Life Advice
Hey, guys!
As we pass over the hump of midterms, I have some advice on some questions and concerns that usually arise around this time in the term!
I’m a little stressed about my midterm grades; what can I do to improve them?
It depends on the teacher, but I would say your best bet is to ask for extra help. Even if it’s just meeting with your teacher once a week to go over things you don’t understand or need to work on, or going to peer tutoring to get help with homework problems or editing a paper, it definitely helps to get some support. Along with this, it’s really important to make sure you do your homework to your best ability because that’s really where most new concepts are introduced. Also, don’t be afraid to reach out to people that you know do well in the subject(s) you’re struggling with. I mean, who knows, maybe you can ask your crush to “help you with math” and one thing may lead to another, and because of your loveliness he or she just might ask if you’re free next Tuesday night.
I’m really happy with my midterms, but I’m afraid my grades will start slipping. How can I make sure to stay on top of everything?
I think making sure you fully understand what’s going on in class is the best way to stay on top of your grades. Whether you’re doing well in a class or not, it’s always important to make sure you have a pretty good grip on the concepts at hand. If you start to feel like there is something you don’t understand in a particular class, go to your teacher! Chances are they’ll want to help you understand what’s going on because they just want you to learn and become a better student.
I’ve been finding that I’m procrastinating with my homework and as a result getting to bed really late. How can I focus in on my work?
I am the conductor on the train that pulls into procrastination station on many nights, so I definitely understand. I think what helps me break that habit is creating a plan for myself. If you know you have a big night coming up with a lot of work and long assignments, sitting down and planning out your night can be really helpful and effective. I would incorporate breaks into your schedule so you have something to look to forward throughout the night while trying to stay on time as much as possible. But, I also think it’s ok to procrastinate every once in a while. I wouldn’t say to not do your work, or to put it off a lot, but if you find that an hour has gone by because you were having a conversation in the common room, don’t beat yourself up about it because it’s important to make connections with people and to give yourself a break too sometimes.
How do I use my Sundays more effectively?
Personally, I’m a big fan of Sundays being “me time” where I really only spend time with three people the whole day. I think the reality of Sundays is you have so much time, and it can be a little overwhelming. I like to relax in the morning, maybe watch a few episodes of a show in my bed, and then go to the gym in the afternoon. I usually get started on my work sometime in the late afternoon and try to finish before 9 p.m.; though this works for me, it’s different for everyone. You might find that you stay more focused if you don’t see anyone the whole day and lock yourself away on floor 3M in the library, or you may be like me and need some human interaction to stay sane. I think finding out what works best for you just takes some time trying out different approaches.
I hope you guys have felt thoroughly advised this week and if you like my advice please send me questions at iedo@exeter.edu so I can keep giving you advice!
Love, Bella