The English novelist George Eliot once said, “It’s never too late to be who you might have been.” Though Eliot lived from 1819-1880, I believe he was light-years ahead of his time in writing this. In my opinion, Eliot was, and is, right; it’s never too late to be the person, friend, daughter, or student you want to be. With that in mind, I’ve set out to make a few resolutions for the upcoming spring semester, and with New Year’s right around the corner, what better time to reflect on this past semester for inspiration?
1. I will read every syllabus (no matter how long) from front to back.
If only I treated every course syllabus like my monthly copy of Vogue magazine- reading every page, dissecting every word, memorizing every name- then perhaps come finals week I wouldn’t be scrambling to make up for last time. While this may seem like a naïve mistake, one more suited for a first year college student than a fourth year, as time goes on it gets easier to just toss each syllabus into the back of my binder for later viewing. What I have come to discover, though, is that reading the small print of every syllabus is crucial for academic success. Not only are you better prepared for the course work to come, you also have a greater awareness of the attendance policy, the professor’s office hours, and an idea as to how to best manage your time with regard to other classes. Reading the syllabus can be tedious, I know, but trust me when I say that knowing the course requirements up front will make the semester both manageable and- surprise!- enjoyable.
2. I will speak-up and participate in every class possible.
Call me shy, introverted, inquisitive, or what have you, but I’ve just never been one to vocally express myself in class. Some classes, such as 200-person lectures, don’t exactly encourage a lot of hand-raising, but I’ve come to realize just how important class participation is. Participation doesn’t just include weekly attendance, but also how much you speak up and contribute to class discussions. If the idea of publicly expressing your thoughts and opinions scares you more than those Facebook pictures of last Friday night- we’ll get to that in a minute- then try to work out a deal with the professor and/or Teaching Assistant. I’ve had the good fortune of being able to submit written lists of my comments and questions regarding the material covered in class in turn for participation points. Approaching the professor or T.A. during the first week of class and proposing this idea helped me immensely, and could for you as well. Besides, what’s the worst they can say- no?
3. I will handle my Facebook fascination in a timely and responsible manner.
There’s no denying that Facebook makes a great procrastination tool and boredom-buster, but there are two points to be made here: 1) The need to devote less time to Facebook in general, and 2) The need to ensure that my profile does not reflect poorly on my character, in either a social or professional sense. On the first note, “devoting less time to Facebook” includes, but is not limited to: stalking cute guys, stalking their ex-girlfriends, stalking their family members (ok, I admitted it), etc. I know it’s fun to mindlessly peruse hundreds of profiles and pictures of friends and strangers alike, but think of the countless other productive things you could be doing with that time and energy. Nothing comes to mind? How about reading your syllabus?
On the second note, and this one is worth keeping in mind, having an appropriate Facebook profile (pictures, status updates, wall posts) at this juncture in life is critical. As scary or unlikely as it may seem, employers often scan their potential employees’ profiles before hiring them. Cleaning up your page before an internship or job is a strategic move, and reflects positively on both you and the company. No one wants the one shot of them holding a red Solo cup while doing the “Dougie” to cost her a dream opportunity.
4. I will attend my professors’ office hours.
Attending a teacher’s office hours is a great way to establish a repertoire with them throughout the semester, and as finals arrive, a good relationship with the professor can- potentially- improve your final grade. Even if you don’t make it into the teacher’s office hours early in the semester, going to see them and discussing your progress and improvement on assignments and exams shows that you’re dedicated to the subject matter and deserve a great grade in the end. Also, getting to know a professor outside of the classroom can help in securing a letter of recommendation from them for future jobs and internships. Above all, teachers honestly want to see their students succeed, and interacting with them in a more personal manner can help guarantee this.
5. I will take more time for myself.
While “taking time for myself” may come off as sounding like social suicide, allowing yourself to relax and have some peace and quiet can do wonders for the mind and body. Admittedly, come the end of the week, going out on a Thursday (or Friday, or Saturday) night often sounds more appealing than staying in, but waking up in the morning feeling rested and rejuvenated is a-maz-ing. I am resolving now to allow myself a few low-key nights in, complete with hot tea (ok, Diet Coke) and a good book (ok, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills). Either way, doing whatever makes you feel calm and relaxed is crucial for excelling in school. Not being hung-over all day Saturday or Sunday gives you the energy to get more work done and prepare for the upcoming week. I’m not saying you need to stay in every weekend, but a break from Pearl Street every now and then not only puts you on top of your game, but also makes the bars more appealing the next time you do go out.
So these resolutions are just a few of my own, and take them at your own stride. Looking back on this past semester inspired me to really put my best efforts forward for spring semester, and I hope you feel the same! Heads up collegiettes, Fall 2011 may be coming to a close, but Spring 2012 is right around the corner!
Photo Credit: The Society Pages, http://thesocietypages.org/sociologylens/files/2011/02/classroom.stadium1.jpg.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at CU Boulder chapter.