Hello, to all my wonderful readers! The new school year is upon us and I am now in my senior year of college/university! (Where did time go? This is absolutely crazy!) I enjoy prepping for the new school year and getting pumped up about starting different classes and meeting new people (Yes, I admit I am a nerd, but I just like school.) I want to gear these tips more towards college/university students, but no matter what grade you are in, I'm sure (and I hope) at least some of these pieces of advice can be useful for younger students.
1.) Keep your syllabus safe!
On the first day of class, your professors will give you a syllabus which outlines the course objectives, important due dates, projects, course policies (attendance, grading, rules, etc.) and will also provide your professor's contact info as well as his/her office hours. In college, it is all up to you to make sure you keep up with course work and are organized and always prepared. Professors will typically not remind you about papers and exams. Checking the syllabus and highlighting important dates and projects is a must. The syllabus will tell you just about everything you need to know and before you ask your professor a question about the class, make sure you check the syllabus first. Professors spent a ton of their time creating a syllabus for you to use and treasure. DO NOT ASK A QUESTION WITHOUT READING THE SYLLABUS FIRST! Chances are, the answer is in the syllabus and you are wasting your professor's precious time.
2.) Do NOT be afraid to make yourself known.
Yes, I know many people are going to roll their eyes and call me a giant nerd, brown-noser, etc. Sit in the front row. Where you sit in the lecture hall, says a lot about your willingness (or lack thereof) to actively participate in class. Sitting in the front row tells a professor that you are ready to learn, and refuse to let anything distract you from paying close attention and being engaged during the lecture. Don't be shy about participating in discussions, asking/answering questions. If the professor can easily see your face body language and hear your voice during the class, there is a very good chance at the end of the course, he/she will take into consideration your engagement and will reward you for your hard work. Participation points are practically free and choosing to sit all the way in the back and text/watch Netflix/sleep is just dumb if you want to get a good grade and succeed.
3.) Dress for success
It is no secret that I love fashion (um, my other blog, Chloe's Closet?) This tip goes along with tip #2. When you present yourself in a tidy and polished manner, your professor will notice and it will make him/her believe that you very serious about coming to class and working hard. PJs, sweats, yoga pants are very comfy but should be reserved for the gym and/or home if you want to be taken seriously. In the professional workplace, you would be sent home and disciplined if you showed up in sweatpants or PJs. Why not practice being professional now so you don' have to learn it later. PJs and sweats tend to subtlely convey to others that you are lazy, just rolled out of bed, or don't care about being fully prepared for class. (even if you really are ready to work hard and engage) You may be a lovely person, but the way you present yourself to others can have a big impact on how well you achieve success.
4.) Use an agenda/planner to your advantage
My #1 necessity for school supplies is a well-laid out agenda. I get agendas that have both a monthly view and also a daily view. Each day after class, I immediately write down all assignments/projects/quizzes/exams that are due or coming up. I use my syllabus to write down things in the monthly view so I can see a better picture of exactly what the month looks like for me and then use the daily view to write down daily assignments and reminders to keep working on bigger projects/papers, as well as reminders to study for quizzes and exams. Your syllabus and agenda should always be kept safe. If I lost my agenda, I would be in so much trouble and have so much anxiety. My agenda is my #1 way of keeping my life organized since I also use it to write down school functions/out-of-class activities, to-do lists, travel plans, etc.
5.) Find a way to de-stress after each day.
My final tip is probably one of the most important tips I could give students. If you don't take enough time to unwind and relax, you will burn out and get overwhelmed with all your obligations. Make sure you find an outlet to decompress and not have to worry about anything. Maybe a TV show, reading, working out/exercising, journaling, or even just taking the time to get a cup of coffee and meet up with good friends. The point is you need time to just take care of yourself and rest. Being a "worker-bee" without giving yourself breaks leads to exhausting and can make you sick. Be nice to yourself. Then you will be able to be even more productive while also having a good mood.
I hope you found these tips helpful and I hope my fellow students have an amazing school year. Work hard and do your absolute best, but ultimately, take good care of yourself and you will see the benefits. Have fun and enjoy your friends. Good laughter and fellowship are vital keys to being successful. Good friends help us keep our sanity. =)
XOXO
Chloe
