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Assignment: Community and Health PSA 

Navigating My First Few Weeks at HCC: What I’ve Learned So Far

Transitioning into life as a college student feels a bit like being thrown into the deep end-often, there's just so much to learn. I took my Intro to HCC class for a few weeks, and already I know about what I've learned about myself, my goals, and how to maneuver through navigating life in college. A couple of the things I have learned about the first few modules:

Module 1: Personal Purpose Statement & Academic Goals

It was building a personal purpose statement as well as setting academic goals in the first module. I did not realize the importance of knowing the reason why I pursue a college education. Purpose statements led me to think about my long-term goals and how they relate to the pursuit of psychology

Moreover, we were introduced to the various educational avenues through which one can traverse at HCC, such as the Associate in Arts (AA) and Associate in Science (AS) degrees. That is, the AA perfectly serves students intending to transfer to a 4-year university, whereas the AS degree serves primarily for rapid on-the-job workforce entry. Here, I learned that I can structure my educational pathway.

Module 2: Meeting Your Advisor

Module 2 came with an activity where we were to meet with our academic advisor to create the Education Plan. I was a bit anxious on the day of the meeting, but it was worth it as my advisor literally helped me decide on the classes that I should take and gave me tips on transferring to a university after my AA. The takeaway? You got it: staying organized and meeting deadlines keeps everything on track.

Module 3: Career Exploration

Module 3 has been completely devoted towards career exploration. Career research and Career Presentation are their main aspects. I chose Clinical Psychology because it is my field of interest. In this module, I found out learning the educational path to earn a degree in psychology like applying for graduate studies after acquiring a bachelor's degree. This module has helped me connect my educational goals with my career ambitions and made me realize the importance of staying focused on both.

Module 4: Financial Capability

Module 4 also talked about the tuition fee and how to financially prepare oneself for pursuing higher education. There were topics covered such as size and types of scholarship, financial aid and benefits it considers over time for attaining a degree. It was one of those real eye-openers comparing what a degree makes in future dividends compared to what someone would earn without one, as it brought to bear a clearer understanding of the importance of investing in my education.

Module 5: College Support Systems Directory

This module propelled me into exploring the various available support services under HCC-tutoring, career counseling, and mental health resources, among others. It opened my eyes to the reality that college life does not have to be endured alone. There kind of a support available, and that will make a world of difference to my success.

Module 6: Academic Advising Part 2

Module 6 was all about talking with my advisor about finalizing my Education Plan and seeing if I'm on the right track. After reviewing it, I felt much more confident about my next steps in education. My advisor helped me pin down the classes to prepare me for my psychology career and gave me a quick transfer to a four-year university. It was a good reminder that academic advising isn't something you do once, and it's important to check back every so often to see that I'm continuing to make the best choices.

Module 7: Community Engagement

The last area that I have taken, Module 7, is about community engagement; it relates pretty much to my career area of interest, which works to assist others. Another thing we are doing is working on a Public Service Announcement (PSA) project that will raise awareness about some issue we will comprise within the important ones. By that, I will get to combine everything that I learn at college and preserve touch with the real world. Whether it is about mental health, education, or any other cause, this will definitely inspire me to think about how I can apply my teachings to impact the community.

So far, it is organizing my time, learning how to set clear goals, and exploring the resources around me. Most importantly, I am getting more confident about my future, given that there is a sound plan in that direction now. College is not just about classes but also setting up a future for oneself and moving forward with it, rich and real!