As we head into the New Year, there are all kinds of things to celebrate - snow, time off from school, new beginnings, and spending time with family and friends are just a few. However, winter break is ending, and brings with it a special meaning for students of all ages: work. In high school, students typically get back in the swing of things as soon as the New Year starts. Projects are handed out, groups are assigned, sports practices and club meetings are scheduled. Once you get to college, things work a little differently.
In college, the syllabus handed out by your professor on the first day of class dictates everything you’ll need to know for the semester. Due dates from January through May are listed, and aside from the occasional reminder or assignment sheet passed out in class, it’s on you to make sure things get completed. One of the aspects of college that people look forward to most is the absence of parents, and when you want to watch an extra hour of television on a Wednesday or have ice cream for dinner at the dining hall, it’s all well and good (and fun!), but it’s easy to forget how much of a positive influence parents (or any adults you’re close to) have on your academic life.
In high school, it can feel exhausting to have an adult looking over your shoulder and asking “how’s the essay coming?” every three minutes, and your roommate isn’t going to do that for you in college. Since, for probably the first time, it’s up to you to motivate yourself, having a routine when you get back for the Spring is important. Know what times of day you have class, and what times of day you’re likely to be hanging out in your room or goofing around with friends. Accordingly, set hours (say, 4-6, and 8-11) where you’ll be focusing on schoolwork, but also know when you’re going to pause to relax (so you don’t feel overwhelmed). When the weather is nice on the weekends, go outside - but try not to leave your homework for the next week until 9pm on Sunday. I recommend having a planner to keep in your school bag, as well as a wall or desk calendar for your room (and if there’s a calendar program on your computer, use that too!) because you should never underestimate the importance and effect of writing something down. Looking at a calendar for the month and being able to see what you have due gives you a better idea of what you should be doing day-to-day. On days when it looks like you have the most work, try and break it off into smaller pieces. Take it one step at a time, breathe, and you can conquer any assignment.
Also, it’s never too early to learn the importance of self-motivation! These are all good habits to adopt as early as you can take them on. I bring it up now because in college, the work really starts to pick up when you start a new quarter, semester, or trimester. First tests, research papers, essays, and just when you’re excited about the weather turning nice, midterms or finals - it will all be easy to manage as long as you stay on top of yourself! If you need help finding the right planner for you, I recommend searching on Staples and Office Max websites, visiting specialty paper and card stores, or, best of all, visiting your school store. You can trust me on this. I’m probably looking at two of my planners right now.
And always remember: if opportunity doesn’t knock – build a door!
Sophy Ziss
