Final Reflection Paper
Throughout this semester, I have learned a lot about myself, what life will look like after
high school, and how I can manage college with ease. I started the semester thinking I knew
everything about how college would be and everything about myself. Mentally and emotionally,
I felt free at the time because I had just started the new year and left everything from the past
behind me. My motivation was at an all-time high because it was the new year, and I was ready
to work hard to become the best version of myself. Physically, I was in a mediocre state because
I was not working out. I was having fun and letting loose. I was happy with who I was, but I
always had a thought in the back of my head that I could improve. At the time, my sister was in
the hospital battling for her life, and that had a significant impact on me and became my main
focus since school was out.
For me, this semester has been a mental, physical, and emotional rollercoaster. I learned a
lot throughout the semester, and the way it was formatted made it easier for me to succeed. At
the beginning, I did not take good notes, which made it difficult to do the quizzes. But after I
started making detailed notes, I was able to improve my performance. This semester was one of
my best because it had a good balance, and the rigor was not the worst I have faced. Since this
was my first college class, it turned out better than expected and was not as scary as people made
it seem. It could have been even better if my personal life had been easier, so I could focus more
on school. That would have helped me expand my knowledge even more.
In this course, I learned a lot about college life, such as different study techniques, how to
take effective notes, and where to find helpful resources. I also learned how to stay financially
stable when choosing where to attend college. I learned how to take care of my mental and
physical health through tips on healthy eating, the importance of exercise, and ways to relax.
These included reading, walking, and shopping. My favorite topic was how to go to college debt-
free because I had always thought that would be a big struggle. After watching the video and
reading the chapter, I realized there are many ways to get financial help. I would recommend
keeping the study techniques section because I was never directly taught how to study before,
and this helped me. I suggest improving the wording of some assignments because a few were
vague and could confuse students who are afraid to reach out.
I believe next semester will be nerve-racking, but I am hopeful I will succeed. I will be
taking two classes instead of one, and it will be during the summer, so everything will be rushed.
I plan to use the skills I learned in this class to create a routine for the upcoming courses. I will
apply my notetaking, time management, studying, and test-taking strategies. The study method I
will continue using is making detailed notes, turning them into quizzes, and testing myself
several times a day. I will also stop procrastinating, especially toward the end of a course,
because it can hurt my grade. My goal is to get an A in both classes and maintain a 90 percent or
higher. To do this, I will create a calendar of due dates and a strict study schedule.
I am glad I took this class, especially since it was my first college course, because it
taught me skills and techniques to make college easier. This class gave me a foundation and a
preview of what life after high school could be like. At first, I thought this class would not be
helpful, but I was completely wrong. I did not just learn academic skills; I also developed social
skills. I became more confident in talking to others and sharing my thoughts. Looking back at
where I started, I never imagined I would change so much. Mentally, physically, and
