And so the semester begins. Chances are, most of us are feeling pretty bittersweet about returning to classes. As someone who commutes from the Middle of Nowhere (also known as the tiny hamlet of Bond Head), waking up at 5:30 or 6:00 A.M most days is enough to make any student cry. On the bright side, it also means I get to be reunited with all the people I didn’t see much over the break. Socializing aside, the combination of new workloads after a long break and the frigid temperatures of January tend to make for a potentially difficult and painful winter semester. Here’s how I get through the first half of the semester:
1. Get Organized and Manage Your TimeÂ
New year, new me, right? Study harder, focus more, and raise that GPA! Trust me, I’m in the same boat. First semester was rough, and I’m definitely not looking forward to getting some exam grades back. Personally, I’ve found that it is easiest to achieve these goals when I have my books organized, desk clean, and a calendar and schedule for when each of my assignments and readings need to be done by, as well as any quizzes or exams are. It sounds like a lot of work, and it definitely can be, but it hasn’t failed me yet! It’s only when I stop following my schedule and give my time to other, lower-priority things that my grades begin to slip, and with them, what remained of my sanity.
2. Get Help
Sometimes, doing things alone isn’t always enough. There is absolutely no shame in needing some extra help. University is hard, and everyone has that one course they cannot seem to understand. If you can’t afford to pay someone to help, chances are you have some classmates who are struggling just as much as you are. Study groups I’ve formed with my friends have been total lifesavers, and my GPA would definitely be way lower without their help. Finding upper year students who have taken the course you’re struggling in is also a great way of getting some help- I’d probably be failing Korean if it weren’t for my friend in fourth year who happily answered my midnight freak out questions. Professor and TA office hours are also there for a reason! Don’t be afraid to use them! I’ve found that a lot of profs are happy to give some extra time to their students- they care and really do want you to understand their material. Don’t be scared of embarrassing yourself, they get it- they were struggling students once too.
And I know that our winter break just ended, but reading week is in just over a month! So if you’re worried about burnout because your fall semester was hard, it’s okay! For this semester we actually get a full reading week, so you will have time to catch your breath and de-stress! Hang in there, Yorkies, we’re halfway to summer!