ZAHLÉ ELOFF
While it is the season that swoops many up into the whirlwind of craziness, others are buckling down and becoming silly serious about their academic success. Joining in on all the fun is a part of the university experience, but this is the time of the year that is also critical for the many who are just barely keeping their heads above water academically.
Here is the light at the end of the tunnel for those who no longer know which way is up, but are still fervently trying to turn their academics around.
“Set a big physical goal for yourself or the outcome you’d like to see in your results. Then set mini goals to help you achieve that goal. This gives you a map which helps you stay on track with achieving the main goal. It also allows you to reassess and prioritise your time,” Micaela Jansen, BA (International Studies) student, said.
The most promising step seems to be to attend lectures. Make it a mini goal to get yourself to your lectures and take notes. Even though this may feel tedious, by just attending your lectures you are half way there. “Attending lectures sometimes gets you extra marks,” Catherine McNaught Davis, BA (Language and Culture) student, said. She added, “Break assignments up into smaller pieces to make it more manageable.”
Schané Burger, BA (Humanities) student, gives tips in this regard. “Don’t leave notes for just before the test, make weekly summaries and discuss your work with a friend as much as you need to until you understand it,” saidBurger. However, if you start feeling as if all these responsibilities combined are becoming overwhelming and it starts affecting your studies, it could be time to reevaluate where your time goes.
Balance is always beneficial. You should invest in summaries, study dates, and time management; but remember to take a break once in a while. An overworked mind is about as useful as an underworked one.
