title: Journaling: an opportunity for reflection.
abstract: Journal entries of students in the "Bridge Program" provide a glimpse of the world in which they live. Although several students indicated that writing was not easy for them, they made attempts to regularly record thoughts and feelings about their experiences throughout the semester. Three themes seem to emerge: self-perception and expectations, mentor relationships and the research project, and lack of time to accomplish all that is needed. Students indicated verbally that the process of journalizing was valuable, although sometimes time consuming and boring. Listening to journal entries of others was seen as a very positive experience and led to productive discussions of how students could identify with the feelings and experiences of their colleagues.
authors.affiliation: Towson State University, USA.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Kielinen
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001290:Attitude; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D006801:Humans; D008611:Mentors; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D014956:Writing