "... I learned quite a bit about life while I was in your class. For one thing, I learned where my
work ethic needs to be a successful student and achieve all of the things I want to achieve... I'm sad that I won't be able to travel with you..., but I know that I will be able to see the world and study diligently if I continue to work hard. I think a significant practice I'm going to take away from your class is behaving as if every teacher has the same expectations as you..."

*

​

          "... From this biology class, I have learned one main lesson. The lesson is to put in hard work and discipline in order to make yourself successful in what you are going after. In order to be successful, you should always put in as much work as you possibly can. Actually putting in effort makes it much easier than cutting corners or taking shortcuts. The best way to fully understand something is to put everything you've got into trying to understand the subject and that means doing any work necessary, both required and on your own.

          I think this is important for anyone who is becoming an adult because you have to learn how to be independent. With independence comes responsibility. Once you reach the age where you're old enough to keep track of your own schedule and needs, you have no excuse as to why you are not getting things done..."

*

​

          "... This class has been very challenging for me, but also very enriching. One of several lessons that I have learned while working in this class is that I need to relax and trust myself. The biggest example of this came for me when I was doing the reading for our plants unit. There were so many words I had never heard before that it felt like I was reading a foreign language... I came to the conclusion that I needed to “power through” – to keep reading even if I didn’t understand everything... Gradually, the concepts became clearer to me – as we discussed them in class, as I recruited them to complete my plant lab, as I watched videos for the plant lab, as I summarized chapter concepts on the whiteboard for myself... To my surprise, I felt competent going in to the plant exam. Sure enough, I scored well. This was a far cry from where I had started..."

*

 

          "... In the course of taking BIO-212 I learned about the importance of networking and sharing thoughts/opinions with classmates about the material. I was ultimately studying the materials without actually labeling it as “studying.”
Another lesson I learned in BIO-212 was actually a self-realization...  I used to lack substantial self-awareness but there has definitely been improvement along the way. I think people are just afraid often times from confronting their weaknesses and truths and will simply ignore the elephant in the room. This is something I strive deeply to avoid as it is crucial for the development of the self and all mental/practical aspects. It is substantially difficult to shy oneself from bad habits once there is a feeling that it is too late. For me personally, I believe that one cannot simply replace bad habits with good ones - one must un-learn and re-learn as a way of re-programming one’s brain and mental thought process..."

*

 

          "... One of the main lessons that I learned was prioritizing time. Between everything that has been going on with life and the school shutting down, trying to figure out graduation plans, becoming a parent and dealing with everything that
comes along with that, I had to really prioritize school. This meant that even late at night or extremely early in the morning, I would make sure to go over homework and required readings. I think that this lesson is important because it’s one that will continue to apply for the rest of my life. It’s also one that I have had to learn over and over again, but this class
finally cemented it..."

*

​

          "... This class pushed me in ways I have never been pushed academically and I have learned so many cool and
amazing things along the way. Going into college I was prepared fairly well to learn more difficult and challenging content. My high school teachers taught the in class content like a lecture, assigned homework at a collegiate level, and graded likewise.
Since high school to now, I have adapted to the statement “if you wait till the last minute it only takes a minute” since I have had 5 years of practice of not fully trying my best but still retaining good marks as a result. This was a slippery slope into
procrastination and (excuse my language) half assing. This class really kicked me into gear. It’s easy to fake it till you make it until someone asks you the hard questions and every single day in class you ask the hard questions. I learned that
knowing the content isn’t enough but understanding it is the key to being successful in a specific field. I think this is an important realization that every learner needs to have.
          What is the point of going to class, taking notes, and studying for exams if you don’t do it for understanding. It is easy to forget things when you don’t fully appreciate the subject or are able to formulate comprehensive questions. That’s why I really
appreciated this course. I had to read for understanding, ask difficult questions, and become “the expert” before coming to class. In the beginning of the semester I really tried to be on top of my studies and be that well prepared student but as the semester went on that motivation started to die a little bit and I stopped reaching that level of
understanding, and it showed... After seeing the cause and effect of my ways I really want to enter my new
school/ semester with an attitude to succeed and learn from my mistakes. I hope to exercise some new tools for studying and mental tricks to help make things more understandable in the future..."

*

 

          "... Two years ago, during my senior year of high school, I came to tour the Concordia Campus. I had scheduled to sit in on a biology class. I was really nervous to be sitting in with a bunch of college students and didn’t know what to expect when I got there. I ended up sitting in your class the day that the frog lab was happening and was able to dissect the frog
with one of the other students. It was my first glance at what I was really looking forward to as a biology major..., and I couldn’t wait. Fast forward today I am glad I decided to be a biology major...

          I was definitely able to learn about myself as a student, at the beginning of the semester I had the mindset that I was going to be able to procrastinate and pass the lass as I had in the past with other classes. I soon learned that that wasn’t the case. Waiting till the last minute and falling behind was not an option and began trying my hardest to bring what I could
to the class.

          One of the bigger lessons I learned was that I had other people that I was able to go to if I didn’t understand something and their perspective of something better helped me to better understand a topic. I was able to meet many people who were on a similar life path and will hopefully keep them in my circle, hopefully for a long time. All of these things are important not just for school and classroom settings but for everyday life as well... It also reminds me not to take anything for granted because you don’t know when it will be the last time to have such opportunities. Everything should be done right the first time but, in the case, that something is messed up along the way, it then becomes a learning opportunity and an improvement in everything you do and help to better understand things..."       

*

​

​