A tad bit of background info about me is that I was a mostly straight a student through high school with the occasional B( my first C ever was my last semester of senior year) anyways that info may or may not matter. I go to UTK and well my first semester was lackluster to be nice about it. Blunt. I did awful. I took 15 hours and I major in biology(my career path is optometry) and I just need a straight answer is my dream of being a optometrist simply a dream. I ended with a not only 2.34 gpa but also having to retake two of my general education classes. I obviously realized this is not ok especially to my Dad. Not only because he pays for my schooling but because I let him down. I know I messed up but is my gpa for that semester gonna haunt me forever? I’ve made a goal to have better habits as well as studying and working my butt off for what I hope to end this next semester with a gpa of 3.4 to hopefully end my freshman year with a 3.0. Just a tad bit of advice and maybe reassurance would help me through this. Thank you all.
You can always improve your GPA. You’ve only been to college for one semester, there’s definitely time to improve. But, it will take persistent action on your part. Doing whatever you have (or maybe haven’t) been doing hasn’t been working. Read through @bopper’s list above, use resources at your college to implement strategies for improving. You can do this.
You’re fine. You recognize your start was rocky and have made changes. Good for you. Press on. It was a learning experience.
It depends on the reason for your lackluster grades. I also got those grades and even lower ones even in high school because I just didn’t like to do homework. But after 2 years of 2.2 gpa, when I changed my major, I got 3.9 gpa without trying hard. So spend some time to figure out the reason, and whether you should change your major.
I think you will be fine. Did you enjoy your major classes? That is the most important indicator, IMO. My daughter just finished out her first semester. She got a C and a D in her major classes but those were the most exciting classes she’s ever taken in her life. As long as you can see yourself continuing along, some tutoring and time-management will do the trick.
Well my major is biology and fortunately I did ok in that I got a B. The classes I have to retake are English and algebra unfortunately
I’m sorry about the English and Algebra. The lucky thing is most colleges are very good at offering tutoring for those subjects. Can you take them next semester so it’s fresh what went wrong? Or in the summer? Good luck.
@CCtoAlaska I just really didn’t apply myself in them. High school habits and me thinking I could do nothing and still pass… UTK has a pass/no credit system for most freshman classes so anything under C allowed . So I simply need to retake them this upcoming semester. It doesn’t affect my gpa though I’m certain anyone interested in my grade history could probably see that I didn’t pass them
I ended up with a 2.1 GPA my first semester of community college and had to retake algebra & English as well. I was able to get it up to a 3.0 the next semester but went down after that due to my grandmas death and other issues but I know I will get it back up. I’m a STEM major too but I’m not letting my past algebra grade stop me.
@Seannnwill sounds like it will work out OK. I wish you luck - I hope the semester goes more smoothly for you. The first semester of college can be very tough.
Don’t worry too much, the first semester at college is hard: you’re in a new environment with a set of obligations. English and Algebra aren’t for everyone, and it’s okay if you retake them. I would take a step back and see what you can change for next semester. @CCtoAlaska has really good advice about taking on tutoring sessions, I tutor Bio, Physics, Statistics, and Writing courses and I really like it when people come to sessions for help. It’s absolutely fine to ask for it, and in all honesty, it helps in the long run!
Hope this helps and best of luck! You got this 
You’ll be alright because it’s very early in your college career and you are still adjusting. For the subjects that give you trouble, find out if your school offers tutoring. Every little bit helps. HS students often have a shock moving on to college because it’s radically different in size and everyone expects you to be an adult. Just take it easy on yourself, don’t stack the stem courses so tightly together, try to throw in a class that has a subject that you enjoy as an elective GE. When you get to the upper division (300-400) that’s when it ramps up so my advice is to get to know the others in class and form study groups, look into tutoring and update your study habits for the college level. Good luck. ?
Also, talk to the financial aid office if you receive FA. Often, when you retake a class it is not considered as going full time or making academic progress. It may work out better if you retake one class next semester and the other in the summer. Just make sure you know all your options.