It’s pretty stressful being in school full time and also working (part time or full time), along with life’s everyday challenges, and I don’t even have kids yet (props to the moms finishing school!). This past semester was one of my most hectic. It was my first semester back to school full-time, and also my first full-time semester at SHSU. On top of returning to school full-time, I started a new job, was busy packing to move out of our apartment, and planning a wedding. Needless to say, I was pretty stressed out. But by the grace of God, I managed to pull off all A’s. He is my strength. He kept me sane and helped me through the struggles. I am so grateful.
Here are a few things that I did to make the semester as smooth as possible:
1. A few weeks before class starts, get your schedule printed and write down what you think each day of the week will be like.
This really helps with time management; realizing how much time you’ll be spending at school and work, and figuring out when your study/homework time will be.
Example of my upcoming Spring Semester:
Monday:
Online Class (SPED 2301) + Homework/Study 8am-10:30am
Work 11am-5pm
Continue Online Class (if necessary) 6pm-8pm
Tuesday:
Work 10am-3:30pm
Class (Math 3381) 4:30-5:50
Homework/study 7pm-8pm
Wednesday
Work 11am-4:30pm
Class (READ 3380) 5:30pm-8:20pm
Thursday:
Work 10am-3:30pm
Class (Math 3381) 4:30-5:50
Homework/study 7pm-8pm
Friday
Online Class (BESL 2301) + Homework/Study 8am-10:30am
Work 11am-5pm
Continue Online Class (if necessary) 6pm-8pm
Weekends:
Wedding Planning
Time for family
(I usually try not to do anything for school on the weekends)
So this is just an example of how I think my week will be going next semester. My school schedule is set in stone, but work isn’t. Luckily, my bosses are pretty flexible (mother/father in-law). But if yours aren’t, always make sure to set your priorities, so even if you work all day, don’t go home and watch Netflix, keep up the hard work and do what you need to for school. I am definitely one of the worst Netflix watchers, but I am also a crazed "to-do list” go getter. I am one of those people who has to get everything on my to-do list ASAP, or else it never gets done. So i do projects and papers ahead of time.
2. Look up your text books a few weeks in advance so you can do your research and order online according to get the cheapest prices.
I usually find my textbooks pretty cheap on amazon and I always order used if the option is there. But if you prefer to get new books, then you have the option of getting amazon prime to get free 2-day shipping. Students get it at a reduced price, but you can also get a 6-month free trial if amazon prime is not in the budget. If you intend to get used books keep in mind that free 2-day shipping doesn’t always apply to used items. And don’t forget to order your books a few weeks before school starts to provide plenty of time for them to arrive before school starts.
3. Find out where you’re going.
This may be extreme, but the day before I first started at Sam, I had maps of where all the buildings were, and where all the parking lots were. I made it very easy for me to find parking by arriving early and knowing the exact parking lot I wanted to park in to make sure that I would be close the buildings that my classes were in. It worked out pretty well! And saved me time and stress.
4. Gather your syllabi from each class and look at the schedules.
I usually like to write exam dates and due dates in my planner in case I lose a syllabus (but make sure you never lose any!) I always go through the assignments and projects I will be doing and the rubrics for them. I also look at how much each assignment/project/exam is worth. These are good things to review in order to aim for the grade you want (hopefully you’re aiming for an A).
5. Make a schedule for your assigned reading.
Each syllabus will most likely list what you need to read and when it needs to be read by. Look at how many pages you’ll have to read and determine whether the reading can be done in one sitting or will have to be broken up by a few days.
For Instance:
Read Chapter 3 by next Tuesday (4 days from now). Chapter 3 has 28 pages. You can wake up early, make a pot of coffee, and read the entire chapter in one sitting, or you can go easy on yourself and break it up. 28 pages in 4 days = 7 pages a day.
If you have to read a chapter in each book in 4 days, do the same for each book. Break the pages up between the four days, and read each books assigned pages of the day, but break that up too. Example: Book 1 in the morning (5 pages a day), book 2 during lunch (8 pages a day), book 3 after work (11 pages a day), book 4 before bed (4 pages a day). That way you don’t confuse your readings. And read them in the same order each day. You can decide which book to read during certain times of day, for instance, if I know I wake up late in the morning, I would choose the book with the least pages to read in the morning, or I would choose that book to read before bed because I know I will be tired and not in the mood to read.
6. Work ahead of your syllabus schedule
Try your best to start assignments or projects long before the due date (if your schedule permits) so you won’t be stressing and cramming when you knew the due date all along. I tend to work pretty well under pressure, but I prefer not to. I like to give myself plenty of time to work on something so I don’t have to feel like “there’s not enough time to do it, so why put in 100%?” So try to avoid procrastinating. As soon as you find out about a new assignment, start it right away. It feels awesome to get things done with a week or two to spare! Trust me.
7. Create a “time to study” atmosphere.
Make sure your desk is clear of clutter so you can focus on school. I don’t have an office/desk area at the moment, so I tend to do all my school stuff on my bed. I like to make sure that my room is tidy and my bed is made, this makes me feel less stressed and more focused. A mess can be really distracting, and I just can’t study until I clean it up. I also love candles, so I like to light one or two just to make myself a little more relaxed.
8. Keep your highlighters and post-it notes handy.
Highlighters are pretty much my best friend when it comes to reading textbooks and studying. If I think it will be important, I highlight it. It makes homework/research a little easier. Sometimes it really helps getting used books because the previous owner most likely already highlighted all the important stuff. But you might want to use a different color highlighter so you can tell what they highlighted and what you highlighted. Great minds don’t always think alike!
9. Flashcards & Study Guides!
Flashcards and study guides are great resources for studying for exams. Many professors create study guides for you about the material that will be on the test, they’ll go over key points that they hit throughout class that you will need to go over. That’s when flash cards come in handy. You can use them for vocabulary, formulas, and so on. This makes it easy to quiz yourself and review for your test. Not all professors create study guides, so use your notes you took in class and also what you highlighted in your textbook and create your own study guide.
10. Prayer for peace and rest
There were plenty of times last semester where I would lie awake at night thinking about all the things that I had to do the next day or the next week. I would stress and worry, but then God would put it on my heart to stop thinking about it, give my troubles to Him, and get some rest. His word reminded me of His truth. Read these verses and keep them in your heart:
”Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” -Matthew 6:27
”Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” -Philippians 4:6-7
"I can do all things through Him who gives me strength” -Philippians 4:13
I hope you all have a great next semester! Feel free to share your own tips for surviving a crazy semester!
