The semester is almost over and I am very thankful! Presently, I am enrolled in two classes, one core curriculum course and one upper level course. The core course requires me to submit one written assignment weekly and respond to three peer discussion postings. The upper level course requires three written assignments and respond to one peer discussion posting. So, overall I have to complete four written assignments and respond to four peer discussion postings weekly. This doesn’t sound too bad, but each written assignment must be 300 words and consist of 2-3 references (APA Style). Lastly, the upper level course requires the completion of a group assignment every three weeks. To complete group assignments, each member must communicate through the phone, e-mail or Skype to make suggestions and share information. This is truly challenging, considering everyone’s busy work schedules and family lives.
Although the written assignments, discussion responses and group activities are difficult, I am enjoying completing every assignment. I believe that part of the enjoyment stems from participating in a major that I love. The other part comes from being part of a program that has thought about balancing work, student and family life.
In addition to learning more about public health, I also learned a great deal about course selection and workload. I learned that I must ask questions about the courses before selecting them. If I know that my life will be busier during a period of time, it may be better to carry a lighter load. In contrast, maybe I can take a heavier load when life is calmer. Regardless of the situation, I certainly feel more prepared to be successful during the semester.
Again, the semester is almost over and I can’t believe I did it!