If there is one thing I learned from being a Girl Scout for 13 years, it is how to plan ahead. From making caper charts, trip budgets, buying groceries for camping with our leaders, to memorizing the Girl Scout motto, "be prepared," I have learned to always be one leg ahead of the game when it comes to striving towards success. I have learned to apply these skills in my present stage of life: college.
So, who is ready to make Spring 2016 the most successful semester they have ever had academically, socially, and everything in between? Here are some of my planning tips I wanted to share, ranging from common sense organization to maintaining a mental drive throughout the semester. May this be the best yet for all of us!
1. Decide to have the right attitude.
Resolve to work hard and give it all you have this semester. Having and
maintaining motivation and a positive attitude is critical to being the
student you need to be and becoming the person you have always wanted
to be.
2. Finalize your schedule.
Have the classes that you need to be registered for finalized if you haven’t yet. If possible, determine the times of your work and extra-curricular involvements.
3. Create your calendar and your budget.
I do this in several ways. I first make a schedule of my classes and their locations and post it on the bulletin board in my room. Then, I fill in my planner with university dates like Spring Break dates and finals and dates for extra circulars like sorority events, sport club events, and interning dates. When I get my syllabi the first couple days of classes, I fill in the due dates for my assignments and tests. Having an updated and accurate calendar is crucial to being organized, successful and planning ahead so nothing takes you by surprise. Also be sure to create an anticipated budget, with your anticipated income and expenses. Having a budget to stick to helps you be more mindful of spending, and as college students, this is something we all need to learn!
4. Take care your books -- new and old.
Order your new books at the start of your Winter Break. Be sure to shop around online for the best prices; try to rent books or buy only used copies. Do not order books through your university unless it is the only way can obtain a book or online access code. The prices tend to be highly marked up from what is necessary. Also, sell your old books via Facebook posting to advertise them. Consider opening your books before the semester even starts to be familiar with them or get a leg up on note taking or annotating. There is no such thing as being over prepared for a college course!
5. Gather your supplies.
Assess what you have to see if you need anything new, from your school supplies, to your wardrobe, and to the items in your kitchen. I love to make Lilly Pulitzer binder covers that have my initials and the course name (just Google “Lilly Pultizer Binder Covers” and you’ll find several prints to make DIY covers). I buy one subject notebooks that go inside each binder. I also make sure my collection of highlighters, pens, loose-leaf, Scantrons, bluebooks, post-it flags and notes, and even my crafting supplies is up to par. Having plentiful amounts of beautiful supplies makes me very excited to take it out and actually use it!
6. Write down semester goals and long-term goals.
Define and imagine what you are going to accomplish this semester. Make realistic goals for each class, determine how many hours you plan to work, study and volunteer, and any other things necessary. Share your goals with your family or your best friends and check-in with them regularly to tell them how it’s going reaching them. Having others keep you accountable on your plans is critical to making sure they actual take root and grow. Also have a list of possible options for when you graduate, so that you have larger goals to work on beyond just this semester.
7. Resolve to eliminate distractions that will pop up along the way.
This might be unnecessary romantic relationships, cat videos on the internet, drama, negative thinking, partying, your cell phone, or laziness. A few or all of these things are bound to show up at some point along the way and distract you from fulfilling your goals.
8. Clean out your papers, your wardrobe, and any other personal space.
You know how you have always wanted to chuck those accounting notes out your car window and see them disappear down the road behind you? Use your break to recycle unwanted papers and file the ones you want to keep. Clean out your clothes and be sure to take home anything you have on campus that you know you won’t need (such as shorts). Don’t be afraid to pair out and start early on that spring cleaning! Selling or donating what you don’t want is a great option. Plus, there is nothing better then coming back to campus in January and having a spic and span space.
9. Motivate yourself and sustain that drive overtime!
I know what it is like to struggle with interest in school, but over time I have learned to combat this in several ways. I’m a big fan of visual cues such as posting my list of goals where I can see them daily. I also love using products that remind me of why I am in college, such as my beautiful mug from the North Carolina Aquarium that I use when I’m studying. It reminds me that I want to possible have a career in the Aquarium industry. I also love watching documentaries about and staying up to date on news related to my field of study, biology. My minors are also really special to me and take up half of schedule each semester. For these courses, I usually listen to ethnic music and Buddhist mantras, and it makes me very excited to learn about Asian religions and cultures. Visiting museums and art galleries also drastically increases my motivation and reminds me to keep fighting to understand the incredible world around me. Another simple trick you can try is having a chalkboard or whiteboard near your bedroom door. Each day write a new encouraging quote or thought on it. When you go in and out of your room, that message will be what you are meditating on!
Note: If you are struggling with mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, or a learning disability, it is best to treat these issues as soon as possible so that you can be the best student you can be. Once being diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety, I have been able to treat these setbacks and become a much more focused, productive, and happier student. My motivation has drastically increased and my overall outlook on my life has completely morphed into optimism! If you have concerns, visit your doctor or your University's counseling center for help.
10. Hand-write all of your notes.
According to my professor, your brain encodes the information more when you write it out versus when you simple type it. I have also found that I remember more information and get higher grades when I make handwritten study guides over typed ones. Don't hesitate to make your notes as visually attractive as possible! I'm a biology major and I love visual learning. I'm not the best artist, so I print out the diagrams I need on a blank sheet of paper and then fill in notes around the diagrams and images. I highlight key words and phrases and make them beautiful. If they are pretty, you're going to be more likely to enjoy picking them up!
11. Branch out, network, and show the world what you have to offer!
Embrace the new opportunities you will get this semester and seek them out. Be vigorously ambitious. You have a lot to offer as an individual; don’t waste away in your dorm studying all the time. Employers want applicants that are more than just a high GPA. Try volunteering in the community such as at a museum, school, or non-profit organization. Reinvigorate your passion for your field of study (I do this by watching documentaries about genetics, but you get the idea). Apply for that internship you’ve had your eye on, that job you need for extra cash, or the leadership position you’ve been thinking of going for in a campus organization. Join a sport club of a sport you've never done or go Greek and find your home. Life is short and so is being in college!
12. Remember that everything will all work out in the end.
Didn’t get the classes you wanted? Don’t have the same roommate next year? Was denied your dream internship? Your crush looked at you weird in class? Don’t stress over the little things, or even the ones that seem big. Even if your life doesn’t turn out as you plan, it’s going to work out how you need it to. Sometimes not getting what you think you want is the absolute biggest blessing in the world. Go with the flow. Be at peace. Smile often.
13. Remember that the some of the best memories are the ones not penciled in your planner.
Don’t be afraid to be spontaneous! Go on trips to Cookout at 2 a.m., visit that haunted bridge in a neighboring town, buy a tacky sweater at the thrift store down the road, and enjoy being young. You simply won’t get these opportunities later in life. It’s time to go make the most of the rest of your semesters at college! They’re numbered, but your memories that you make don’t have to be!
