Thoughts from a college student with learning disabilities 
by Sara Kohl

The main concern I am feeling about college right now is maybe college will be too difficult for me. Will I be able to handle doing all the work expected of me and will I enjoy college? I think I will be able to overcome these feelings by not worrying so much and just relaxing doing my school work, studying, paying attention in class and to just do the best I can.
Out of the five major strategies I think I will have the most problem with getting connected because I am shy around people I don't know and I'm not an out spoken person. I think the plan ahead strategy will be the easiest for my because I am punctual, organized, and responsible. The things I think I have to work on the most are improving my reading, writing, study skills and note taking. I need to participate in class. I need to practice giving presentations, study with a group especially with classes that I have a hard time in, and get involved in campus activities more. I can do more of these things by not being so shy and by getting involved more. I have only have one class so far in college and I like it. In the beginning of my senior year in high school I had no intention of attending college but I'm glad I decided to.
My knowledge of my learning style has helped me by making me aware of the way I can retain information. I found that I learn more auditory than tactile or visual. I had a math teacher in high school that I felt very uncomfortable with his teaching method. His teaching method was to give us a work sheet quickly explain it then give us a test. In Jr. 
High I had a history teacher who would just make us watch movies then test us on them. His teaching method was very uncomfortable.
I am not very good at managing time. From reading chapter two in my College Success Strategies book, I have learned many ways to manage my time. 
I think by planning and managing my time it will help me complete things in time and not be as stressful. The time managing will help me get things done in time. It will also help me keep schedule and allow me to have plenty of time to get things done. The daily plan helped me more because I am get panicked and it seemed to go smoother and I was not so stressed. On Saturday, September 9, 2000 I went to a family picnic at Dorney Park with my aunt and grandparents, but I managed my time wisely and worked on my schoolwork on the ride home. This way I used time that I would normally waste doing something that needed to be done. I had fun, but I also did some important things too College teachers are a lot different than high school teachers. They are different because high school teachers are constantly saying that you have to do this and don't do that and college teachers say well this is due this day and don't yell at you if you do not do the assignment. You have more responsibility in college and you do things on your own at your own pace. I like the fact that you do not have someone breathing down your neck. You know if you don't do it, it is not hurting anybody but yourself. I think I will learn more at college than I did at high school.
If someone in class is the quiet person and keeps to themselves I think the teacher should be open-minded about it because maybe the person is afraid of what others might think about what they say. I can relate to that because that is how I am. I realize now that I might learn more by participating in class more and not caring about what other people might think. 
I think you should go out of your way for other people from different cultures because they are just like people from your culture. They need friends too. You also do not want them to feel uncomfortable. If I am in a room and someone and someone walks in that room that is gay I would treat them just like I would treat anyone else. If a person comes to a class ten minutes late due to feeding her children and dropping them off I feel the teacher should treat them the same way they treat anyone else because maybe she should wake her kids up earlier or feed them earlier. I would offer a student with a disability help if they are having a hard time taking notes so they do not have all that to do or any student for that matter. If they do not want help and want to do it themselves we can just wait until they are done and not rush them. It is important to ask first if they want the help. 
My aunt has a disability and sometimes she wants help and sometimes she wants to do it herself. It would be rude not to ask first. All people are human even if they are different from me. You can't think one way about a person just because they are different. We are all the same on the inside and that is what really counts. It is great to have friends no matter what culture they come from. Friends are a great asset in life.