https://padlet.com/shawn_kwaak/fwj0zjkq0gms Who I am and what I've learned. en-us 2018-12-07 23:48:24 UTC 2025-11-16 17:42:36 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Bigthunderstorm.png shawn_kwaak https://padlet.com/shawn_kwaak/fwj0zjkq0gms/wish/312448291 Hello, I'm Shawn Kwaak and I'm attending Sinclair Community College to become a Systems Analyst.]]> 2018-12-08 00:30:50 UTC https://padlet.com/shawn_kwaak/fwj0zjkq0gms/wish/312448291 shawn_kwaak https://padlet.com/shawn_kwaak/fwj0zjkq0gms/wish/312449268 Ja is always in the room with me! I would've named him Shadow, because he follows me everywhere!]]> 2018-12-08 00:45:56 UTC https://padlet.com/shawn_kwaak/fwj0zjkq0gms/wish/312449268 shawn_kwaak https://padlet.com/shawn_kwaak/fwj0zjkq0gms/wish/312449333 I play World of Warcraft a lot, and this is a quick screen shot of my main, a Frost Death Knight on the Kil'jaeden realm!]]> 2018-12-08 00:47:00 UTC https://padlet.com/shawn_kwaak/fwj0zjkq0gms/wish/312449333 shawn_kwaak https://padlet.com/shawn_kwaak/fwj0zjkq0gms/wish/312449462 "In order to live free and happily you must sacrifice boredom. It is not always an easy sacrifice."
-Richard Bach]]> 2018-12-08 00:50:10 UTC https://padlet.com/shawn_kwaak/fwj0zjkq0gms/wish/312449462 shawn_kwaak https://padlet.com/shawn_kwaak/fwj0zjkq0gms/wish/312449514 An area that I have improved on because of this course is studying habits.  Because of the material in the course, I have managed make myself study more efficiently, allowing me to retain the information I have learned for longer and as such, helping my tests. 
Until I took this course, my study habits were non existent, at best. I didn't really study all that much, and for me, studying meant time taken away from doing something I enjoyed. However, I learned from the lessons offered in the course that I can make studying more efficient, and even take less time than I anticipated. So, now I am able to do better with my tests and quizes because I have adapted a couple methods to help me retain the information.]]> 2018-12-08 00:51:24 UTC https://padlet.com/shawn_kwaak/fwj0zjkq0gms/wish/312449514 shawn_kwaak https://padlet.com/shawn_kwaak/fwj0zjkq0gms/wish/312449668 Another area of improvement that I have found myself going through, is time management.  While I haven't mastered it yet, I am using a couple of the applications I discussed in another topic in order to help me plan my day and make time to do the things I need to get done.  This is helping me with school work and in other aspects of my life.
Before this course, I procrastinated a lot.  As such, I would often end up late turning in homework or such because I always waited until the last minute.  In turn, my test grades suffered because I never dedicated the time to actually study, so even though I finished homework, I was only doing it to get it done, not to understand the work itself.  So by actively tracking my time, I have managed to perform better academically. ]]> 2018-12-08 00:53:48 UTC https://padlet.com/shawn_kwaak/fwj0zjkq0gms/wish/312449668 shawn_kwaak https://padlet.com/shawn_kwaak/fwj0zjkq0gms/wish/312449772 My third area of improvement has been in learning to use the resources available to me here within Sinclair.  This was my first year at a college ever, and things were honestly, a bit scary.  However, opting to take this course as one of my first courses I feel as though I have managed to set myself up for success.  This is in part to all the information given to us during the lessons and lectures, as well as from the activities we completed.  The discussion forums showed me that I wasn't the only one going through this, and I was able to read the stories of others which gave me the confidence to continue on.

]]> 2018-12-08 00:55:52 UTC https://padlet.com/shawn_kwaak/fwj0zjkq0gms/wish/312449772 shawn_kwaak https://padlet.com/shawn_kwaak/fwj0zjkq0gms/wish/312450390 While I have managed to take away a great deal of techniques to help me with my college career, there are things that I still need to work on.  Procrastination is a hard habit to break I've learned, so I feel that there is still much for me to do.  I am planning my day, however holding myself accountable seems to be where I'm slipping up, so I need to find the discipline in order to make sure I adhere to the things I have planned.  Once I manage to find the discipline I need, I am sure that I will be able to tackle and problem ahead of me efficiently with great results.

]]> 2018-12-08 01:04:30 UTC https://padlet.com/shawn_kwaak/fwj0zjkq0gms/wish/312450390 shawn_kwaak https://padlet.com/shawn_kwaak/fwj0zjkq0gms/wish/312451778 Another aspect that I feel like I still need to improve on is my personal health. I've been trying to do things by myself while at home, however I feel like it's a bit much for me. So, going forward I may take a look into what health and fitness classes Sinclair is able to offer me so that I might get some assistance with my goals as well as learn some techniques that I will be able to keep with me.]]> 2018-12-08 01:24:33 UTC https://padlet.com/shawn_kwaak/fwj0zjkq0gms/wish/312451778 shawn_kwaak https://padlet.com/shawn_kwaak/fwj0zjkq0gms/wish/312452319 This course has been a fun one for me.  I have managed to learn how to track my time, become a better test taker, learn how to study, and learned more about who I am as a person.  I have learned that I have a growth mindset because of the activity we did.  I try to be open to new ideas and how things are done differently because I always want to learn.  I have this urge to do things efficiently, so learning from others to make that happen is good for me.  I believe all people are capable of change, they just need to apply themselves and learn from their mistakes while being open to learn from others.  
I learned that there are others like me who are returning to school in order to better themselves and hopefully land a better job. While I was nervous about my age, it was comforting to know that I wasn't the only one, and that has helped me get through my time. In addition to having some great classmates too!]]> 2018-12-08 01:33:38 UTC https://padlet.com/shawn_kwaak/fwj0zjkq0gms/wish/312452319 shawn_kwaak https://padlet.com/shawn_kwaak/fwj0zjkq0gms/wish/312452723 In addition to learning a little more about who I am, learning the more effective ways of studying has really helped me a lot, and will become an even bigger factor as I progress through the harder classes or programs on my MAP.  I know I have touched upon studying on almost every slide here, but it was an impactful skill that I really needed help with.  I still feel that this was one of the best classes for me to take at the beginning of my career, because it will help me during my time here. My favorite note taking system would probably be the Cornell Method, however I tend to use a bit of all them, depending on the subject.]]> 2018-12-08 01:39:31 UTC https://padlet.com/shawn_kwaak/fwj0zjkq0gms/wish/312452723 shawn_kwaak https://padlet.com/shawn_kwaak/fwj0zjkq0gms/wish/312453481 The third and final subject that I have learned from this course setting better goals for myself. Ones that are actually obtainable and ones that I can fit within my schedule. Because of this, I feel that I will always have positive reinforcement because I will feel better as I complete goals that I set out for myself. And even if I don't manage to complete one, because I have accomplished so many before, I won't get so hung up about it.]]> 2018-12-08 01:50:46 UTC https://padlet.com/shawn_kwaak/fwj0zjkq0gms/wish/312453481