Winter break has come to an end, and it’s time to hit the books again. New classes are starting, your planner is getting crowded, and you’re up to your ears in syllabi. It’s time to get it together because it’s the spring semester.
Get excited for new classes, new activities, new friends and new topics to learn about, but don’t forget to be prepared for the next fifteen weeks.
Get your planner straight.
It’s easier to remember what’s due when, or what’s even due, if you have it all written down in one place. Instead of flipping through five packets of paper, you’ll just have to open up your planner and easily find what you’re looking for.
If you want to get extreme, you can color-code your planner; for example, one color for homework assignments, another for tests and another for quizzes. You can even add in different colors for meetings and fun plans if you want to get crazy.
Buy some new school supplies.
Purchasing some brand new, clean spiral notebooks and folders will immediately boost how you feel about the new semester. The new school supplies will get you excited, especially if you get them in bold, fun prints to contrast with the gloominess of January and February.
Make new friends in your classes.
It’s an old piece of advice all of us have heard since freshman year, but it’s still an important one. By making friends in your classes, you will have someone to text for notes when you miss lecture and a group to study with. You’ll thank yourself later on, and who knows? You could make a friend for life in one of your new classes.
Even if you don’t end up talking once the semester is over, you’ll still have someone to keep you company for the rest of the school year.
Get excited!
I know, I know, a new semester means homework assignments, tests and late-night study sessions. But it’s still an opportunity to get closer to earning your degree, as well as a new opportunity to learn something. Just because there are tests and, eventually, a final exam, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy yourself.
Set goals for yourself.
Do you want to get at least B’s in all of your classes this semester? Go for it. Do you want to stop procrastinating on essays so much? Plan ahead for it. This is a whole new semester for you to improve yourself—so go for it! Aim to keep making yourself a better person, and you’ll see results.
Good luck with your semester! HCXO