How To: Making It Through Midterms

By Sumeya Hassan on February 22, 2017

Ah, midterms. The infamous days when peace is all but a distant memory. Running on three hours of sleep, frantically searching for extra credit opportunities, last minute study groups, remembering to remember. Remember?

The truth of the matter is, however, prepared you may think you are there is always an element of angst. They are, undoubtedly, scary times, what with the steady increase in tuition fees and the fear of having to drop a class halfway through. The midterm amounts to a solid amount of your GPA. However, they are a guilty pleasure of mine. Why? They end so quickly. It is incredibly easy to take hold of them and use them to your advantage.

I’ll teach you how.

1. Set your goals

What is your intention in searching for help right now? Is it to pass an exam? Is it to thoroughly understand a topic? To turn a new leaf, perhaps? All in all, you need to be aware of what’s going on around you or I’m afraid you’ll be turning corners like a headless ostrich. It is easy to be distracted in a world where such little evaluation is carried out, but take the time, grab a notebook and your favorite colored pencil, and illustrate your dreams.

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2. Prioritize

Some classes are more intensive than others, in regards to time consumption and overall difficulty. Of course, it is entirely subjective, but putting said class on a pedestal and ignoring the others would not make any sense. Instead, ration your time, allocating certain hours of the day to particular subjects.

Some people find that creating a timetable is useful, others write quick reminders to motivate them to study, and there are the rare few who develop self-induced hyperthymesia. Despite the facts, though, I do not believe pressuring yourself into proficiency is the way to go. It can be mentally and physically exhausting, let alone the emotional implications.

Observing your tendencies is the key —  acknowledging where you are going right and wrong. ‘Which classes need more of your energy? What memorization techniques work best for you? How can I get to where I need to be?’– all of which are questions that need to be answered somewhere along the line.

3. Passion

Now, I know this is a taboo subject, but let me explain myself. The war between passion and logic is one without a winner, nor will there ever be. My argument is that passion is something that is everlasting and flourishing. Your passions grow with you and have the ability to evolve into a reality beyond your wildest imagination. Logic, on the other hand, is clear and concise, repetitive and dull — salt and pepper. Make your choice.

Students should have an undying passion for the classes they take; so much so it helps in developing a vision, may it be a career or potential hobby, or one door closer to the campus cafeteria. To invest time into something which does not serve you is ludicrous.

There is no space for a systematic approach to education. It is not a system; it is an experience, an opportunity. Explore what you must then make your mark. As I said earlier, you need to find what works for you. Every person really is different and has an equal number of ways of going about things.

4. Research

Another huge factor in doing well this semester is research. Actively searching for breakthroughs in a new topic you’re studying in class, rather than relying on the expertise of your professor to walk you through the steps. This reinforces my previous idea of passion being a deal breaker; it all intertwines. Learn outside of the lecture room and incorporate what you know outside of the campus.

For my ENG 111 class this semester, my professor decided to set us a reading task entailing an excerpt from Elie Wiesel’s ‘Night’– an incredible excerpt, I must say. The short piece intrigued me so much I decided to purchase a copy of the book myself. It teaches sadness and despair in their purest forms, which, as an individual with intuitive traits and an English major, I highly appreciate.

If I could give college students all over the world a single piece of advice it would be to read more books, watch videos, talk to people. Knowledge is the foundation of our civilization. That brings me onto my next point …

5. Network

Talking to people. This semester is a great time to meet new faces! Spring break is near — enjoy your college experience, explore new sides of life and do it with a new found confidence. One of the things that keep me sane during the school year is that I’m constantly facing new scenarios. Community college leaves you vulnerable to people of all walks of life, including exposure to new cultures and personalities. It is the most opportune of times to break out of your shell, flourishing into the social extraordinaire you were meant to be.

Ultimately, you have come here with a need — it all starts with a need. The journey to success begins with the acknowledgment of faults within the system. Remember that feelings of entrapment or failure are second nature to humans in moments of stress. Keep your mind open — stay vigilant and full of life. This false idea of a ‘perfect’ college experience is romanticized throughout the world, but conforming to a society which often rules out your life for you is a thing of the past.

Write your own rules. I invite you to explore the depths of possibilities that lie within your college and its resources, and I hope that in using them to your advantage you can find solace in the education system.

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