It’s the third week of school, but you’re already behind in one class and completely lost in another. After bombing your first quiz of the semester, you feel anxious, upset, and utterly hopeless. You accept that it was meant to be a rough semester, and you’re let down by the fact that you can never make it up. But don’t lose hope just yet, because you can absolutely bounce right back and end the year successfully; all you have to do is adopt a new strategy, and you will have smooth-sailing and a successful remainder of the year.
Adopt a growth mindset
If dwelling on the mistakes of the past is keeping you from moving forward, then it is time for you to change your mentality towards school. You should not view previous blunders as signs of failure, but rather opportunities to improve and flourish. Instead of dreading challenging and demanding classes, tackle them with excitement and a desire for learning and growth. Remember, no one is truly stuck in one place. You have the ability to change, but the first step is believing you can.
Be proactive
When you feel lost and confused, the biggest mistake you can make is trapping yourself inside your little bubble. Although it is easy to feel that you are all alone, the truth is that there are so many resources provided by Northeastern that can help you with course material and academic performance in general. Shoot your professor an email letting him or her know of your situation, and perhaps you can schedule an appointment to discuss your class performance or go over some concepts that you do not feel confident in. Talk to your academic advisor and get some general advice that can help you with your overall academic performance. Attend office hours regularly and seek help from teacher assistants. You can also join a study group; you’ll be surprised and comforted to know that there are students that are just as confused as you are. As long as you’re continuously being proactive and not letting yourself fall behind, then you’ll be able to get right back on track.
Get organized
Amid the chaos of learning new material and catching up on previous lessons, being disorganized will only make you feel even more anxious than you already are. Whether it is by using Google Calendars, a bullet journal, a planner, or even a to-do list, find a method of organization that works best for you and stick to it. When you can easily view all of your current and upcoming tasks in one place, you can plan ahead and find time to accomplish every single one them without the hassle and stress. While you can’t escape workload, your mind will be much more at ease and your short-term goals, as well as your long-term goal of ending the semester successfully, will be much, much more attainable.
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