Getting Back into School Mode After Summer Vacation

By Sacha Sulaiman

The following lifestyle piece appeared in the September 2019 edition of The Campus.

I know. I know. Did three months really fly by that fast? As the sun sets on our glorious summers, we are forced to bid the glistening heat and relaxing afternoons goodbye and instead, unwillingly welcome the jarring reality of the fall semester. It may be difficult getting back into the swing of school, but it is certainly not impossible. With a few helpful reminders and beneficial tips, this semester will be a light summer breeze.

It is never too early tostart preparing! You can start by gathering the necessary supplies and booksyou need for each of your classes this semester. Checking blackboard to see ifyour professors have posted the syllabi or other class content is always agreat place to start. As students, investing in expensive textbooks everysemester can be a hassle, but a more reasonable alternative may be to rentphysical copies or buy e-books. Even asking around campus to see if otherstudents have taken the same classes may score you a few inexpensive bookpurchases!

With the strenuous workloadof multiple classes, it is vital to stay organized. “As a student who works andvolunteers while going to school full-time, I’ve learned to stay organized byeither using a planner or whiteboard calendar of some sort” says Julie Yu, ajunior biology student at CCNY. A helpful tip is to transfer the importantdates from your class’s syllabi into your monthly calendar, thereby keepingyourself up to date on your assignment’s due dates or exam times. Writing downweekly reminders and making a daily to do list is also beneficial as it helpsyou keep track of the tasks you need to complete. Most students find that bycompleting a set task, their productivity increases, and they are more willingto move onto the next one.

Set goals for yourself andstick to them! “If you have that hustler and go-getter mentality, then going toschool and working hard will become breeze” Yu expresses. Making goals isessential to visualizing your next step and what you wish to accomplish. Tryenvisioning what you want to achieve during this semester – whether personal oracademic. And then go out and make them a reality! “You may have otherpriorities, but still push yourself to do the best you can in yourclasses...even if you’re still in vacation mode” Julie emphasizes, “Time is ofthe essence.”

Whether you’re busy writing countless essays or preparing for that next quiz, don’t forget to relax and schedule some free time for yourself. Everyone wants that 3.9 GPA but letting loose and giving yourself some time to breathe is a very important part of being productive. Give yourself the benefit of the doubt and take each day as it comes. After all, this semester will soon be over just as quick as it started!