By: Lillie

Lillie — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:13:58 +0000

Throughout my lifetime I have heard people talk about their college experiences. They have referred to college as being “the best experience of your life.” During my senior year I use to try and imagine what my first semester was going to be like at UIC ,based on what people have tolled me in the past. During my first semester at UIC I realized that I couldn’t fully understand what college was like until I experienced it for myself. My first couple of weeks at UIC was rough and really stressful. I faced challenges and obstacles that I had never heard about in those college experience. UIC is a huge university and most of the time I couldn’t find my classes.I would always be running back and forth to look at the map. I can still remember that day, it was 10 am on a Friday morning and I was on my way to my English class. as soon as i got to the class I sat down and waited for my professor. Then I started to get strange looks, like i was i an alien from another planet or an outcast. Eventually, a girl came up to me and ask " Is this your first day ?". i admeditlly, but confused, said " NO". Then a little while later the professor came and did role call. when he finished i raised my hand and telling him that he hadn’t called my name. He looked over the list again and then finally asked, “Are you sure you are in the right class miss?” Very embarrassed I said “Isn’t this English 160?" Everyone started laughing and I feeling humiliated and ashamed I ran out of the room. This is one of my most memorable moments ,and yet I’m still never embarrassed of telling it over and over again. Nevertheless, as time passed, things began improving. After a few weeks I started feeling more comfortable, i even started to make new friends. Still ,no mater what, college is more distinct than high school. During my freshman year at UIC I felt more responsible, academically and socially. I grew more responsible academically because my classes where very straight to the point, and the teachers spoke with great knowledge. My experience was not like those that you see in movies, where they have nothing but time on their hands. I had to study for my tests and do my homework in very short periods of time. It took a lot of responsibility for me to accomplish this. I felt I had to change many things in my life. I had to get more sleep, finish homework fast, and make time to study for tests. Everybody in my class felt the same pressure.
In addition, to working hard for a high score on assignments, teachers can also make a student stress out ,even when the work is simple. For example, i had a math teacher whose teachings was very different, everything he did was every lengthily,and his problem solving took more time than what it should have taken. There were also some teachers that had a very strong or thick accent. Unlike college, high school teachers would constantly remind the students when an assignments was due and how to do it. Which lead me to forget to turn in an assignment or I didn’t properly read my syllabus and or my professor never mentioned it. Eventually I concentrated more on what the teacher was saying and took proper action. For the most part I was doing good. Getting good grades I just had to keep up with the due dates.
I also grew more responsible socially as I met more friends and became more acquainted with them. We exchanged phone numbers and on our breaks we use to get together and hang out. Our hang out place was the quad but as we called it “La Plaza.” We would play soccer, tell jokes, talk or just sit there doing nothing grateful not to be hearing a teachers voice. Commuting everyday didn’t give me enough time to get involved with school activities. Even though I tried to get into G.I.V.E, a volunteering program to help promote community service, and another organization that I ended up leaving because I couldn’t keep up with the meetings. However, I did make a lot of friends and we had a lot of fun together. There was always something to do and we had a lot of fun. Friends, organizations and sports are things that make UIC a home for me.

Comments on: Can anyone proof read my essay? Thanx?

By: Lillie