Evaluating my 2020 Fall Semester at Atlanta Metropolitan State College
The year 2020 will be one for the history books, and it will be remembered as a time some would not want to reminisce on, depending on one’s perspective. The coronavirus pandemic is currently an ongoing crisis in the country and around the world, so much so that it has change our way of life as we once knew. For me, not much has changed, except for the necessary precautions I’ve practiced since March of this year to stay safe. Although much of the pressures that many of us face derived from this global disaster, my challenges stem for within the confines of my own introspections and actions. As we transition into a new year, I will reflect on my Fall 2020 semester at Atlanta Metropolitan State College and express my thoughts on the good and the bad of my academic year.
Going into the semester, operations of business had been completely altered as all AMSC staff and students had to follow COVID-19 guidelines as provided by the Georgia Department of Health (GDH), the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the University System of Georgia. The most prevalent change was AMSC classes being suspended in March, prior to this semester, and continuing through fall. This was a major change because most, if all, curriculum at the college was being taught online. Although, this modification did not effect my motivation for the four courses I was taking this semester, it did not make the quality of my academic standing any better.
During the semester, I procrastinated on turning in assignments punctually and completing quizzes and exams. Every moment I thought about this, it made my stomach turn because I knew the harm I was doing to my own academic success. Although I was aware of this fact, I still continued to go through the semester with poor work ethic. I was struggling with my social life, and I felt defeated, constantly beating myself up over past thoughts, experiences, and failures. I let it all cloud my mind, and for days, I wanted to be as productive as I can be by getting out of the house. I spent most of my time doing Uber eats and Postmates to get my mind off of things. The problem was these actions stirred me away from my classes more and more. I attempted to work on assignments and quizzes during the evenings, but most of the time I only got a small portion done, which was not enough.
By the end of 2020 semester at Atlanta Metropolitan State college, I had an overwhelming feeling of anxiety because the academic semester was coming to a close. Coming face-to-face with this reality was still not enough to motivate me to buckle down on assignments and quizzes that were pilling up. I successfully attempted to complete several assignments from different classes, however I didn’t push my efforts until the very last few days of the semester. Out of all four of my classes, I feel confident I received a passing grade in only one.
Reflecting on my academic standing as I move forward into the Spring semester of 2021, I will have to work much harder to raise my GPA back to a 3.0, and I will need to sacrifice more of my time to my academics. Balance is key for all aspects of my life, and keeping a positive mindset about the future while writing this is motivating. The more organized I become with my quality of life, the more I can focus on the grind and stay on track to achieving success at AMSC.
