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.
0 Comments
Back-to-school season is upon us… While it can be sad leaving summer behind, there are things you can look forward to getting you motivated! A good living setup, both practicality and aesthetic, was ESSENTIAL in my academic success and well-being. This applied to my dorm room and my bedroom while finishing up college online from home. Your living space should feel safe, pleasing to be in, and set up for an effective workspace. It’s also a space for you to express your creativity too!
Finding Ideas There are infinite ideas for vibes and organization in your living space. Pinterest, YouTube, and online blogs were my go-to resources for narrowing down ideas. Pinterest is awesome because of the visuals you get in picture form and for building mood boards. I needed budget-friendly inspiration, and this was the best source for decorations I made and how potential organizing tools could look. I usually chose a theme for the year to build up a Pinterest board and kept it in mind when shopping for items. Later, I will explain how to shop for the ideas that resonate with you. Finding a Vibe Choosing a vibe or theme for your living space is a fun and super effective way to curate items for a place you will spend a lot of time. Don’t underestimate the power of this! You can decide on themes that bring you peace or joy, like a beach style, that of your culture, city vibes, minimalist, and more, or you can go simpler and choose an appealing color palette. (Check out the recommended sources mentioned earlier for ideas.) Doing this research also helps when shopping for items that stick out amongst the infinite dorm room supplies you encounter. Organizing Your Theme Looking through “to buy” lists from blogs and online searches can be overwhelming. A good idea is to go through the lists while making your own. Pick and choose what works for you. Every list has different ideas. For now, less is more. Don’t add too much; better buy more things later than waste money on more than you need. Fitting Your Budget Decorating on a budget was my main priority when setting up my dorm room. There are many ways to make an expensive, creative look without spending more than you can afford. Thrift stores are a great start to finding small pieces of furniture and unique decor or organization. There are plenty of back-to-school sales you can take advantage of as well. Back Market is an amazing website for buying refurbished technology at the lowest prices. I also started at the dollar store to find supplies for DIY decor and other items. Plants are also a great and affordable way to fill up and improve air quality in your space for better health, sleep, and more. While saving money is good, investing in a few items is worth it. One is a good pillow. Good sleep is crucial and helps avoid muscle tension from stress. Better to buy good pillows than cheap ones that you have to purchase multiple times. Another item to invest in is a comfortable chair. It’s easy for students in a small space to stay in bed throughout the day, making it harder to stay productive and fall asleep at night. A dish chair or bean bag is a comfortable, affordable solution for an alternative chilling spot. Lastly, the tools and organization you use for your desk are also good items to invest. You want this space to feel motivating, inspiring, and pleasant to work in. Make your go-to supplies accessible, add decorative pieces, and try different tech setups. Best Wishes, ~ Isabel Serrano The Obstacle
The first time I met Nathan was in November 2019. He was a sophomore attending a local California community college near me and was referred to me by his parents, who were concerned about his upcoming university transfer. Upon our meeting, it was clear Nathan was only meeting with me to appease his parents. Nonetheless, he divulged his goals to play soccer for a university and transfer into a criminal justice program. As we reviewed his education plan, he spoke with a tone of confidence and determination. Nathan knew he was on the right track for transfer, and the only unknown to him at the time was which school he would attend. "It depends on who gives me the offer to play." From this, it was clear that I was just there to affirm what he already knew. Since Nathan was a young boy, countless days and hours were spent on the practice field and competing in soccer games with travel ball teams. The competitive endeavor continued in high school and community college as he built his sports resume for university recruitment. Academically, he kept his grades above average to ensure a positive transition for his major. With both goals in mind, the idea of veering off track in either area was never a concern. Nathan established his path and checked all the necessary boxes, including working part-time to help pay for school. The next box in line for completion was his transfer to a university. With that, his only concern was recruitment by a school that would offer a sufficient scholarship. The following semester an opportunity emerged for Nathan. He received an invitation to try out for a Midwest university and knew this would be a great chance to show off his talent and acquire his much-needed scholarship. However, the tryout was scheduled for March 2020. Days before Nathan was supposed to step on a plane headed for the Midwest, California airports were shut down due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. As he watched the television reports, his concern grew. He worried about his chances for recruitment, a scholarship, and completing his degree. Ultimately, he knew he needed to be on-site at the university to actively show he was worth drafting. Nathan then reached out to the university coach to discuss the circumstances. Fortunately, the coach responded with a scholarship offer and a spot on the team. However, when Nathan heard the news, he hesitated. Nathan needed to negotiate for more funding to pursue the transfer. At this request, Nathan received little response. As the days and weeks passed, Nathan's contact with the Midwest university fell through and a trace of bitterness was set about the experience. Nathan continued attending classes at his college as they transitioned to online learning. Unfortunately, along with many students, he found online learning difficult. He couldn't focus, was unsure about directions, and felt uncertain about learning academic material independently. Nonetheless, he "got through things as best [he] could." However, at the end of the semester, his GPA dropped to an all-time low in his academic career. When it was over, he decided to "take a break and wait out the Covid year." Reaching Out Fifteen months later, I heard from Nathan again at the suggestion of his parents. This time we met via zoom, and it was clear he was a different person. The confidence I had seen at our first meeting was blinked away with uncertainty, and the tone of his voice sounded faint, somewhat thrown. Nathan described the struggles and experiences from the past year. He further explained how his job became a roller coaster filled with lay-offs and hourly adjustments but was the only thing he had going at the moment. When the recap of his year was over, he finally stated, "I’m not sure what to do." Working Towards a Solution First, we discussed Nathan's current goals. His dreams from fifteen months before were still the same; however, he was unsure if soccer was still feasible. We then discussed how things were affected academically. After reviewing this, we created an action plan and to-do list to get him back on track. The plan involved contacting coaches, enrolling in classes for the fall semester, and preparing for online courses. By the end of the conversation, the stress and uncertainty on Nathan's face subsided, and the tone of his voice rose at the idea of an action plan and a direction. The Reset Button When I spoke to Nathan a few weeks later, he was checking off his list of to-dos. He had signed back up for fall classes and reached out to coaches. He knew that soccer might no longer be possible but was still working toward a conclusion. However, the most significant change in his life was his new drive towards progressing his education and applying for an academic transfer in fall 2021. Finding Your Authentic Path Unfortunately, in life, plans are often thrown off course. When one plan doesn't turn out as scheduled, it's okay. Experiences like these contribute to your life's journey. You'll learn from experience that one seemingly dead-end could just be a redirection to a new, even more rewarding, authentic path. Steps to Finding the Reset Button If you're a student who's looking to reset your education, these steps can help:
|
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...
Archives
June 2024
Categories
All
|