Key Takeaways from My Classes (Semester 1, Term 2 of B.S. in Construction Management)

Today officially marks the last day of my Fall 2025 semester—and with it, the end of my first semester as a returning college student in over a decade. What a ride it’s been already.

This semester was split into two terms. In Term 1, I tackled College Algebra and Fine Arts Music. In Term 2, I continued Algebra while adding Composition II and Introduction to Financial Accounting. Balancing school on top of running a business, raising a family, and navigating the holidays has been… a lot. But it’s also been incredibly rewarding.

Here’s what I’ve learned throughout the second half of the semester.

College Algebra (Full Fall Semester)

If you read my earlier post covering Term 1, you’ll remember how surprisingly natural it felt to jump back into math. I expected rusty gears and headaches, but instead it was almost like flipping a switch.

The second half of the semester only reinforced that feeling. Math has always been one of my strongest subjects, and it’s nice to know that hasn’t changed—even after so many years out of school.

Honestly, I wish all of my classes were this straightforward. I know that won’t be the case as the program progresses, but I’m appreciating the ease while I can.

Fine Arts Music (Fall 1 – Looking Back)

Let me just say this: thank goodness this class wasn’t part of Term 2.

Not because the subject was terrible—music has always been part of my life. I was in band for three years in high school as a drummer, and I’ve spent time writing and recording music as a hobby. But this class was not what I expected. Instead of exploring music fundamentals, performance, or general musical appreciation, it leaned hard into music history. Lots of reading. Lots of names and dates. Lots of academic analysis.

And I’ve never been strong in history.

Looking back from the standpoint of having three classes simultaneously this term, I can confidently say I would’ve drowned if Fine Arts Music had been stacked on top. It was overwhelming enough the first time around.

Composition II (Fall 2)

Composition has always been a mixed bag for me. On one hand, grammar and structure come fairly naturally. On the other hand, reading comprehension isn’t my strongest skill—and English classes often rely heavily on it.

Thankfully, this class was almost entirely writing-based, not reading-based. And that worked heavily in my favor.

I got to choose my research topic early on—Streamlining the Permitting Process in the U.S.—and every major assignment built off that topic. The consistency made the coursework feel grounded instead of scattered.

Did I enjoy the research aspect? Not really. Sometimes finding credible academic sources felt like pulling teeth, and the instructions weren't always as clear as I would’ve liked. Academic writing just doesn’t spark joy for me the way creative writing does. As a published author, worldbuilding and character development come naturally… but scholarly, citation-heavy prose? Not exactly thrilling.

That said, I still performed well and walked away with an A and a deeper understanding of structured academic writing.

Introduction to Financial Accounting (Fall 2)

Since Amber and I handle all of our business bookkeeping ourselves, I was actually looking forward to this class. We were never formally trained in accounting—like many small business owners, we learned through trial and error, YouTube videos, and scrolling Google in the late hours of the night.

So, this course felt like an opportunity to fill in the gaps and learn how things are supposed to be done.

Overall, the class was much easier than I expected. Most of the numbers were already provided, so the focus was more on understanding concepts than running calculations. A few ideas took a couple extra read-throughs, but the content was generally clear and logical. The math-minded part of me enjoyed it, even if it wasn’t as hands-on as I anticipated.

I finished the course feeling more confident about how accounting works behind the scenes—and a little more reassured that Amber and I haven’t been too far off the mark in running our own books.

Looking Ahead to Spring 2026

With my first semester back officially behind me, I’m gearing up for a new set of challenges this spring—ones that feel like the next real steps toward building a strong foundation in Construction Management. This upcoming term is definitely a heavier lineup, but each class brings something meaningful to the table:

• Business Calculus

• Construction Physics

• Project Management & Practice

• Introduction to Philosophy

It’s a diverse mix. Some courses will push me technically, others will challenge the way I think, and a few will probably stretch my patience—but that’s part of the journey. I’m looking forward to seeing how these subjects connect back to the work I already do, and how they’ll shape the way I approach architecture and construction as my education continues.

This degree is a long road, but every semester brings me one step closer to the bigger goals ahead: finishing my B.S. in Construction Management, pursuing my M.Arch afterward, and eventually preparing for the AREs.

Wish me luck. I’ll need all that I can get.