New Year's Resolution (Academia Style)

(I know that my previous blog was all about organization and planning your semester (this one is similar, but not identicle!) ... I wrote that last one at the end of last semester and this one I wrote last night!)



Well my friends here it is, a brand new semester!

There is always such excitement come the commencement of a new semester. Students comparing their courses to see if they can have classroom buddies, the anticipation of getting the previous semester’s marks, the buzz of talking about their Christmas breaks, the presence of new students that we can get to know and befriend, and of course all the “New Year’s Academic Resolutions” that we students make to ourselves…

Anyone who has been at post-secondary school for at least two semesters knows exactly what I am talking about. These are the promises that we make to ourselves that this semester things are going to be different! Last semester we squandered away, but this semester, this semester we are going to get that 4.0 GPA, we will sleep more, we will study harder, we will be diligent in classes and maybe, just maybe get that ‘ring by spring’! Many of us have a difficult last few weeks trying to finish up term papers, study for finals and get all the necessary reading done. All-nights are too familiar for far too many people and with that fresh in my mind; we resolve to be more ‘on the ball’ at the front end of things!

It isn’t that I am against these resolutions, in fact I have made them every year that I have been at Ambrose and I think they are for the best, if nothing else they show our intentions! I think it is just tremendously unfortunate how quickly these promises we make crash and burn so hard, so fast, too often. This is my guide to avoiding the (too often) imminent crash and burn of New Year’s Academic Resolutions!

1. Organization. Read my previous post : )

2. School is a job, well maybe not, but if you view it as one you will be much better off! I owe this to a professor of mine that helped me out tremendously when I was swamped with far too much on my plate. He said if I were to view school as a job that I punched in a 9-5 day daily I would be way beyond okay. He said that if I were to take the normal coffee breaks, lunch breaks and maybe an extended half hour break in the afternoon but did work consistently throughout those hours I would never, ever have to do work after 5 p.m. This is true! If we put in that many hours of work a day which is not unreasonable for us to do (though at times I do realize this is not a reality due to other circumstances at time) we would be so far ahead of all of our classes that we would have more free time than we could imagine. I implemented this and the results were and continue to be amazing! Learn when you study at your best and do your homework then, know when you are firing on all cylinders and be intentional about getting your work done at that time.

3. You need to be involved in things that give you life. You know what I mean by this, things that give you energy, instill passion in your life and revitalize you. School can be a drag, a good one, a worthwhile one, but a drag nonetheless and you need to be doing things that you thoroughly enjoy. It is impossible to thrive if you deny yourself all the things that you love to do. Find the balance here. You cannot just play video games all the time claiming that gives you life and completely ignore the responsibility you have to your studies. You need to do both!

4. Be involved in the community, the brothers and sisters around you at Ambrose are there for you. They will be your support when you need them. They will give you advice when you need help, they will love you when you need it and they will always be there when the ‘going gets tough.’

5. Know that the professors are there to better you as a student AND as a person. They do care for you far more than your grades. They do the job they do because they are passionate about what they teach and they are passionate about helping you learn so that you may be effective in whatever you do. Ask questions and do not be scared to voice things that you do not understand. Be involved in class discussions, dialogue about things you need to understand more and seek their counsel and guidance.

6. When you have so many things on your plate, remember the best way to get things done is One at a time.

Friends, these are some of my experiences that will drastically improve your semester, not only on an academic level but also on a personal level. I have had my fair share of late nights, early mornings, stressful hair-pulling days and days that I feel as though it is impossible to go on. But the fact that I am writing this blog to you right now is proof that I have survived! I have learned some study tips that have aided my greatly and I sincerely hope will aid you in your journey at Ambrose. You have nothing to lose by trying them out, so you may as well give it a try!

Blessings!

-kyle.trigg
(kytrigg@ambrose.edu)