As you reflect on your fall semester and academic standing, your initial feelings can be satisfaction or disappointment. If you ended the semester disappointed, take time to process those feelings and work through the problem to succeed in your spring semester. Here’s an easy exercise to put the past behind you and confidently move into the Spring Semester. Take out two sheets of paper and prepare to write. Acknowledge the Problem Write down all your thoughts and feelings about your fall semester on the first piece of paper. Acknowledge all that went wrong and bad choices (not attending classes, low GPA, W’s, etc.), and vent out all that’s inside you –frustrations, anger, stress, etc. Be honest with yourself – no holding back. After you finish, tear up the paper and throw it away. The whole point is to release all your concerns from the fall semester so you can learn from your mistakes and move on to spring with a clear conscience. Acknowledge Successes On the second piece of paper, write down all the gains (big and small) you made or learned throughout the fall semester. For example: “I’m grateful for learning to connect with instructors and counselors. I’m grateful for learning where the library is on campus. I’m grateful for getting a B on my assignment.” Identify everything you learned throughout the semester, no matter how big or small. Keep this paper and continue to add to your successes. Acknowledge the Learning Process Acknowledge that the fall semester was your first semester in college, and you learned what is required to succeed. You are in control of your outcome and can flip your script towards success or keep things as is. To achieve success, find your inner guide, create a plan of action for success and implement it. If you have difficulty, don’t hesitate to meet with a counselor as soon as possible to get you on track. Implement Habits for Success
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Dear Students, As you head back to campus this semester and feel energized to start fresh with each new course, effectively managing your course load can make all the difference in your outcome. Managing your course load means learning to organize your time, homework, grades, plans, and wellness for optimal success. To understand this better, take a moment to visualize two scenarios for your semester. Scenario 1 In the first scenario, you do not implement course management strategies. In the beginning, your semester goes as planned; however, six weeks later, the pressure builds because you did not pass your first exam, or your homework list has gone from two late assignments to ten. By midterms, you are freaking out and withdrawing from a class (or two). You start to feel like things are out of control and hopeless. In the end, the stress affects your overall well-being, and you may question your higher education path. (If this was your scenario last semester (or something similar), you are well aware of the pressures and stress that encompass you and are ready to begin the semester positively). Scenario 2 Next, visualize a new scenario where you apply course management strategies. You create a balanced schedule, check the professor's syllabus for due dates, apply time-management techniques, create a homework schedule, and more. You receive a passing grade on your first exam one month into the semester. You are up-to-date on the majority of your homework. You feel pressure to keep up with the workload but know that you have everything under control and a positive outlook for the semester's outcome. Ultimately, you feel a sense of accomplishment and realize that the course management strategies you applied kept you afloat each week. APPLYING COURSE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES Balancing Your Time Taking the time to plan and stay organized is essential. Aside from homework and classes, your balancing act should include time for self-care, family, work, and even socialization. Referencing how to balance school and work adds great insight into creating symmetry with your time and optimizing your success. Creating a Balanced Course Load Do you have a balanced course schedule? College is already stressful enough with any combination of classes within a semester. Still, when students register for multiple demanding courses in a semester, increased pressure and possible failures begin due to an unmanageable workload. Therefore, create your schedule balancing intense, moderate, and low-stress courses combined. For example, taking two science courses simultaneously during your first year of college is risky. Each science class has an intense workload, and doubling that workload on top of the rest of your courses is an immense amount of work to maintain. Let's keep a quality-over-quantity mindset. Remember, 12 semester units (15 quarter units) equals full-time status, and the goal is to end the semester successfully. You don't have to overdo it (especially in your first year). If you question whether your course load is balanced, check with your counselor or advisor to discuss what is manageable. Manage Your Mindset Managing your courseload also means overseeing your mindset. Your mindset can shift quickly depending on the situation and the challenge. Whether the problem is too much homework, not hearing back from your professor regarding your grade, or not comprehending the course material, these moments of frustration can influence your success. First, process the problem by writing it down on paper. Writing the problem down helps you work through it and see the situation objectively. Also, seeing it in black-and-white makes it tangible, and you can confront the problem face-on. Next, write a solution to the problem - identify what actions you can take to resolve the issue. If you need help determining what steps to take, seek guidance from your counselor or advisor so they can point you in the right direction. Also, remember your peers are on the same path as you; ask around and share ideas to discover options of how to proceed Manage Your Self-Care
Taking time out to implement self-care strategies and reset your brain improves your success when managing your course load. When necessary, take the time to walk away from overwhelming tasks. Distract yourself through breathing exercises, meditation, a change of scenery, walking, or a nap. Then you can return to the project with a fresh perspective. Intentional Moments Creating a to-do list and focusing on one thing at a time helps manage your course load. At the beginning of each week, review your due dates, then list what needs to be accomplished for the week. Making these moments intentional and focused increases your success. However, when creating your list, avoid overcommitting yourself to too many activities. Instead, only commit to what is necessary. Presence Learning to be present is a powerful tool and can relieve a lot of stress. In college, we tend to think about the ten different things we must complete in the future. Unfortunately, thinking about your "future" to-do's only leads to added pressure. Instead, trust the organizational plans you've created and think of one thing you can do during your present moment. Being in your present moment, you have control over your actions and what's needed. This alleviates the stress and worries that build up and helps you manage your course load. Know Your Expectations and Requirements Take time to read and refer to your professors' syllabi. Then, highlight, underline, circle, and annotate each professor's policies on grading, deadlines, and attendance. Being aware of all expectations and requirements increases your success. ~To learn more about navigating your college experience, click here to sign up for ICC's no-cost newsletter on the latest developments in student success. ~ Excerpt from The Hidden College Success Guide.
By Valecia Rotell According to a student survey conducted by San Bernardino Valley College, 50% of all working students found that balancing their time between school and work was the biggest challenge affecting their academic success ("30-Day Check-in," 2021). These effects can increase stress, frustration, and the choice to drop out of school for some students. Fortunately, students can easily overcome this issue by taking a proactive approach and implementing critical steps to ensure a successful future. Here are a few tips to increase your world of success: Prioritize Organization and Routines The more organized you are, the easier it is to balance your school and work schedules. Create to-do lists and check them each morning. Make sure you charge your phone nightly. Then, when you receive your syllabus, plan your day, week, and month Communicate with Employers and Professors With employers, begin the semester by asking for a set schedule so you can create a solid routine. Often employers will work with you. However, if you're schedule varies from week to week, take the time to plan each week. Planning gets quicker and more manageable after you've done it several times. When it comes to student work schedules, professors expect you to organize your time from the onset. However, if you have a schedule change or foresee a problem, communicate concerns with your professor as soon as possible to see if they can work with you. Prepare for Procrastination Knowing that procrastination may set in at some point, it's good to study ahead of time. However, an excellent way to combat procrastination is to create a quick to-do list and start working on one thing at a time. Your planning triggers a ripple effect and moves you past the desire to procrastinate. Eliminate Distractions Distractions can come from everywhere – friends, family, cell phones, the Internet, etc. However, being diligent about your commitment will benefit you greatly and create good study habits. Treat school like a job. You have to be there to make your money. In this case, the money is the big payoff in your future. Find a space where distractions are limited. Close the door to your room or go to the library; find your quiet space. Learn to Say No When you've balanced your schedule and have found success in its implementation, don't let others veer you off track. Just say, "no." Implement Good Time Management and Breaks Devoting all your time to studying, work, and other responsibilities may lead to burnout. Instead, reset your brain by taking time to meditate, go for a walk, be with friends, or take a 20-minute nap. This "reset" button lowers stress levels, increases productivity and motivation, and gives you the strength to move forward and reach your goals. Utilize Your Support Team Talking through the stress of balancing your day with support members creates a moment where you can receive feedback and perspective on the big picture and your evolution as a student. Ask for Help Don't do it alone. When you need help on assignments or concerns, reach out to others (tutors, peers, professors, counselors). When you try to do it alone, you isolate yourself from the support that moves you into your moments of success. Always reach out and ask for help. It's one of the master keys to success! Don't Forget Gratitude Finding gratitude when you're being productive or completing an assignment or class moves you closer to your goal. Each step should be celebrated and checked off the list as an accomplishment. Showing gratitude for each moment creates continued success and empowerment with every check mark. Utilize Planner Apps Trello, Google Calendar, Awesome Calendar, and Notion all provide great apps to help you balance your schedule as much as needed. As you prepare to jumpstart a new semester amidst an ongoing pandemic, let’s take a moment to celebrate and reflect on your 2021 experience. Navigating the recent societal climate while working and going to school has required immense strength, sacrifices, and personal drive; you made it through! While life may not have looked like you wanted it to, give yourself all the credit for the resilience and growth that came from 2021. You learned how to adapt, many of you got to go back to school in person and make the best of it with new friendships and experiences, and perhaps you found new personal habits making progress towards reaching your potential. Let’s take advantage of this new energy that comes with the changing of a year to reward ourselves for surviving 2021 and either set or maintain intentions to experience the growth and adventures that 2022 will bring. Remember, choose a pace of life and goals that allows you to live a healthy life balance that is fulfilling to you; it will look different for everyone!
Intentions Are Powerful While you cannot always control onset circumstances, you can always focus on the energy and attitude you bring into a situation in order to navigate it in a way that works in your best interests. Let’s set a framework of intentions and energy to take with you and face whatever this next semester and year will bring. With this process, find the methods that work best for you and inspire motivation that will be effective whenever you need to reflect. This could be done in journals, vision boards, writing in your planner, etc. Here are some prompt ideas to write out and fill in the blanks with words that resonate with you:
Resources for a Fresh Start There are several tools and resources out there to help in your process of reflection and personal growth or productivity. Using something like The Five Minute Journal is an effective and easy way to fit a few minutes into your morning and night routines to check in on your day and mental health. The same creators also make a Productivity Journal. Another book called My Wellness Journal is helpful for keeping track of daily habits and activities. While structure in resources like these can help, feel free to experiment creating your own journal or planner! What matters is that this action of staying in touch with intentions, gratitude, and planning out productivity is supportive towards you living a healthy life that brings you closer to your goals. Take Care, You Got This Looking ahead to the upcoming semester, you may be facing hybrid or online learning again. While some might appreciate it for a bit, for others it is an immense effort that can take a toll on mental and academic health. Remember to be patient with yourself, know that you are stronger than you think and capable of facing whatever comes next. Wishing you a peaceful new year, ~ Isabel Serrano |
Author(s)
Valecia Rotell is a college counselor and consultant who helps students work through the challenges and hurdles in college, leading them towards a successful, happy and authentic journey. Read more...
Isabel Serrano is a first-generation Mexican-American college graduate from Southern California. She graduated from La Sierra University in 2021 (Magna Cum Laude) with a Bachelor of Arts in Music as well as a minor in business studies and is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Classical Flute at Manhattan School of Music in NYC. Read more...
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