Study Tips: Finals

It is finals week!

Before you surround yourself with a monstrosity of textbooks and attempt to recall that lecture back from August, I want to share a few study tips that might be beneficial to you… I have compiled a small list, so I hope this helps!

1) Write with red ink

I have read several articles that the color, red, is most effective for enhancing memory, so I write in red ink when I am studying important concepts or formulas that I need to memorize. I believe it really works!

2) Go to the library

Honestly, it’s really difficult for me to study for a long time at home because I constantly find excuses to get up or become distracted with something else… I am much more productive when I go to the library because I am surrounded by people who are working as well. I get more done, and I am more focused in the end.

3) Keep a paper and reread it constantly

Everyone has their own way of retaining material, but it really helps me to write down all of the concepts that I am struggling on a few sheets of paper, keep them with me, and reread them several times throughout the day. It keeps the material fresh in my head, and I am able to recall it much quicker.

4) Set aside a specific amount of time

We all know the classic excuse: “I ran out of time to study…” That mentality just leads to cramming the night before an exam which is the worst (believe me.) Therefore, I set aside a specific amount of time each day, and I study for that full amount of time even if I don’t do it in one sitting.

I tell myself: “Set a time. Make it a priority. Do it. No excuses.”

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The semester is almost over, and we are right at the finish line… We can do this! I really hope this post was helpful, and please don’t hesitate to share your own study techniques in the comments. Good luck on your exams!!

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It’s been awhile

Hello.

It’s been awhile.

How have you guys been? I know this isn’t the first (unintended) hiatus that I have taken this semester, and it probably wont be the last if I’m honest. However, I really hope that you guys stick around because I am not abandoning the blog! Life has just been quite crazy lately…

I have spent more hours in the school library than I can even count, and chemistry is definitely proving to be an “adventure.” I like all of my classes and professors a lot, but the work load/studying is much more intense and time consuming than previous semesters. I also took my SAT this morning, and I am beginning to narrow down universities that I want to apply/transfer into. I am really anticipating the score because it was my first time, and I really wonder where I will end up… On the other hand, I forgot to tell you guys that the college, where I am currently dual-enrolled, has selected me into The National Society of Leadership and Success!! I am incredibly honored to be a member of this reputable program, and I am so humbled for the opportunity.

Lastly, The Nutcracker will be brought to the theater in one month, so that is quite nerve-wracking. Rehearsals are well underway, but there is still a lot of work that has to be done! I will be sure to keep you all posted, and I hope that you are doing well. Also, an October playlist will be released very soon, so keep an eye out for that…

What have you been up to? How are your classes going so far? Are you a member of the NSLS? Are you planning on watching or dancing in The Nutcracker this season? Thank you for reading this super long post if you are still there!

*Photo: Flashback to last year’s family trip up to the apple orchard.

My Survival Kit

Lately, several people have asked me the same exact question, and I began to realize that this might make a really interesting blog post. People catch a glimpse of my overflowing list of of day-by-day tasks on my weekly planner and look at me wide-eyed…

“How do you do it all?”

My reply is always the same: “I don’t even know.” In reality, however, I guess there really is a method to manage this madness, but it is not easy! I will be completely honest and tell you that there have been many nights that I have gotten under four hours of sleep as deadlines crept up faster than expected, so I don’t want you to get the impression that I have mastered these strategies because that is far from the truth. For the most part, however, I think this survival kit has really been the reason that I have been able to “do it all,” so I thought it might be neat to share with you.

1: Staying Organized:

My agenda/weekly calendar is actually color coded so that I can quickly see the homework load for each class. I also write down the important projects, papers, quizzes, and exams for that week in a black pen and highlight it in bright yellow so that I don’t accidentally miss them or forget to study. My friends think I am a bit crazy, but I actually color code my notes as well by the units or lectures.

2: Managing Time:

I always go to the campus library at least 30 min (sometimes even an hour) before my class begins to get a head start on homework for that day. I use every free moment that I have to get things done, so I frequently work Friday nights or even weekends as well. Time management is extremely important, so use extra time to your advantage!

3: Routine:

I also think following a routine helps me a lot because my body has gotten use to the wake/sleep times. This doesn’t mean that I am never tired, but it just means that I don’t feel like a walking zombie everyday because my body has gotten into a relatively consistent schedule.

4: Support:

Family and friends have significantly influenced me to keep working hard because I know they believe in me. This ultimately helps me believe in myself too, and it really does feel good to have someone there to encourage me through difficult times with a “you can do it!” attitude.

I also wanted to let you all know that I am scheduled to get my braces off on March 15!!!

I hope that you enjoyed this post, and thanks for reading!

How do YOU manage your schedule? Would you like to know my tips for studying late at night without getting tired? What was it like to get your braces off? 

College Lessons: Semester 1

My first semester of college was such a neat experience, and I am just so grateful to have this opportunity to attend classes as a dual-enrolled student. Although it was quite stressful and exhausting at times, I am excited to continue working for my degree and getting to know all of the amazing people around campus. It is a bit late, but I thought you still might enjoy this post… These are lessons that I have learned from myself and other students throughout my first semester of college. Hopefully you find this beneficial!

Read the Syllabus: You can’t expect the professors to remind you about homework assignments or specify every upcoming due date in class. They provide a detailed syllabus at the beginning of the semester that contains a list of everything you must complete and when. If you don’t look through it, you will likely have a lot of missing homework assignments which definitely won’t help your grade.

Learn on your own: In two of my courses, there was not enough class time to cover all of the material on the exams, so it was extremely important to read and look over all of the chapters on our own. DO THE WORK! It was definitely not fun to be reading textbook pages at 1:00 in the morning, but it really paid off in the end.

Meet New People: The experience is so much more enjoyable if you establish a small group of friends to spend time with between classes. It is also quite interesting to learn about different people and their post-graduation goals, so talk to the person sitting next to you! Build relationships with other students in your classes, and you will have a much more enjoyable experience.

Stay Organized: I don’t know about you, but I get really bad anxiety when I try to keep track of too many dates and times in my head. I was, honestly, shocked with how many students didn’t have an organized method to group all of the day’s assignments together. Many people just scratched things off of the syllabus, but that means at least four important packets must be carried around everywhere (and not misplaced). It is also easy to skip or miss things especially when you’re taking multiple classes. I recommend a weekly planner or agenda!!! You will relieve yourself of so much stress…

Ask for Help: Don’t be hesitant to ask your professor or other students for help! My friends thought I was a bit ridiculous, but I got almost every paper read by another peer or professor before I turned it in. I learned so much more by taking feedback, and I was much more staisfied with my grades when they came back on those assignments.

And lastly… BE YOURSELF:

“Just be yourself. Let people see the real, imperfect, flawed, quirky, weird, beautiful, and magical person that you are.”

~Unknown

If you have any questions or things to add, feel free to drop them in the comments. Thanks for reading! 🙂

Vision & College

With lots of twists and turns (literally), this past week was definitely an adventure. From taking my college dual enrollment exam to setting my very own choreography on a group of outstanding dancers, it definitely put me through a lot of stress.

Despite of all it all, I am absolutely elated to know that the hours of late-night studying/ preparing actually paid off, and I have exceeded the standards on my college entry exam. I am really looking forward to starting this upcoming school year as a dual enrollment student at the college, and it is going to be an awesome experience to take on-campus classes (working around my studio schedule).

Nonetheless, I also learned that choreography is much harder than it may appear to the eyes of the audience. A dance takes a lot of work to create, and there are many moving parts to keep track of at one time. I am so thankful to have been given the opportunity to work with such talented peers, and I appreciate their patience and ‘flexibility’ tremendously. It truly is amazing to see a vision actually come alive. I am very pleased with the result of this piece, and I think that it will definitely be something that the audience will remember…

Wishing you all the best!