Paige Laffoon

Searching and applying for colleges that best suited me was extremely stressful my senior year. I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do yet and the thought of going to college was very scary. One thing I did know was that I wanted to continue my track career at the collegiate level. I began reaching out to coaches and searching for a school that offered the major I was looking into. I came across IUPUI and saw they had a good reputation for physical therapy so I began talking with the coaches and after a few visits I decided this was the school I wanted to go to. Orientation began in the summer and I really enjoyed being able to learn everything about the school I would be going to and what all the resources that were available to me. As school time started to arise bridge week also started to come closer as well. Bridge week was a week full of learning all the skills you need to know for your first year and all the opportunities available. I gained lasting friendships with my peers after attending bridge week! 

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Reflecting back on my first semester I have learned many significant lessons that will help me succeed in my time here at IUPUI. Coming to IUPUI I had to make all new friends in a very new environment. Since I was now part of a new team I also had to try and make friends through that as well. This was very difficult for me because I was in a new atmosphere. I learned to get myself out there and start making friends first. Through this experience I also learned how to work with different personalities who would be with me daily. Another lesson I learned from my first semester was how important managing my time is. I was hit with the hard reality when I started my classes and the amount of learning you have to do on your own. I also had to adapt to managing work, sports, and school while keeping good grades. This was definitely a struggle for me, but it certainly prepared me for my next three years and how to manage time properly.

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Through my first-semester experience I found many of my strengths and weaknesses. I started working at St. Elmos Steakhouse as a hostess at the beginning of October. After working there for a week I learned that I am a very fast learner and can catch on to things very fast. I was able to seat people on my own my third day and it was very helpful for everyone. I also discovered my weakness this semester was I was slightly over ambitious. I am always willing to take on things and often times I take on too many things at one time. This semester I overpacked my classes and it was a lot to handle for my first college experience. Through this experience though, I learned how to persevere through it and finish strong.

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One major lesson I learned this semester is that If you want something in life you have to work hard towards it. That went for my grades, my athletic performance, and my morals. If I wanted to have good grades I had to work hard to achieve them and then maintain that. With being an athlete if you don't work hard towards your performance then you aren't going to be successful at all. I stand strong in my beliefs and what I want to achieve for my health. To achieve the physical fitness and appearance I want I have to work hard for it. One piece of advice I would give myself for next semester Is to work hard and make sure to manage my time wisely to succeed in everything I want to accomplish. I would also tell myself to have fun!