Sunday, February 2, 2025

Reigniting My Passion for Learning: My First Impressions of CSN & IS101

Hi, I'm Paulina! ๐ŸŒŽ✨

I'm a Las Vegas local with roots in Mexico City, always looking for ways to grow and challenge myself. Currently, I'm furthering my education in business and diving into IS101 to enhance my knowledge and open new doors. I believe learning is the key to moving up in the world, and I'm excited for the journey ahead!

Beyond academics, I love horseback riding, enjoy classic shows like I Love Lucy, and have a soft spot for anything burgundy (seriously, best color ever!). I recently joined a book club that mainly reads psychological thrillers, which is totally new to me, but I'm excited to explore this genre!

Life is all about balance, so when I’m not hitting the books, I’m spending time with family, friends, and my twin boys.

Excited to see where this path takes me!

My first impression of IS101 is that it’s going to be a valuable and insightful course that will strengthen my tech skills and help me in my professional journey. I’m excited to learn more and challenge myself with new concepts!

As for CSN, I’m resuming school after nine years, and from the moment I started, CSN gave me a warm welcome and created a great environment to reawaken my passion for learning. It feels like the perfect place to grow, challenge myself, and achieve my goals!

I also have to say that Professor Albert Wu is great at what he does. He shows tough love, but it really pushes you to think critically and solve problems independently. I appreciate that he makes himself available to his students, which makes a huge difference in the learning experience.

By configuring my work computer’s web browser, I was able to enhance my privacy and security. Adjusting the browser settings helped block third-party tracking, preventing websites from collecting my search data. As a result, I no longer receive unwanted ads based on my browsing history. This simple yet effective change has made my online experience more private and less cluttered with unnecessary advertisements.

18 comments:

  1. Yes, thinking critically and solving problem independently are two quintessential traits I cultivate in my students. Making myself available to the students whenever I can so you can get 'un-stuck' sooner than later makes a huge different in the learning experience indeed. Thank you for seeing these two things I do ^_^

    Very glad to hear CSN gave you a warm welcome and reawaked your passion for learning after nine years out of school. Your excitement for IS101-3205, Spring 2025 is infectious, Paulina :-)

    Well said about life is all about balance!

    Hmm... if a third-party tracking cookie is burgundy, would you still block it? ;-p

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  2. Hey Paulina! It’s awesome to see how driven and passionate you are about learning and self-growth returning to school after nine years is inspiring! IS101 is definitely shaping up to be a valuable experience, and I agree, Professor Wu’s tough love really pushes us to improve. Your browser privacy tweaks are a great reminder of how small changes can make a big difference online. Looking forward to learning alongside you this semester! ^-^

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  3. Hello Paulina! Continuously learning is key for moving up. You're not wrong about that! Nice to see you have a balance in life. I'm still trying to balance mine, and just when I think I am getting there, I add another child, and now I feel like I'm constantly juggling a 6-year-old, a 3-year-old, and a 7-month-old baby plus everything else going on in my world. One thing I do know is that I'm done with my third child, and it's time to get it together for them. Congratulations on returning to school after nine years. I know it must have been a change of atmosphere because I'm right there with you. It's been 11 years since I last attended school. I'm rooting for your success!

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  4. Hi Paulina! Your energy in this post is contagious! Your passion for continuing education and enjoying the little things in life is clear! After taking a 5-year hiatus from school, I know it is tough to be able to switch back into the student mode. I also love reading and recently have started exploring the fantasy genre. Maybe I'll try thrillers next! Web browser configuration is very Important and I have also noticed how such a small change can make a huge impact. I'm wishing you all the success with your education in business!

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  5. Mexico City?! I was born in Chihuahua! I agree balance in life is essential, if you work to much you cannot enjoy time with your family. Privacy and security are definitely important at work where information can be more at risk.

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  6. Hey there Paulina! I love your blog post title and your positive attitude toward learning! Last semester was my first time back in school since 2016, and it took me a while to get back into the routine of studying and completing assignments after such a long break. I’m sure you’re going to do an amazing job this semester, and I’m excited to see where your journey takes you!

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  7. Hello Paulina, I agree when it comes to having a balance in life. We don't want to focus on one thing while missing special moments of other things that we might not be able to experience again. College can be an opener for perfecting that right balance.

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  8. Hi Paulina!

    Twin boys? Sounds equally challenging and probably one of the amusable experiences to have. My dad is also from Mexico City! He always tells me his isn't "Chilango" but instead a "Capitalino", LOL!

    Balance is a very important trait to have, I must say, I might have to learn from your ways. Glad to hear you decided to go back to school, congratulations! I know you are going to kill it!

    Cookies were also something I had to learn how to manage, trying to remind myself not to just mindlessly click "accept". Thanks for sharing!

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  9. Hey Paulina! It's awesome to hear about your journey and how you're balancing school with family life. Plus, your love for horseback riding and psychological thrillers sounds like such a cool mix of interests!

    I totally agree with you about Professor Wu. Having that tough love approach can really push students to dig deeper and think critically, which sounds like it’s working for you!

    Looking forward to hearing more about your progress.

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  10. Hey Paulina! I am also a returning student and balancing full-time work, but this is nothing compared to you because you have twin boys! How old are they? I love reading, mainly fantasy books, but I’m open to reading some thrillers. Please give me some recommendations.

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  11. Going through these posts and I'm surprised at how many people are from out of state.

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  12. Hey there,

    Your passion for growth and learning is truly inspiring! Returning to school after nine years is a big step, and it’s awesome that CSN has been such a welcoming place for you. IS101 sounds like it’ll be a great tool for strengthening your tech skills and opening new opportunities.

    It’s cool that you’re diving into psychological thrillers—definitely a genre full of twists and surprises! Also, configuring your browser for better privacy is such a smart move. It’s amazing how small changes can make a big impact on online security.

    Wishing you the best on your journey, both in school and in life!

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  13. Hi Paulina,

    I am also a Las Vegas local but I have ties to Cuba as my grandmother was born in Havana. I also got back into school because not only for my son, but I wanted to prove to myself that I was capable of dedicating myself and pushing myself to do better for my education.

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  14. Hi Paulina,

    I liked your comment about Professor Wu's tough love. I appreciate the way he directs his class because he tells us how it is. He is also by far the most involved professor that I have had at CSN up to this point.

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  15. Hi Paulina, I agree on your statement about Professor Wu. He definitely shows tough love, but appreciates the work he does. He corrects us on our mistakes and expects us to push ourselves. Privacy and Security is important beause it helps prevent our information being spread and used.

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  16. Hi Paulina, burgundy is a gorgeous color, psychological thrillers sound fun! I’m also a returning student from over six years go, I went to college in California but I’m continuing here. It’s my first semester at CSN and I love all of it, everyone is helpful, the classrooms are not as packed and I find parking.

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  17. Hi Paulina,

    I spent 3 months in Mexico City, and I loved it. The environment is amazing, but the food is my favorite part. I love the hustle and bustle in Mexico City, the days go by fast. I hope to go back this summer.

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  18. Hi Paulina, I love the color burgundy too! You have great taste in colors for sure! I think it's cool you like psychological thrillers. Are there any movies you like in the genre too?

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