my major | advice to students | campus life | who I am | spirituality
Choosing my area of study:
>I decided to study French for my major because it seemed to be a natural progression, being the only one in my family who studied French in school before university.
>My parents were very supportive and encouraging of my decision saying, "Learning another language will be good for you. You'll have more career opportunities available to you.
Imagine, you'll be able to speak three languages!" (Besides English and French, I also speak our native language, Tagalog.)
>My plans for the future used to be very..."safe". I was going to graduate with my B.A. and get my teaching certificate. Then in one class we looked into the culture, history and economic position of Francophone countries. I could see a new world of potential to take my French into these very countries, the developing ones, and teach children in need.
Finally, I love French! It's like entering a whole other world! Well, at least after you've completed those horrid grammar courses...
>One of the best things about being a student in my major is the closeness that students feel towards their teachers. Because language classes require a higher degree of interaction, classroom sizes are smaller (no more lectures!). The students in my class have become close, almost as if we were back in high school again.
>The technical stuff is the hardest thing in my major. Cleaning up my grammar, syntax, and verb tenses in French can be frustrating because I don't have as much difficulty when I'm writing in English.
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Erika's Wise Words for Students:
>For those unsure of a major: Taking classes in the areas that you're interested in can be a good way to choose a major. In evaluating what you're seeing in those courses, try to look at the subject matter itself and avoid letting the professor's teaching style get in the way of how you feel about the material and the subject itself.
>For students of the French language:
>Do take advantage of the fact that there are people there who want to learn the language! Take every opportunity to practice and be actively speaking and interacting with your classmates. Be willing to let others see the mistakes you make, both in public speaking and in writing.
>Do get to know the other people in your class. Chances are, you'll see each other again in future classes.
>Do work hard at your grammar, syntax, etc. in those first year freshman French classes. It's the foundation for the rest of your classes. But don't think that French is all about grammar, syntax, etc. After you get through those first year classes, there's a world of French waiting for you!
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My Life in university:
>The hardest thing I found in adjusting to university life in my first year was the fact that my relationship with my profs and T.A.'s was not as close as it was in high school. I really had to make an effort to go and see them during office hours, but to them, I was just one student among the masses.
>I'm learning to become more independent. No one is looking out for you or making sure you're handing in your assignments like in high school. I'm responsible for my own education.
>One of the most important lessons I've learned so far is to focus on my own assignments. With so much going on, there's no time to worry about others' work and how to do better than them.
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The kind of person that I am:
>When nobody's watching, I'm a quiet person. I like to sit back and observe my surroundings, the people around me and how their interactions with one another.
>To "just be yourself" means that you shouldn't act a certain way because you feel pressured to do so. Everyone's created uniquely and that's what's important. You should never conform out of pressure.
>I'd hate to be without my family and can't imagine what it would be like without them. I learned my values from them and others in my life that I looked up to. Watching them in action was the biggest influence on me.
>I share a room with my sister. You could say it looks like a homey dorm room. We each have a futon bed with our own stuffed animals, desk, dresser, bookshelf. The wall behind my bed is full of nails on which hung my collection of high school plaques and awards. Those came down a few weeks ago. I guess you could say I'm ending that chapter in my life.
>You'll find me watching too much TV in my spare time! But if I don't get sucked in to being a couch potato, you'll find me reading, writing letters or scrapbooking.
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The importance of family and faith in Erika's life . . .
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