With the second semester beginning, DSWS continued to add to my experiences here at OSU. Even though DSWS was still a part of my weekly routine, a change in classes and more involvement were also added into my schedule. Being a part of the Dunn Scholars program has introduced me to new possible mentors, and friends. Most of us in the program take similar classes and help each other out, whether that be in life, classes you’re in now, or classes you’ll potentially take in the future. During each meeting, there were people who came and talked about how they came about, what challenges they were confronted with, and where they are at now. Hearing about their experiences can be related to most people in the program. However, the majority of the people that came and spoke were related to the marketing and business fields. This wasn’t a negative because during their presentations, they also provided advice that they have learned, or wished they had known when getting into the work field. A lot of the advice was to learn how to network because if you connect with someone that isn’t in your related field, they might know someone who is and can possibly put in a good word for you. This connection might be something that gets you a possible interview, or job. When I first became a part of the program, I was not confident in going to my professors to ask for help, nor did I think I would need help. Now, I realized that asking for help isn’t a bad, it is actually more favorable because the TA/professors give you hints and tips that can help you with the class, exams, or in daily life. I  also attend office hours, or schedule appointments outside of their office hours so I can make somewhat of a connection. DSWS also encouraged me to look and evaluate how I am based on the 9 dimensions of wellness. Additionally, evaluating how I am as a person allowed me to balance out my lifestyle. I reflect on how my values are portrayed with my actions. I study continuously, while still connecting and hanging out with my friends. Lastly, I keep up with my physical health by going to the gym, and semi-eating healthy (theres only so much they have to offer in the dinning areas). Over all, my first year being a part of the Dunn Scholars program has improved my connections with people in and out of the program.

As my first semester is coming to an end, I will have to say it has been a roller coaster of events. When first starting, I was nervous about getting into the rhythm of things. How will I manage all my course work and still be sociable? Eventually I did get the hang of things, except it wasn’t always easy when I did. Before school began, Dunn Sports and Wellness had a welcome week. These couple of days helped introduce me to new people to talk too. It also helped create mentors with having second year parents, with whom shared their experiences and advice throughout the semester. Once school began, it was quite an eye opener. I received grades that I’ve never gotten in my life, I was piled up with work, and it seemed like nothing was going my way at times. However, I knew times like this happened, and it will get better. So, I continue to push myself, study, and complete all assignments on time. I do all of this, while maintaining my mental, physical, and social wellness. To help manage stress, I started working out more, which helped manage my time as well. I felt that the more busy I was, the better my time management skills were. My grades could be higher in a class or two; yet, I still have time to boost them. I am in three clubs: pre-dental club, food science club, and citation needed. In addition, I am an OSU wrestling manager. I am scheduling next semesters classes, and I hope that I will be able to manage the new difficulty. Also, I might want to apply for a job.