What I learned from my first full time semester at SMCC!

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     As the finals are coming and I only have 2 more weeks in the semester I think It's a good time to write down what I actually learned about being a student and how to survive in college.


  1. Choose class schedule wisely. I will never ever have another class at 0730 in the morning. I am by no means a morning person. My brain starts running right at about 0900-0930. Why I thought I could focus enough on college algebra that early when I can barely cook eggs that early is beyond me. For the rest of my college career I am going to try to do classes from 9 or 10 till 5 or 6. I have time to get ready in the morning and be home for dinner while still having a full 8 hours to have classes.
  2. Use your adviser! This whole semester was really accidental. I didn't understand what registration was saying so when I was signed up and tried to pick up the paramedic classes I was quickly kicked out of them. It wasn't until after I had picked up a full schedule of prerequisites that I went and talked to the EMS/Paramedicine adviser and we figured out what I should have done this semester and how best to make up for it. So talk to your advisers! they get paid to help students succeed!
  3. Buy the damn books! Yes, they are way to expensive. Yes, sometimes you can get away with online resources and listening to lectures. It's really helpful to have the book though. Even if you have a digital book and a tablet works. I got behind a lot because I didn't have a book to work out of! And school supplies. Next year every class gets a 1 subject notebook, pen, pencil, folder in Google Drive, and book. 
  4. Budget, budget, budget. I had no idea how hard it was going to be to budget time and energy.  The hardest one and the one I was least experienced with was time management. I'm use to doing school and I'm use to working. What I'm not use to is working 36-48 hours a week while juggling four classes. 14 Credits means I should be spending about 28-32 hours on school outside of class! Now I'm lucky to have a job where I can do any homework. It's having the dedication to be at work, doing calls, writing report, AND THEN sitting down to study and do homework. I got behind mostly because of this. Thinking I could do more homework and studying at work then I actually could.

     Going to SMCC this fall has been a great experience and I'm glad I did it, I'm also glad to be getting a short break! I have decided to take the Spring off to allow me to work more so my lovely wife can focus on her studies till she finishes this fall. In the fall of 2014 I'll head back and start the Paramedic program its self! Till then I'm going to start blogging more about what I do for home study and interesting things I see and do in the streets.

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