Student Blog: How My Plans Are (or Aren’t) Changing This Semester

When I sat down to map out this semester, I thought I had a pretty clear picture of what it was going to look like. But, like anything in life, the reality has been a mix of things sticking to plan and unexpected twists that have me rethinking how to balance it all.

First off, let’s talk about what isn’t changing: I’m still diving headfirst into the things I’ve always been passionate about—storytelling, creative projects, and exploring how people connect with each other. After all, that’s why I’ve been exploring the fields of sports journalism and writing for TV as a career, and I can’t imagine letting go of that any time soon. This semester, I’ve decided to push even harder in these areas. Writing has always been a way for me to express myself, but now I want to focus on understanding how stories can shape how we see the world—whether it’s through media, sports, or even personal essays.

That said, my plans aren’t all set in stone. I’ve recently been reflecting on my long-term goals, especially as I dive deeper into the world of research. Over the summer, I worked on a lab project investigating how driving behaviors might predict early signs of Alzheimer’s. It was fascinating and, honestly, kind of unexpected. The idea of blending psychology, data, and real-world application wasn’t originally part of my “big picture,” but now it feels like it might play a bigger role in my future than I thought. I’m starting to wonder if there’s a way to weave research like that into my interests in communication and storytelling.

That realization has me considering how to spend my time differently this semester. Like maybe branching out of my comfort zone and taking on projects I’m passionate about. I want to “do” more instead of just observing. As I finish high school, I’m starting to think about how everything I’ve been learning is going to impact my future and what I’ve truly been interested in. So I guess what’s changing this semester is my mindset on academics.

But it’s not just my academic plans that are evolving—I’m also thinking about how I spend my downtime. If you know me, you know I love watching football games in Section 32 with my dad or playing the ukulele with family and friends. Those moments remind me of how important it is to make time for joy, even when things get busy. This semester, I want to keep those traditions alive while also carving out time to explore new hobbies. I’ve been toying with the idea of trying something completely different, like ceramics again. It’s calming, it’s creative, and it might be the perfect balance to all the screen time I’ve been racking up.

So, in a nutshell, my plans for this semester are a mix of the familiar and the new. I’m holding onto the things that ground me—like all my creative outlets—but I’m also making space for unexpected paths, like expanding my interest in research and finding ways to merge it with my passion for connecting with others. It’s an exciting time, even if it feels a little overwhelming.

Who knows where I’ll end up by the end of the semester? For now, I’m just trying to embrace the changes as they come while staying true to the things that make me, me.