Starting a new semester can be extremely difficult especially when returning from a long break. Even though you may be dreading the return to long homework hours and two-hour classes, it is important to remember that a new semester is a fresh start. The start of a new semester is the time to get yourself on track and prepared for what is to come. The following is a list of sure fire ways to not take too many l’s this semester and instead be the winner you were always meant to be.
Attend ALL of your classes.
Go to every single class and miss as few classes as possible. If the professor says that attendance is not mandatory, this does not mean they just gave you an open invitation to never attend their class. You pay to take the class, so why not go? By attending class, you could learn more information than what is found in the textbook or on the PowerPoint slides your professor puts on Blackboard.
Complete your homework on time.
Don’t wait 'til the very last minute to start an assignment. All you’re doing is giving yourself less time to put forth your best work and adding mountains of stress on top of it. Not to mention for some classes homework is a large portion of your grade. For those that are overachievers, work ahead of the schedule so that you may have some time in the future to work on a more daunting assignment.
Do the assigned reading.
It is assigned for a reason. The reading is meant to give you better insight into what you are learning in class. Often times, the reading supplements what the professor teaches and the information you read may be important by the time test day comes around. It is especially important to complete the assigned reading in a literature class because knowing the reading is imperative to passing the class.
Don’t goof off.
Don’t be one of those people that show up to class and either stare at their phone the entire time or is constantly chatting with the people sitting around them. Be respectful to your professor and classmates and pay attention to the lecture no matter how boring the material may be. By focusing on the lecture and maybe even taking a few notes, you put yourself in a position to better succeed and absorb the information now instead of cramming it all in later on.
Stay positive.
The best way to succeed this semester is to keep your head held high and believe that you will do your very best. Believe that you can complete the task in front of you because sometimes all success takes is a little faith and a lot of hard work. You have the ability to make your semester a strong one and it all depends on the amount of work you are willing to put in and belief you have in yourself to do well.