Key Takeaways from My Classes (Semester 3 of B.S. in Construction Management)

With another semester in the books, I've officially completed my first full year back in college.

When I first decided to return to school, I knew it would be a challenge balancing coursework, running my business, family life, and everything else that comes with adulthood. Looking back now, it's hard to believe how quickly the past year has gone by.

This summer semester was a little different than the previous ones. Instead of taking four classes spread across a traditional semester, I focused on three classes over the summer terms. While the pace was a little faster, the workload felt manageable, and each course gave me a different perspective on the business side of the construction industry.

Here's what I took away from each class.

Principles of Macroeconomics (Summer I)

Going into this class, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. Economics was one of those subjects I had heard about plenty of times but had never formally studied.

As expected, the course focused primarily on the economy at a national level. Much of what we covered revolved around concepts like Gross Domestic Product (GDP), unemployment, inflation, fiscal policy, monetary policy, and how these factors influence the overall health of an economy.

At times it felt less like a business class and more like trying to understand why the economy behaves the way it does.

While I don't anticipate calculating GDP in my day-to-day work as a drafting professional, I do think understanding the bigger picture has value. Construction is heavily influenced by the economy. Interest rates affect borrowing, inflation impacts material prices, and economic growth often determines how much new construction is taking place.

It reminded me that our industry doesn't exist in a bubble—it's directly connected to what's happening across the country.

Statistics (Summer I)

Statistics ended up being one of the easier classes I've taken so far.

Since math has always been one of my stronger subjects, I felt comfortable almost immediately. Unlike algebra or calculus, statistics wasn't about solving long equations by hand. It was more about understanding which formulas to use and interpreting the results correctly.

Most of the assignments could be completed using a calculator, and I rarely found myself needing to write out lengthy problems on paper.

What I appreciated most was how practical the subject can be. Statistics is all about analyzing information and making informed decisions based on data. Whether it's understanding trends, measuring performance, or evaluating results, those skills can be useful in almost any profession—including running a business.

Overall, it was a straightforward class that reinforced my confidence whenever mathematics is involved.

Principles of Microeconomics (Summer II)

Rather than focusing on the economy as a whole, this class concentrated on individual businesses, consumers, supply and demand, pricing, competition, and how decisions are made at the company level.

Because I own and operate my own drafting firm, I found many of these concepts easier to relate to than some of the broader topics in Macroeconomics. It's interesting to step back and see some of the economic principles that influence decisions many small business owners make every day—even if we don't always realize we're doing it.

One thing that made this class different from my other summer courses was the amount of writing involved. We had considerably more journal entries and discussion board assignments than I expected. While I don't mind writing—in fact, I genuinely enjoy it—it did mean there was more weekly participation compared to simply completing quizzes and homework assignments.

The material itself wasn't overly difficult, but staying engaged with the discussions each week definitely became a larger part of the overall workload.

Looking Ahead to Fall 2026

This fall I'll begin my junior year in the B.S. in Construction Management program. So this fall I will be taking:

• Architectural CAD 

• Construction Management Design I 

• Legal Environment of Business 

• Quality Assurance 

Out of those four, I'm especially looking forward to Architectural CAD.

Since drafting is what I do every day, I expect that class to feel very familiar. If there's one course throughout this degree that I feel especially prepared for, it's this one. It'll be interesting to see how the academic side compares to the practical experience I've gained over the years.

I'm also excited about Construction Management Design I, since it sounds like it'll tie directly into the industry I'm already working in. Legal Environment of Business and Quality Assurance are a little more outside my comfort zone, but that's part of the reason I'm pursuing this degree in the first place—to expand my knowledge beyond drafting and become a more well-rounded professional.

Final Thoughts

Looking back, returning to college was one of the best professional decisions I've made. Every semester has challenged me in different ways, and every class has helped me grow—not just academically, but as a business owner and drafting professional.

There are still plenty of semesters ahead, and I'm sure they'll come with their own challenges. But after completing my first year, I feel more confident than ever that I'm on the right path.

I'll continue sharing what I learn along the way, both the successes and the struggles, in hopes that it encourages someone else who's thinking about taking a similar leap.

Don't just draw. Create—a future that's built one lesson at a time.