Throughout my short time at SUNY Geneseo, I have reflected on my time last year and this year so far. Last year as a new student I was filled with all kinds of feelings, such as being constantly anxious, sometimes confused, but also filled with enjoyment and many fun opportunities and new experiences. This year the emotions and feelings were slightly different. So far it has been filled with much more excitement and joy because I have missed my friends that I made last year. The beginning of the semester has also differed from last year with my courses and what they bring to the table.
My first year wasn’t all that simple. I started off as a business major and immediately hated it because the classes were boring and not very captivating. My second semester was much better. I started by switching majors to childhood education, and it has been my best decision to date. My classes in childhood education this year have been much more enjoyable than last semester, especially my math classes. While my classes as whole are very interesting and fit to my taste because they are smaller and more captivating, on the flip side they are also very work heavy, which can be challenging at times. This has made me reconsider my studying methods and planning.
On the topic of planning and studying methods, INTD 105 has helped me tremendously with the readings in class. My favorites so far have been the readings of They say I Say by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein and The Little Seagull Handbook by Richard Bulluck, Michal Brady, and Francine Weinberg. These readings are so impactful to my learning because they offer information on different writing strategies, exercises, and new ways to learn in general. These readings have helped me with my studying and readings this semester, and I only wish I had them last year. The other readings in this class have been very fascinating and intriguing but haven’t necessarily related to my life and experiences. As time goes on in this course, I expect to be a much more complete, polished writer and reader because this course is heavily rooted in my ability to do those things. I also want to take the skills that I hope to improve on, and use that to become a better critical thinker. Most importantly I wish to come out of this course as a better person because there are so many inspirational stories and readings that have made me have a different outlook on life and the struggles people have gone through.