Well, it’s the third week of school…and you know what that means. The first assignments are about due. Like it or not, school is really back in session.
You’ve had a good and relaxing two weeks to get yourself re-acclimated to another semester. But it’s time to get back to work.
It happens every time. Students take the first two weeks to slack off. Then after one look at that calendar, they say to themselves, “Oh (expletive)! The assignment’s due today!”
One thing I’ve learned over the past few years is that several professors set hard due dates. While an easy-going few out there will give an extension, most of them do not.
What students don’t realize is that it’s the same way in the “real world.” No, I do not mean the MTV show that has been on for over 20 years. I mean the atmosphere you will be surrounded by when you get that real job. You know, the goal you had in mind when you first came to Carolina.
Another issue may be that students look at all the assignments that are coming up as one big ball of drama. However, all it takes is a little time management. Sure, you probably heard of this before. But it really works, y’all. Really.
All you have to do is figure out what assignments are due and when they are due. Then mark each one on a separate calendar. I do not mean the one hanging on your wall with the Hooter’s girls or the pictures of One Direction. I mean a separate calendar to use academically. By doing this, you can visually see all your assignments’ due dates.
The next thing to do is figure out what percentage is given to each assignment. That way, you can decide which one is more important, start with that one and work downward.
It does not take a long time to do this. Just look at your syllabuses and you will see each assignment right in front of you. Doing this should help your anxiety by letting you see that (at least for now) it is only one assignment—not 10.
The next time you get anxious about the upcoming assignment, just remember to break it down into smaller pieces. In fact, think of it as a jigsaw puzzle.
Have a great semester, everybody!