#ucmadms

Hi there! Classes are definitely starting to amp up now we're getting into some of the core material for each class. But even as it's all getting busier, the subjects are still staying fun and interesting. 

Even though this week included my first quiz in Plant Biology (ew!) the class more than made up for that with the plant respiration lecture. I know, it sounds hopelessly boring, but I actually really enjoyed it because that lecture cleared up a lot of confusion I've had about the finer points of photosynthesis. And it's a pretty good feeling finally getting something that has always bugged me!

As for Soil Science, we got to learn more sampling and analyzing techniques in lab. Which translates to us running around and digging up campus in lab coats with shovels and augers (kinda like drills) and getting all kinds of weird looks. But it was all worth it because we got to take everything back to the lab and test it for different properties like pH, color, percentage of rocks, and texture, all of which were interesting to observe.

Hello there! So I'm taking some really fun classes this semester (finally got all that calculus and chemistry behind me, thank goodness) and I was thinking that maybe you guys would like to hear about them, just to know what an ecology and evolutionary biology major does. So I'm taking three classes this semester, all of which have to do with plants, although I promise I didn't plan it that way. I'm taking Plant Biology, Soil Science, and - my favorite - Flora of California! Plant Biology covers, you guessed it, what makes plants tick. I never thought it would be as interesting as it is, although that could be just because I have a lovely professor. Soil Science is also more interesting than I thought it would be and it covers the different types of soils, how to identify them, and why they are important. Flora of California is a ton of fun since it's all about plant identification in the field, so that means tons of field trips and walks to gather specimens. 

So some highlights of this week were the first soil science lab, the second plant biology lab, and the first flora field trip. The soil science lab was a fairly basic one, we were just practicing identification techniques like matching soil colors, feeling the soil to identify the texture, and calculating what percentage of the soil is rock and water. But it was great getting out of the lecture hall and getting our hands dirty (quite literally). Plant Biology also had a lab session, which involved looking at various plant tissues to be able to visually tell them apart, so how root tissue looks different from vascular tissue and leaves, etc. Now, my favorite part of the week was the flora field trip! It was more of a walk off campus to the Vernal Pool reserve (we're so lucky and we have a natural reserve right behind campus!Check them out here: http://vernalpools.ucmerced.edu/) but we got to spend the whole class session looking at wildflowers, trying to identify them. Although I found out the hard way that stinging nettles really deserve their name....

A lot of you are probably wondering how you are going to manage your new work load in college. You've heard all the stories...classes all day, homework and studying all night. I'm not going to tell you that it's not going to be like that, because at times it will be. But it's not going to be like that everyday (and if it is...you may be overdoing it a bit...rest is important!) It took me 3 years to figure out how to keep myself on task and organized, hopefully if you get a head start you'll figure yours out faster!

First, get involved in as much as you can, as soon as you can. It's harder to find the motivation and time to get involved in clubs and orgs if you wait too long after school has started. Just remember, you can always remove yourself from a club, so don't feel like you have to stay committed if you really don't want to or don't have time. Those first few weeks of school are perfect for feeling out which groups you enjoy most and which you don't.

Second, figure out how much is too much. It may take you some time to figure out how much involvement is too much or not enough - but it's best to find out sooner, rather than later. It's about finding the right amount of occupation to keep you focused on your responsibilities, while having enough down time to relax but not get too lazy.

Everything in life is about finding the right balance, I hope this helps you find yours in college.