First semester: what they learned

By CHRISTINE VIDAL
Reporter Editor

If there was anything about the first semester that they'd do differently, almost to a person, it would be "study harder." Friends and new-found independence continued to be the thing they enjoyed most about the first semester; the more difficult workload than high school was the most frequent response when asked what they liked the least.

"My first semester at UB was great. I met a lot of new people and made many new best friends. I came home (at) winter break telling all my friends that I love it," said Jayme Benjamin. "What surprised me the most about the first semester was the amount of work required. But toward the end I adjusted well."

Adjustment was the operative word for these freshmen. Living away from home, for those who chose to reside on campus, presented the double-edged sword of freedom and responsibility.

"I think being on your own and not having your parents keeping an eye on you has been the greatest learning experience. It makes you grow up," said Susan Deacon. "I think I've become more independent since coming here."

Wake-up call
For Chris Ibbara, the first semester at UB was "eye opening, a real wake-up call! Either I do the work and succeed, or not and fail. It's up to me from now on." Getting used to UB's size and the level of work required has been a real learning experience, he said, but the faculty have been a real help.

"I was scared they wouldn't remember me and wouldn't care," he added. "I realized as time went on that they were human, too, and a lot easier to talk to."

Said Jason Toto: "As a first-semester freshman, I figured my classes would be easy and the amount of work that I would have to do would be less. However, unlike my roommate and some of my friends, I found myself spending countless hours researching, doing homework and typing up papers."

Time and money management
The first semester was "interesting," he said. "I learned a lot about myself, living with others, managing time and money, and how this immense campus works. Overall, it was a good semester. I met a lot of new people and did rather well in my classes."

Managing their own finances was a learning experience that many mentioned.

"Since enrolling, I've learned that money is something of value," said Jennifer Cotignola. "Things that I really want to buy, I won't, because I know my money should be saved for something I really need." In fact, among the things she says she'd do differently, besides studying more and going to bed earlier, is "cut down on my phone bill."

Or as Neene Owate put it, simply: "Money management is not the career for me."

Learning how best to cope with the academic standards of college vs. high school also was an adjustment.

"I couldn't believe that one of my best subjects in high school was my worst, and my least favorite subject in high school gave me the best grades," said Gabe Santos White. Calculus, he says, was the thing he enjoyed the least about his first semester at UB.

"I took AP (Advanced Placement) Calc in high school, but didn't take the exam because I wanted to do good in college and use it to bring my GPA up. Unfortunately, it was my worst subject."

Said Jennifer Cotignola, "I studied so long for one exam and then I realized that I didn't study hard enough."

For Chris Fedorczak, adjusting to college was the easy part. Picking a major is another story entirely. Over the course of the semester, his plans changed from psychology to pre-med to veterinary science to media study to undecided.

But "by seeing several academic advisors and financial aid advisors, and taking UB 101, my first semester was a success," he added.

The first semester was rough, says Jennifer Abbata. "It was a lot more difficult than I had anticipated....What surprised me the most about the first semester was the large quantity of work that was much more difficult than I was used to."

Friends made the transition from high school to college "easier and a lot more fun." And her greatest learning experience so far? "That procrastination is deadly," she said.

Some missed the comforts of home, such as "being able to loaf around and watch TV in a living room," said Erin Cala, who said, on the other hand, that she enjoyed "being on my own and not having to answer to anyone."

And then there was the absence of home cooking. "The 'food' here at UB is simply disgusting and since I am not the greatest cook, I find myself suffering through meal after meal, counting down the days until I can go home and have Mom cook for me," said Jason Toto.

And how have these freshmen changed in just one short semester?

"I have become more independent. I've learned to deal with things on my own. I've become a little more outgoing," said Sara Wozniak.

"I feel I am more mature and more responsible," said Eric Ip.

"Some say I have (changed), most say I haven't," said Jennifer Abbata. "My parents think I have, but I'm the oldest, so I think what they see is me growing up."