My Sophomore Year Plans!

"Life is an opportunity, seize the day, live each day to the fullest. Life is not a project, but a journey to be enjoyed." -- Catherine Pulsifer

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Overview: ​Courses, clubs, and COVID-19, oh my! In this post, you'll hear all about my plans and goals for my second year in college!
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 Note: I am very grateful that I am able to move back to Duluth in the fall because millions of college students will still be stuck at home and conduct classes online. For those of you in that position, my heart and thoughts are with you. I hope we can all get through this upcoming semester together and still enjoy “college life,” whatever that means for you.

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After 5-6 months (although really, who’s keeping track of time?) in lockdown, I am finally moving back to school!

via GIPHY

That being said, my sophomore year of college will look very different from my freshman year.

Although I will be on the UMD campus for most of the semester, most of my courses will not be conducted in-person. Instead, they fall into three categories: online, remote-instruction, and blended. Here’s a brief explanation of each category. . .

• Online: These classes are conducted strictly through an online platform and have no scheduled virtual meetings. All assignments and discussions are submitted through an online platform.
• Remote instruction: These classes are like online because they are conducted strictly through an online platform. However, these classes do have scheduled virtual meetings, but have no scheduled in-person meetings. 
• Blended instruction: These classes are a blend of remote- and in-person instruction. Each time the class meets, the professor decides whether the meeting will be held in-person (in a physical classroom) or be held virtually.

In terms of my courses, I will be taking two online, two through remote instruction, and one through blended instruction. 

Now, what courses will I be taking? Good question!
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Courses

Note: I am paraphrasing the titles of my courses.
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1. Intro to Special Education
Class requirement: major (Unified Early Childhood Studies)
Description: Overview of children with disabilities with discussions on the legal and social aspects of special education.

2. Children's Literature
Class requirement: major (Unified Early Childhood Studies)
Description: This course introduces strategies for choosing classroom literature for children birth to age eight.

3. Spanish Cinema
Class requirement: minor (Hispanic Studies)
Description: This course is an overview of Spanish cinema and focuses on Spanish national identity. This course is taught in Spanish.

4. Spanish Culture and Communications
Class requirement: minor (Hispanic Studies)
Description: This course analyzes historical themes of the Iberian Peninsula and will delve into topics such as architecture, literature, and cinema. This course is taught in Spanish.

5. Environmental Education
Class requirement: general (Sustainability)
Description: Intro to environmental education and solutions to environmental problems

Clubs and Leadership

Although some of these positions are still in the works, here are three positions I could have this fall. . .
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1. I am on the board for SERVE (Students Engaged in Rewarding Volunteer Experiences)!!!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with SERVE, I’ll give a short breakdown or “schpiel” . . .

SERVE stands for Students Engaged in Rewarding Volunteer Experiences and is the official volunteer club at UMD. SERVE’s mission is to connect the UMD community with the Duluth community through volunteer work. However, SERVE also acts as a support for other clubs who need volunteers or assistance with events or fundraisers. 

As a member of SERVE last year, I was able to participate in fun activities and support other clubs that meant a lot to me. For example, I volunteered twice at the UMD drag show, and I plan on volunteering for every other show in the future! :)

Being a member of SERVE meant so much to me; I was able to express my love for volunteering in every meeting and event. That is why I was so ecstatic after I heard I was accepted to be on the board for SERVE. 

More specifically, I was accepted into the position of Event Coordinator. In this position, I am responsible for planning the annual SERVE event that is held in the spring. So far, I am thinking of planning the “Hunger Banquet,” and I’ll start scheduling it in the fall. Other responsibilities of this position include attending board meetings, attending a virtual retreat, attending meetings, and, of course, volunteering!!!
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2. Welcome Week Leader

Note: This position is still in the works, and it is only a short-term position. I will update you all when decisions are made.

Every year, UMD hosts a “Welcome Week” for incoming freshmen to become acclimated to college life and to participate in icebreaker activities. As a leader, I would lead some of these activities and support freshmen with anything they may need. So far, Welcome Week is still happening despite COVID-19, so we’ll see what happens!
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3. UMD Honors Mentor

Note: This position is not yet official because I am still waiting to be accepted. I will update you all when the decision is made.

If I am accepted into this position, I will be one of many mentors in the UMD honors program. As a mentor, I will oversee a group of freshman honors students and support them on their journey as both a college student and honors student. I will lead social activities, lead virtual discussions, and be a support system for them as they adjust to their new reality. 

I would be so happy and honored to get this position because I want to share my experiences as a freshman honors student in the hopes of making others’ transitions smoother and more welcoming.
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Study Abroad

You may be thinking, "Study abroad during a pandemic, seriously?!" 

Well, all I can do is hope.

The trip I have in mind is scheduled for the Summer of 2021 to Salamanca, Spain. On this trip, I would be studying for a month at La Universidad de Salamanca and be staying with a host family with a number of other students. From time to time, the group would set out on excursions to other cities and locations. 

So far, the trip is still scheduled and I recently applied. I hope this trip will still be possible come next year, but safety and health are the top priorities. 

Why do you want to study abroad?

Two reasons.

​One, this trip fulfills an elective for my Hispanic Studies minor, and during my final years of college, I won't have space in my schedule to take other Spanish courses. Two, I love travel (though that's nothing new), and I want to take every opportunity to experience other countries and cultures in different ways. If I get the chance to go to Spain, I'm excited to experience their education system and learn more about their beautiful country.
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The Blog

Of course, the final question is, "Are you going to continue updating the blog?"

Yes, I am.

​I plan on posting every Tuesday, as always, but that may change once the semester gets rolling. If I decide to change the posting schedule, I will change the day of which I upload content, the frequency, or both.

In terms of content, you should expect the same themes of content, but I may also introduce new themes associated with my new courses. I will also update you more on college life, and do some "day in the life" content. 

However, I would love to hear your input on future content! To share your ideas, please fill out the Content Survey!

This post was a summary of my Sophomore-year plans thus far. I will update you when those plans are finalized or if they change. If you have any questions about what you've read, please leave me a comment below!

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Next Weeks's Post: My opinion on COVID-19 and Schools

What is best for kids this fall? What is more important: their health or education? Tune in next week as I explore this controversial and heavy topic!
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Last Week's POst: The Myth of "Normal"

To read this post and watch an informative video, click here!

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