Tag: student-life

School Me Saturday 3/16/24-keep working after break

Many colleges and universities had Spring break last week or are having it this week. This is well-timed. Far enough in the semester that you have a handle on your classes, not so far that your brain has completely given up.

Midterms are likely over. This goes to the mind being tired.

And then, like the sunrise after a dark cold night, the break appears!

Good. Have the break, and relax your mind.

Now what?

Back to the semester. The end of the semester is just around the corner and will be here before you know it. Not to panic everyone.

It is time that thoughts turn to end-of-class projects that need to be done. There may be homeworks due, finals to prepare for, or papers due. Or all three. If you are like me, you calculate how many points will get the grade that you need to continue.

As always, keep the end in mind.

Maybe you are just beginning your college career. Maybe you have returned to college as an adult learner. Maybe you want to explore learning. It’s all good. But there is an end in mind. There is a degree or a certificate. Keep that in mind as you toil toward the end of the semester.

The university I go to will be opening fall scheduling soon. This is a fraught time to get the classes you need for your degree or the classes you want. But, as my instructor pointed out, once the fall schedule is set, the bill for the fall schedule comes due.

This is the reminder to get your FAFSA done if you haven’t already done it. This is also the reminder to get scholarship applications in. I put in the application for the market nursing scholarship weeks ago. Next, I will work on the NCNA scholarship.

But that is a tomorrow me problem. It isn’t due until April 30th anyway. Today I have a 5-page paper due tomorrow night.

Break’s over, time to get to work! The semester end is coming fast and you don’t want to be left behind.

School Me Saturday 1/6/23-the semester is coming

Break time is over and the semester is starting soon.

There are two ways of looking at the imminent start of the semester.

On one hand, there is excitement. Yay! The semester is beginning. This is the semester where I turn it around and get all my papers/studying done early so I won’t feel so stressed when the due date looms.

On the other hand, there is dread. Another semester? Didn’t we start break like a minute ago?

Or a combination of the two.

Me, I’m a combination of the two. Each semester is bringing me closer to the end of the PhD program! And each semester is bringing me closer to the dissertation!

Both things can be true at the same time.

Ultimately I think that the beginning of the semester is a chance to wipe away the previous one and begin anew. After all, we are learning how to create and build the project, do the project, and write up the project.

Of course, we won’t do it perfectly the first time.

This is where the mantras come in handy.

Right foot, left foot, the only way out is through.

As long as you do no harm, take no shit in the process.