Whether you’re in a huge major and barely recognize the people in your classes, or you’re in a tiny major like me and see the same 50 people every day, you’re bound to build some amazing bonds with these people. I've been lucky enough to be in a cohort model learning style and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I’m a junior, social work major at Illinois State University and I’ve just started taking my major related classes this year. Not only are my classes exciting, but so are the many friendships I've made.
The first semester of this year was a cakewalk compared to what my classmates and I are currently enduring and it was definitely an awesome time to start to get to know each other before we were thrown into the hardest 17 weeks of our lives. This semester has brought new experiences, conferences, 20-hour weekend study seshes at the library, group project after group project, all-nighters, Dunkin' Donut and Starbucks runs, hundreds of Quizlet sets and study guides, research papers, facilitations, 9 p.m. Jimmy John's cravings, volunteer experiences, and future internship experiences.
It has also brought so many amazing people into my life that I feel lucky to call my peers and my friends.
It's so nice to be able to message anyone in my classes and know that they're all willing to help and all know exactly what I'm going through. Social workers are obviously amazing, considerate, lovely people and it's super cool being surrounded by people who have the exact same passion as I do. I've been lucky enough to build strong relationships with people I know I can work with and collaborate within my future professional career.
And I've also just made some quality, lifelong friends that I know I'll still talk to after we graduate next May.
I've received an excellent, valuable education here at ISU and that is thanks to some of the amazing professors I've had here over the past year. They've been sources of education, guidance, and help when I've needed it most. I've learned an incredible amount of information that I know I'll continue to use throughout my social work career. The opportunities and advice they have given me are things I will never forget or take for granted.
ISU has an incredible social work program with so many connections - there are tons of social service agencies within Bloomington-Normal that are available to my cohort that has continued to enrich our educations this year and into next year.
I know I made the right decision when picking Illinois State, as well as my major, and I really can't wait to see where next year takes me. I'm so proud of the rest of my cohort too, if we can get through this semester we can do almost anything. Senior year is going to come with lots of new challenges and it'll be our first taste of the real world. Here's to our close-knit cohort and to hoping second semester junior year doesn't kill us!
