The second it starts to feel like Spring, my motivation completely goes down the drain. It’s always a constant battle getting to class when all I want to do is soak up the sun. Along with the beautiful weather, this is the time students are completely slammed with work. With these last few weeks of the semester, we need all the strength we can get to finish strong.
Here are some tips to make the final countdown to break a little more bearable.
Make time to enjoy the weather without taking away from class time. Junior Lourdes Luna understands how difficult it can be ‘wasting’ the day indoors, but advises it’s in your best interest. “You may not want to be present in class, but put it in perspective: you can always go out after class,” Lourdes said. “[Skipping class] will eventually catch up with you. You’ll have to stay in more to make up the work you missed.” It’ll feel so much better enjoying the sun after completing all your tasks than trying to relax when your mind is still preoccupied with school.
Don’t mess up your GPA after all the hard work you’ve done. It may not feel like a big deal to miss a quiz or an assignment here and there, however, it really adds up. These small points can have a big impact on your final grade in the last few weeks of the semester. Dynamic sister duo Sophomore Alexis and Senior Emily Duah-Elwis refuse to let themselves forget to keep their eye on the prize. Putting in the work now will be worth it! “Think of the future, go to class and do the work. It’s almost over,” Emily said. Alexis remembers that she wants to get into graduate school and slacking off now could really damage her GPA. The future can be really intimidating to think about, but thinking about it will definitely make you productive!
Even though summer is in the back of your mind, it’s so easy to feel completely overwhelmed with assignments at this point in the semester. Just take it one assignment at a time, one day at a time. “Relax. Find some tea or coffee and a good study environment,” Lourdes said. She added that if you’re having trouble with one subject, to take a break from that and move on to another and go back to it at a later time.
Just remember to be positive. It may seem like the time to be stress-free, go on vacation, be with friends and get a decent night’s sleep is an eternity away but it is so much closer than you think. In a few short weeks, you can finally get your tan on and be proud of all the work you’ve accomplished this school year!
Stay strong and get it done!