Page 14 - UWI QUALITY CIRCLE Vol.19 May 2017

Surviving my First Semester!
BY MS. KRISTYANNE STEPHENS STUDENT, THE UWI OPEN CAMPUS
Are you the type of person who doesn’t like much human interaction? No!? Well I am!! That’s why I chose The UWI Open Campus to pursue my Bachelor’s Degree. When I found out it was possible to stay at home and study I was overjoyed. So I
began the process. Of course there was the registration process. A simple yes, for the most part. Needless to say there were the usual hiccups, and OC was in the process of changing the Portal interface. Oh boy! Seeing current students complaining about the length of time things were taking, I thought “What am I getting myself into?”
But I continued my journey...
I went through my Orientation and wrote out how I intend to go through with my courses. Then I got my letter saying I had to do English Language Pro ciency Test (ELPT) and Improving your Maths Skills (IYMS). Really?! Talk about a throw-off!!!
And my journey continued...
I got enrolled, signed up for my courses and made all necessary payments. As I began my rst semester I had my schedule down, knew when everything was due, when each Blackboard Collaborate (BbC) Session for each class was going to be held, and all that nice stuff that every new students knows. For two of my courses there was group work. Oh My Word!!! I have never been in two groups that were so completely different. One group had me at my wits end and the other group kept me calm. I pushed through, and we all got great marks at the end of it all.
So yes, my journey continued...
Getting sick during the time the group assignments were due was not bene cial at all. There were nights I just wanted to curl up in my bed and say “S... that”, but I kept thinking about that nal grade. My success was more important to me. You see academic success is something that is determined by you! You can’t just lay there and expect that you will pass and be successful. You can’t put in the work for a “D” and think you’re going to get an “A”. What you put in is what you will get out! Yes, what you sow is what you reap. So I did what I had to do!!! I am going into exam time now as successful as I think I can be, aiming for the stars and not giving up...
And my journey continues...
So should yours!!!
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