As I reflect both on my very first paper, linked below, as well as my complete first-year journey at Longwood, I am very confidently able to say that LSEM prepared me well for the fast-paced, time-consuming work that came with my Freshman year of college. Further, it was the initial push for me to step out of my comfort zone and truly explore the idea that college is what you make it. In person, I am quite shy. I love being social and talking, however it takes a little bit to warm up. While the shyness has not gone away, and did not magically disappear or anything like that just because of this course, I was able to notice a distinguishable difference in my outlook towards approaching both social and academic life, and can truly contribute a part of this to my initial LSEM class.