A True Story By Steven Schechter

 I started off at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, but after one not so good year, I had to return home to take care of my ill father. It took 2 years and his passing to kick me in the butt and join my local community college. I went in with the mentality of C.N.A. to Nurse to Pediatrician but 4 separate doctors persuaded me against it.  My transfer to Loyola was really smooth despite the financial set backs. My class sizes were very comparable and the level of education was relatively similar though the course loads differ slightly with Loyola being a little heavier.  As a 5-day commuter, I have had a difficult time maintaining relationships outside of the classroom or cell phone. I also keep a job in the suburbs 5 days a week (including weekends) so I do not have a day off to relax or hang out.  There were also issues in finding an apartment with some roommates and so when that fell through, the first month was rough.  Hopefully these negatives will be changing with next semester and the rest of my Loyola career.

 Step one: Again, being a commuter makes things tough to build community but I have made some great friends in some classes and already have one in a class next semester. I plan on broadening this in a few ways but a main one is rushing a fraternity.  Step two: It is hard to say that I have followed this one exactly as I do tend to procrastinate everything when after school and work, you just want to relax and play with your dogs. I plan on focusing on this a little more over the next year and a half as I really get into the meat of my major.  Step three: I have really managed to connect with Chicago and I plan on doing so even more over the next couple years. I recently ran the Hot Chocolate 15K. I have never run(walked/jogged) a single race and I don’t really exercise often so it was a really fun experience and I learned a little more about the running culture and other things Chicago has to offer. The other thing I have done recently is join a business called Urban Leash which is like Uber for pet sitting. Doing this will allow me to become more familiar with Chicago and how things operate downtown.  Step four: In creating my future, I plan on taking the necessary courses for my intended master program for Physician Assistant. I will also be able to expend more time wisely to this goal as well as setting things up here in Chicago/home for my departure should I go out of state for school.

 Having started school at a previous university and then community college and now at Loyola, my higher education will have spanned 5 years to attain bachelors level. 5.5 years including a certificate program one semester.  That said, I have learned much and have ferreted out a deeper understanding for my being in school, the value of my education, and ultimately who I am and how my education goals play in to my life/career goals  Next semester, I am taking Research Methods, Spanish 102, Abnormal Psych, and Bio 2/lab. I was planning on study abroad in summer but I had to drop a course this Fall so I had to put study abroad aside and I am planning on taking summer courses that I know for sure will count towards my major.  Fall 2016 I am planning on applying to become an RA in the dorms so that I do not have to commute and I can connect to Loyola even further as well as have a leadership position in a way.  If all goes accordingly over the next year, I should be able to graduate in Fall, but take Spring 2017 to take the courses needed for my masters program they like to see.

 All incoming students should be aware of many things, all of which my classmates have pointed out (know your teachers, take time to do more extra-curricular, etc…). I have a simple premise that is complex to follow. Take time for you and take care of yourself. This is important because we become so focused on the grades and GPA or going out too often to have fun. I would say that if you take care of yourself and don’t over-do it then you will be fine. Get plenty of sleep, eat right, and take a lazy day once in a while because it is good for our mental health.  The other thing that worked for me is having a plan. Not everyone knows what they want to do but if you even have a plan to figure that out, then you can navigate university quite simply. Knowing what I wanted to do and even how I was going to get there by having my school research done, classes research done, and even masters programs research done, I have taken a lot of stress out of the unknown future.