By Justine Quitola
Hi everyone! I am Justine Quitola, a second-year student with junior credit standing majoring in Health Science with a minor in Biology. My motto as a student and individual for this semester is to set "Healthy Limits and Expectations".
My personal interests revolve around art and gaming. I have a soft spot for creative art specifically, so I like to pursue activities related to singing and drawing. I also love playing JRPGs (Japanese Role Playing Games) with friends, since I like experimenting with plot pathways as the protagonist.
As a new peer tutor this semester, I am excited to help students develop smart study habits and grow confidence with their respective courses. I chose this job because I have always been interested in helping my fellow classmates with subject material. I find it very helpful to collaborate with other students, as it reinforces the material while encouraging them to actively engage with their learning. My best advice for all students is to ask questions and attend course reviews, regardless of your academic standing. I owe a lot to the course assistants and tutors I had last fall, as they helped me obtain grades I never thought I was capable of attaining. I aim to do the same for those I will be tutoring over the next several months. This spring, I am focusing on tutoring for: 1. Anatomy & Physiology 1 + 2 w/ respective labs 2. Microbiology w/ lab 3. English Composition 2 From a more personal standpoint, I would like to share my academic journey by stating that I was not a straight A student in high school. I graduated with below average GPA, never got involved in extracurricular activities, and seldom planned ahead for school. I missed deadlines and almost failed my AP classes, as I did not have the motivation and mindset to persevere. My purpose for sharing this is to let struggling students know that they are not alone with their experiences. It took immense dedication, hard work, and discipline to progress from my high school days to where I am now. I hope that everyone can take away the fact that improvement and success is not impossible to attain. It is accessible, and it is never too late to accomplish your goals and dreams.
Although I am very successful with my grades and involvement at Rutgers-Camden, I have a new dilemma that I have not currently found a solution. Since I am used to doing work almost every day, it is difficult for me to take a breather and rest. My goal is to have a better understanding of myself by learning when to pause from my cycle of productivity. As a health science major, I wish to incorporate the lessons I have learned from class and use them to my advantage. There are specific habits I want to refine and retain in order to maximize my health and academics simultaneously:
1. Allot self-care hours in between classes. My current schedule permits an average 2 - 4 hours of free time in between classes. I find that studying long hours with no breaks is not only physically detrimental, but mentally inefficient for getting work done. 2. Make conscious food choices on campus. Although the selection needs improvement, actively deciding NOT to purchase less healthy options throughout the day will not only save money but prevent binge-eating and poor diet cycles.
3. Effective note-taking BOTH in-class and out of class. I have experimented with various ways of notetaking and am currently utilizing digital apps for streamline accessibility and reviewing.
4. Obtain more hours of sleep. I usually get 6 hours or a little more throughout the week, but insomnia and stress has a way with the mind and body.
As we all commence this new, daunting semester, I will end with my favorite quote:
"Knowing what must be done does away with fear" - Rosa Parks
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