Vol 2. No 15.
Well, we have made it to the last week of the semester and
we are in the midst of a number of holiday celebrations and preparations. To that end, this blog is about how to best
survive the next week as you finish up all of your work and reflect on the
semester – and year – you have had. I
hope this helps some of you…
Talk to Your Faculty – If you have any concerns at all
about your grades or your work, go talk to your faculty. Chances are, they are more than happy to have
a chat. You may not get the news or the
answer you want or need, but those conversations are important as well. Just remember that faculty are also under a
lot of stress and they need you to be a little patient and understanding as
well. This is not the week to ask about
extra credit!
Get Academic Help – There is no shame at all in
getting the academic help you need to succeed.
We have so many support services on campus that are staffed with people
who have dedicated their lives to YOUR success.
That’s quite a thing to think about.
We don’t hide these offices in corners of the building, but rather put
them where they might best be useful.
For science help, there is the The Science Incubator –
with comfy study spaces and the science equipment you need to understand those
tougher concepts. For math help, we have
The Math Center. If you are anything like me, this place will
be a lifesaver as you plan for your final work in math classes. For writing those reflective essays and
anything else related to writing, there is The Writing Center. Last but not least, there is general tutoring
for all other sorts of classes and available in General Tutoring. Successful
or struggling, confused or confident – these places are all designed to help
you get the most out of your education.
Get Emotional Help – There is also no shame in
realizing that you are stressed, scared, floundering, or generally feeling lost
or panicky. It is a difficult time for
many for a lot of reasons, and you might find you need a little extra support
to get through this last week. Seek it
out. Counseling Services
on campus will give you that support in a sensitive, confidential, and
attentive way. If you don’t feel
comfortable going alone, seek out a trusted friend or faculty member to walk
you there. Your health is important,
please do what you can to protect it.
Take Care of You – Even if you do not feel you
require counseling services, it is important to take care of yourself. And this means your whole self – get as much
sleep as you can, take breaks from studying and working on projects, eat some
healthy and sustaining foods along with those cookies from home. Go out and play in the snow. Go caroling.
Bake. Drink cocoa. Go bowling.
Call home. Perform random acts of
kindness. Play a game. Listen to music. In other words, take the time to do some
things throughout the week that will help you stay happy and productive when
you are working and studying.
And my last piece of advice as you face this final week….
BREATHE.
When all is said and done, this is one semester in a
lifetime of learning and experiencing and no matter what happens right now,
life will go on and you will survive and succeed. You got
this. You really do. No matter how it unfolds, you can do it.
