In about a month and a half, the school year will be over. With a semester and a half of this year already completed, the end of the year feels far off--but not that far.
The 2024-2025 academic year has been rigorous--nevertheless it has flown by.
The last few weeks of classes, projects, studying, and exams is all that stands between us and the successful completion of the year at MSJ--and for me, my first!
In search of advice about how to finish off the year strong, I interviewed two current MSJ juniors: Ryan Palmisano, my RA, and Theo Schulte another RA. Here is what they had to say.
Keeping up your motivation as the year goes on undoubtably can be difficult. One strategy to make assignments easier to complete is to make them your own. If possible, find ways to connect them to your interests and passions, making the work more enjoyable and engaging. For example, pick the essay prompt that most closely resembles something you are interested in; if you must complete a speech, a presentation, a research paper, select a topic that aligns somehow with your interests. By making assignments your own, it can be easier to complete them.
Meeting deadlines, studying for tests, getting everything done--it is a lot. It is easier to get something done if you feel rewarded by doing it, so setting up a system where you reward yourself for completing your work can help you remain motivated. This may look like eating a piece of a candy you really like after being productive for a certain amount of time (Theo recommends Bit-O-Honey) or taking a break between completing tasks. Whatever it is that motivates you, use it keep yourself productive (Ryan points to watching the next episode of a show after finishing his assignments). Staying accountable to yourself can be a challenge, so just relying on rewards may not be enough; sometimes getting someone else involved can be helpful too, like asking a friend or professor to check in on you and hold you accountable to a certain deadline (whether it is self-imposed or not). The best way to be productive and stay motivated is different for everyone–so talk to professors, advisors, Learning Center staff, counselors, or peers--determine what strategies work best for you and then implement them!
Some general strategies to succeed during the rest of the semester include using a calendar and taking time every week to organize and plan what assignments you need to do. As exams get closer, talk to your professors and learn how each does exams, what form it will be, what content it is over, how it is weighted, etc. As the end of the semester approaches, keeping late work in check is increasingly important as well.
Many students have late assignments, and the stress of the last half of the semester does not make it any easier to stay on top of schoolwork. A helpful strategy when dealing with late work is to prioritize upcoming assignments, ensuring you do not get behind on your next projects because you are scrambling to finish late ones. If you have many assignments upcoming or missing, a relevant strategy is to prioritize each assignment by urgency, due date, difficulty, etc. (An Eisenhower Matrix is one tool that can help with this.) Determine what needs to be done in what order, and work systematically through that list, prioritizing upcoming assignments over already late work. Each professor has a different late policy, so research the syllabus for each class and determine how many points are docked each day, how much the actual assignment is worth, and the latest you can turn it in. This may affect how you prioritize any given late assignment.
In any academic situation in college, talking with your professor is helpful--whether you have late work, general questions about course content, or missed a few days of class. To ask a professor a question or for help does not mean that you have failed. Through talking with them, you can get clarity about course material, assignments, and policies, and subsequently do better in the class. Meeting with a professor or advisor is a consistently effective strategy if a student ever has a question or concern about a course.
Beyond academics, as the year inches closer to completion, it can also be more tiring and difficult to keep up with clubs, sports, events, and other on- and off-campus commitments. For many students, classes are a major source of stress that can impact their ability to participate in extracurriculars. When this happens, take a step back and reflect on what you are involved in, what your priorities are, and what you are currently contributing to each. If you are struggling to keep up as well with nonacademic commitments because of academic pressure, using the above strategies may help address with any academic stress and make it easier to complete those commitments. It can be overwhelming to try to do everything while still keeping up with school. If there is too much going on--and especially if your grades are slipping or you have a mountain of late work to do--perhaps the most important strategy is saying “no.” This may look like stepping back from some commitments to focus on academics for a few weeks, or not participating in other clubs or groups as frequently while getting the academic situation under control. Even if it feels like you are disappointing others, saying “no,” setting boundaries, and following one’s priorities are important. Participating in clubs and activities and having fun is an important part of the college experience–but school, ultimately, comes first.
All of these challenge--surrounding motivation, classes, and organizations--impact mental health. The various commitments a student has are draining. It is critical to take care of your mental health during all parts of the year, but especially so when the semester and its final deadlines create more stress. If you need a break--from studying, from certain people, from a class--it is important to take it. Taking a break--even just focusing on intentional breathing for a few minutes--can have a positive impact on anyone’s mental health. You cannot succeed in any part of life if you do not take care of yourself too. More in depth resources or specific advice is always available through the Wellness Center and through professors and advisors.
A final strategy for taking care of yourself that is especially useful--at least for residents--is to get off campus for a while. Take some time away from MSJ--where residents live, study, and recreate all in the same few buildings and spaces. Visit home if you can. Spend time with friends off campus. Getting some occasional distance from where most (resident) students spend most of their week can be refreshing and reinvigorating.
The end of the academic year is still many weeks away, but after a semester and a half of putting the time and effort into classes, clubs, and relationships, many students are understandably tired. Thank you to Ryan and Theo for this advice, and for the professors and peers who have also recommended and modeled these strategies. My hope is the there is something helpful to anyone reading this, especially students. With these tips in mind, I cannot wait to see my Mount community finish this year off strong.