A Semester of Growth

Skills in Motion.

Looking back on my experience in IS101 - 3003 - 3005 Spring 2026, I can say that this course became much more than simply learning how to use technology. I enjoyed learning the features of Microsoft applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as how to apply them in realistic and professional situations. However, I must admit that excel took the most of me ha-ha, but I feel confident about it now. I also had fun challenging myself and improving my creativity, confidence, and discipline throughout the semester.

Professor Wu also set a standard for the kind of teacher I would like to have from now on. He demonstrated patience, a genuine willingness to guide his students, and the ability to provide critical feedback that encouraged us to improve in everything we did. Instead of simply grading assignments, he pushed students to think deeper, pay attention to details, and develop real-world skills that can be applied outside the classroom.

As for my classmates, I truly enjoyed sharing this experience with them. Although I connected more closely with some classmates than others, it was still interesting to hear about their passions, hobbies, goals, and perspectives throughout the semester. Overall, they were a very nice group of classmates.

For Chapter 6.5.1, Slide Master, I found it interesting how one tool can completely improve the organization and consistency of a presentation. Slide Master allows users to apply the same formatting, fonts, colors, logos, and layouts to every slide (template) at once instead of editing slides individually. I believe this is extremely important in professional environments because consistency creates a more polished and organized presentation. It also saves a significant amount of time, especially when working with large presentations or making updates later. In summary, Slide Master centralizes the design process and improves efficiency.

Also, I want to share that it was actually a fun experience to create my first slide presentation before really learning PowerPoint in depth. Now that I have passed my PowerPoint exam, I realize how much I have learned and how many ways I can improve that original presentation. Looking back at it, I can clearly see the difference in my skills, especially in design, structure, and overall presentation quality. It’s rewarding to see how much more confident and capable I feel now compared to when I first started.

Outside this course, I know these skills will continue to help me in many areas related to finance, business, and real estate. Excel can help me organize budgets, track expenses, compare property values, calculate profits, and analyze market trends. PowerPoint can help me create professional presentations for clients, business proposals, or real estate listings. Understanding topics like URLs and social engineering is also extremely important when handling online financial transactions, communicating with clients, and protecting sensitive information from scams or phishing attempts.

Something else this course taught me is that progress is not always immediately visible. Many people only see the final result of an assignment or project, but they do not see the hours of practice, mistakes, revisions, and effort behind it. Throughout the semester, I noticed myself becoming faster and more confident when completing assignments, which showed me that consistency truly leads to improvement over time.

Something that I would want the readers is to notice that I am someone who values growth, creativity, perseverance, and continuous learning. Learning is a process where someone builds abilities, confidence, and experiences that stay with you long after the semester ends. As I move on from this chapter, I will continue sharing parts of my journey when it feels right, even if it is not consistent or predictable. Growth doesn’t always follow a schedule. As Nelson Mandela once said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

Skills for the Future

Applying Excel, Understanding Online Safety, and Real-World Applications.

In Phase 2 of IS101, I noticed that my own pace when completing assignments and studying became faster, and I really liked that because it showed my improvement and confidence with the material. I especially enjoyed learning about URL components because it was fun and entertaining to break down links and understand what each part means. It made me more aware of how websites work and how to identify suspicious links.

I also found Assignment 6 (Spreadsheet Analysis with Trailer) very interesting. Through this assignment, I learned several new things, especially when working with functions, conditional formatting, and charts. It also gave me the opportunity to practice what I had learned in LabSim in a more realistic way. I also liked the video by David Suzuki about overpopulation; he explained smoothly real-world issues with an interesting comparison that makes you reflect on the issue. Also, he demonstrated how important information can be communicated effectively.

Overall, I feel that this phase helped me grow on my skills and knowledge, however, I still believe that Excel will require at least two more weeks of consistent practice before I feel fully prepared to take the certification exam.

For Chapter 5.5.7, Logical Functions in Excel, I learned how powerful functions like IF can be in organizing and analyzing data. The IF function allows you to create conditions, such as labeling items as “Expensive” or “Budget Friendly” based on their value (as I did on my Assignment 6 for my spreadsheet). In addition, functions like SUMIF, COUNTIF, and AVERAGEIF help analyze data based on specific criteria. For example, SUMIF can calculate the total cost of only certain items, COUNTIF can count how many items meet a condition, and AVERAGEIF can find the average of a selected group. This makes data easier to interpret and adds a layer of decision-making to spreadsheets. Instead of just showing numbers, logical functions help explain what those numbers mean, which is very useful in real-world scenarios.

Outside of IS101, I can apply what I learned in many ways. Excel skills can help me manage personal finances, track expenses, and analyze data for future business or real estate work. For example, in real estate, I can use Excel to compare property prices, calculate potential profits, and track client information. I can also use functions to analyze trends, such as average home prices in different areas or total costs including taxes and fees. This would help me make better decisions and present information clearly to clients. Understanding URL structures and social engineering is also important for everyday online safety, as it helps me recognize phishing attempts and avoid scams, which is especially important when dealing with clients and financial transactions. These are practical skills that go beyond the classroom and can be used in both personal and professional environments.

Thinking ahead for phase 3, I would love to improve my creativity and challenge myself to pay attention to details and do more. That way I can achieve my goal for this class: to not only keep up with the class but to fully develop skills that I can use in the future.

Growth Through Practice and Application

Understanding Word Styles and Strengthening Exam Readiness

In Phase 1 of IS101-3005, I think I did well was staying consistent with assignments and trying to understand the material. One thing I did was pushing myself to learn features that I had never used before, such as advanced formatting tools and document structure options. At the beginning, I thought I already knew Microsoft Word well, but I quickly realized there are many professional features that require attention to detail. However, I would like to dedicate more time to practicing all the new knowledge because I feel if I don't practice it enough, I would forget important tools. In future phases

Word styles are formatting tools in Microsoft Word that allow users to apply consistent design elements (font type, size and spacing) to headings, subheadings, and body text with one click. It is also important to understand the difference between a Style and a Theme. A style applies formatting to specific selected text, such as headings or body paragraphs. A theme, on the other hand, applies formatting to the entire document. When you change a theme, all the individual styles within the document update automatically to match the new design, this helps to keep the document organized and styled. However, manual formatting changes do not automatically adjust when the theme is changed. This feature plays a key role in creating well-structured documents. When styles are used Microsoft Word can generate automatically a table of content to maintain consistency throughout a long research paper. I believe this tool is important because it shows how Microsoft Word is not just a typing program, but powerful document tool. Using Word styles save time and can improve efficiency.

Another useful tool related to styles is the Format Painter, which is located on the Home tab. The Format Painter allows you to copy formatting from one section of text and apply it to another. To use it, you select the text with the formatting you want, click Format Painter, and then select the text you want to change. This helps to make the work faster.

To prepare for the upcoming MO-110 Word certification exam, I plan to practice hands-on as much as possible. I will go through simulations, review key formatting tools, and make sure I understand the majority of the features. I also want to practice under timed conditions so I can feel more confident working efficiently. Since the exam is performance-based, I know that practicing inside Word is more important than just reading about the tools.

Overall, I feel that this class is helping me build practical skills that I will use in both academic and professional settings. I am learning that Microsoft Word is much more advanced than I originally thought. I am looking forward to improving even more in the next phase and becoming more confident in my technical skills.

A Small Post, A Big Start

Learning, Sharing, and Growing Online

Welcome to my first blog post!

My name is Ivette Mesa Menendez, and I am currently a student at the College of Southern Nevada (CSN) pursuing an Associate of Business. I moved to the United States from Cuba two years ago, and my journey as a student has been both challenging and rewarding. I am passionate about learning, personal growth, and building a strong foundation for my future in business, real estate, and digital marketing.

My first impression of IS101 – Introduction to Information Systems has been very positive. This class has helped me understand how technology is used in academic, professional, and everyday environments. I appreciate how the course emphasizes organization, digital responsibility, and practical skills that are essential beyond the classroom. The structure of the course has encouraged me to become more independent, detail-oriented, and confident when using technology. I am especially grateful to Professor Albert Wu for his patience, encouragement, and the time he takes to help students understand the material. His clear explanations and willingness to support us have made the learning experience more engaging and less intimidating.

Social media has been part of my life but reading more about how it actually works helped me see it in a new way. I used to think of platforms like Instagram and Facebook mainly as places to share photos and stay connected. However, learning about different platforms like LinkedIn and Bluesky showed me that each one serves a different purpose, from personal expression to professional networking and public communication. What stood out to me the most were the risks of social media, especially how anonymity can encourage negative behavior, how algorithms promote extreme content, and how difficult it is to erase anything once it's posted online. This made me more aware of the importance of privacy settings and being intentional about what I share. Overall, this reading encouraged me to be more mindful of my digital identity and to use social media responsibly, not just as a form of entertainment but as a powerful tool that can impact how others see me.

This blog is a space where I will continue to share what I learn and how it applies to real life. I'm excited to keep growing my digital skills and becoming a more informed and responsible user in today's digital world. Outside of academics, I enjoy learning from new experiences, especially traveling and being exposed to different perspectives. I see this blog as a space to reflect, grow, and share parts of my journey as I continue learning and moving forward.