Students' feelings mixed about new semester

New year, new semester, new attitude. 

Students trudged back to campus on Monday after the month-long holiday break with a variety of emotions and feelings.

Most of them face the new semester ready to tackle their studies and classes. Some are even ready to do so with some enthusiasm.

In a nonscientific survey of 50 students around campus, 48 percent said they were actually looking forward to attending their new classes, improving their grades and working with their professors. Really?

"My theater class!'' gushed Reanna Rodriquez, an 18-year-old nursing major. "The teacher was so vibrant and his energy just attacked the room. I'm just really excited for it!''

Some students even expressed passion about courses not usually known for generating such an emotion.

"I'm actually excited for chemistry this semester, as nerdy as it sounds,'' said Iesha Lewis, a sophomore studying micro & molecular biology. "I'm considering my master's in chemistry. [I'm excited] to study hard and get my GPA up, mostly.''

James Ciesielski, a 19-year-old Aerospace Engineering major, said he was most looking forward to his statistics and calculus classes.

But while some students were engaged by inspiring professors on the first day of school, others were hoping some of their teachers would register more than a pulse.

Giuseppe Balint, a 40-year-old mechanical engineering major, said he was hoping for "good professors with a passion to teach instead of being just like robots.''

For almost 20 percent of the students surveyed, returning to campus means reconnecting with friends and campus organizations. Students said they were looking forward to meeting new people, getting involved with groups like the Scuba Club, intramural sports teams, Habitat For Humanity and CRU, a Christian ministry.

Ashley Valence, 18 and a biomedical science major, described CRU as "A bunch of people with the same interests. … It is a good way for me to meet people and get into religion without it being over the top.''

Some students said they hope the new year will bring new friends.

Chase Jaffray, an 18-year-old mechanical engineering student, said he looks forward to "Meeting new people. I'm tired of the same old people.''

Ten percent of the respondents said they were looking for new opportunities for personal growth and development, whether that means starting an exercise regimen, developing a positive outlook or simply leaving the past year behind.

"A new slate,'' said Shawna Nys, 19, and a hospitality major. "Each semester you get to start over and throw away all your old papers. I'm excited for a fresh start.''

In addition to classes, many students are taking advantage of internships and other work experiences this semester that will help them develop careers.

"I'm really looking forward to starting my new internship and gaining experience that I can use in my future career in the event industry,'' said Felicia McDermott, a 21-year-old event management student.

But some students just hope to make it to April.

"Graduating! This is my last semester,'' exclaimed Jessica Treto, 21, a micro & molecular biology major.

Briah Denizard, an 18-year-old biomedical science student is hanging there for spring break.

But 23-year-old radio/television major Jared Porcenaluk put it succinctly when stating what he was most looking forward to this semester:

"The end.''

Meagan Cahuasqui, Jason Clary, Christine Conroe, Jessica Gilbreath, Caylah Hall, Alex Keay, Alex Kent, Johnathan Kuntz, Brittany Lesser, Alyssa McClelland, Erika Pektas, Alexandra Pittman, Stephanie Stevanovich, Lauren Storch and Ashley Yusaf contributed to this report.