Whether you are about to leave behind summer vacation to start your first semester in the school year or are going into the second one, starting a new semester can be stressful.
It is a time of confusion and anxiety for many students, simply because they haven’t prepared well, don’t know how to prepare well, or have so much to prepare for!
This transitioning time can really be a time of chaos for anyone because we don’t know what’s ahead and we don’t know what to do with what’s behind.
However, there are strategies to deal with both, to ensure that you benefit from your previous experience while optimizing the upcoming one.
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1. Reflect
You know what they say? “Only a really foolish person does the same thing over and over and expects a different result.” You cannot repeat a process that never bore the fruit that you desired and expect it to bear that fruit the second time around. Same processes don’t produce different results.
Instead, at the beginning of each new semester (or any new stage of life, for that matter), always reflect on what you did in the past. Sit down for just 10 minutes and write down the answers to these questions:
What worked for you in the last semester? What did not work? What did you do well? What wasn’t so hot? Why did you do what you did? If you didn’t do something, then why not? What would you change if you could do it all over? What would you leave the same? How do you want that change to happen? What are you willing to do to get better results? Why do you want better results?
Having answers to these questions ensures that you don’t repeat actions that are ineffective. Instead, reflecting forces you to forge new methods, simplify the process, and uphold your goals without sacrificing your values.
2. Set New Goals
Right after the 10 minute reflection, you should carry on those ideas and convert them into goals (and actually write them out by hand). Meaning, now that you know what worked and what didn’t work as well as what you want to change about yourself or the strategy, you should make those changes goals that you aspire to achieve.
For instance, one of my real struggles in the last semester (as I came to find through reflecting) was doing assignments (especially math and science assignments) on random pieces of paper that I never kept in one designated place.
The work for almost every assignment would be in a different notebook! And when it was time to correct my work or review the material, I would go around like a crazy person searching for just the right assignment. Not organized at all. Rookie mistake, man.
Through reflecting, I discovered that this was a little problem for me that can probably make my life way easier if I fixed. I also discovered that certain strategies like transferring all my work online wouldn’t work for me because I’m a tactical learner and because I literally think with my hands.
Because of that, one of my goals for the new semester is to keep all the assignments and work for every class in its designated notebook or file and not scatter my work everywhere when I’m in a hurry or when I’m too excited about solving a specific problem.
3. Read & Re-read Your Syllabi
With each new semester, comes a new load of classes, teachers, content, and work. Knowing the basics about each of those things is a must before you step foot in the semester.
And you know where all of that basic info is found? Yup, your syllabus.
Even if you’ve already had the class for a previous semester, it is still good to go back and re-read it. Why? Because it will most likely remind you of important projects, tests, and deadlines coming up that you need to be aware of.
4. Organize & Plan
If all you do is just read over the syllabus and then continue browsing Instagram, then you have done absolutely nothing. You will forget every single date and title in a matter of minutes.
What you need to do is write these deadlines down in a planner or on a calendar. Not only that, but break the work into smaller, more manageable chunks and spread them out over the given time period so that you can efficiently and gracefully complete the project/task without any stress.
As for organization, all you really need is a basic structure for: learning foreign content (like a note-taking system), holding on to assignments, and carrying out work throughout the day (like time-blocking).
5. Restock Supplies
I don’t know about you, but I’m a sucker for luxury office supplies (what a weird taste). I have stacks of journals, planners, gel pens, sticky notes, calendars, and highlighters that can last me until I finish all my schooling (which is an incredibly long time).
It’s not even that I waste them. I make use of everything, sooner or later. There always comes a need for some tool or another. But, I’m concerned about all the students who don’t take inventory of what supplies they need at the beginning of a school year or a new semester to ensure they have all the physical tools to succeed and do quality work. Investing in simple, yet necessary tools like these, also does wonders to your state of mind.
What does that look like?
Well, depending on what you are studying and what kind of projects you’ll embark on, the list will change, but here are the essentials:
6. Obtain Class Material
Depending on what subjects/classes you are taking, you will need to obtain specific resources that are required for that class.
That may be textbooks that you need to pick up from your school or order online. It may be specific books that you will read and do assignments on in class that you may need to purchase or check out from a local library.
If you have specific standardized exams that you know you’ll be taking, it will probably be wise to purchase study guides and resources to help you study and prep for them.
How do I know what I’ll need?
Again, look at the syllabus and ask the teacher! Most likely, either will have the answer. If there are specific resources that you need to acquire to do the work for a class, the teacher will most likely let you know. Nonetheless, it remains your duty to seek that information and secure the resources.
7. Update Your Resume
It is the ideal that with each time period of your life as a student you collect new experiences and qualifications to verify or validate your expertise in a specific field, or at least that’s what the resume is for.
At the end of summer and at the end of the first semester, you should update your resume with any job opportunities you have taken, any certificates/awards you have earned, and any specific courses that stand out or aid your field of interest.
If that’s something you normally don’t do, then I encourage you to try it. Even if there isn’t anything major to add, just be aware that this is an important aspect of your professional presentation as a student (and as a person) in the modern world that will assist your employment opportunities.
The actual content of your resume should include:
- Intro section: (name, address, phone number, email, and optional picture)
- Education section: latest degrees/diplomas and the institutes (with years of graduation). If you have not graduated yet, include the most qualifying courses that you are currently studying.
- Work Experience section: previous jobs/volunteerism (with time periods).
- Certifications section: certificates/legal abilities that have been approved/endorsed by legal organizations.
- Skills section: what you can do WELL. The things that make you stand out for that position.
- Activities/Hobbies section: what you enjoy doing and where you spend most of your non-working hours.
- Bonus Tools/Technology section: digital abilities or experience with professional technology in your field.
These sections are the vertebrae of a solid resume. For a concrete example, here is my simple and basic resume. If you need a more personalized and unconventional example, you can use my personalized resume.
For more detailed tips on what to include in a resume, click here.
Getting back into the flow of things academically can be tough, especially after long vacations or a stressful first semester. What worked for some students, may not have worked for you. That’s why it is essential to begin prepping for the new semester by reflecting and then working your way from there. You can then set some new goals, plan accordingly, and ensure your success by securing all the resources and tools you need.