As a student employee, you have a multitude of responsibilities. You have to submit your assignments and projects on time, you have to study for exams, and you have to dedicate several hours of your week to working hard and helping your office run smoothly. Balancing student life and work life is an art in itself and chances are, you’ll find yourself working through midterms and finals.
MAKE THE TIME
In order to set yourself up for success, you need to make time. You can start by reviewing your syllabi and work schedules. It is important to write down important dates in a calendar or day planner or to save those dates on your phone via a virtual calendar. It’s also a good idea to hang up your calendar in a spot where you would see it every day or to always keep your planner in your backpack…by seeing and using it often, upcoming due dates will not sneak up on you. Once you have those test and project due dates in the back of your head, it is time to carve out some time for studying.
Studying should not be an all day affair…studying for thirty minutes to an hour each day can help you tremendously. And if you feel that you have mastered the topic at hand, you can move onto the next one until you feel comfortable. Knowing the classes you have in the bag (and focusing on those that leave you more confused and doubtful) will make a world of difference when it comes to the end of the semester.
SWITCHING UP YOUR LIFESTYLE
Eating well, getting enough sleep, and limiting distractions might sound like tired old advice, but it’s great advice nonetheless. Eating properly (fruits, vegetables, healthy grains, drinking plenty of water, limiting processed sugars and foods loaded with preservatives, etc.) will help keep your mind sharp by giving you vital nutrients and vitamins. Getting enough sleep acts as a charger for your brain, since your level of energy and alertness depends on the amount of sleep you are getting. It is always important to have a good sleep schedule, since that sets you up for success later on. Limiting distractions is another great tool for preparing for finals…though we live in a virtual world with entertainment literally at our fingertips, stepping away from your “fun” devices (video game consoles, streaming services, etc.) and focusing entirely on those you use for academic success will help you in the long run.
WORKING WHILE STUDYING
Now that we have discussed handling the stress of finals season from a student perspective, let’s look at it through a student employee perspective. When you’re a student employee, you have even more responsibilities…you have to factor in your work schedule, when you can study, and how you can handle a busy schedule. But making sure that you are on the right track to succeed academically really begins with how you manage your time when on the clock. Every job has assigned tasks and duties. When you’re hard at work, you can get a lot accomplished. View studying and preparing for midterms and finals as you would work tasks…your success at work helps you feel more comfortable in your role and feeling the same success as a student can help you feel even more confident in your academic abilities.
No matter what you do or where you work, being a student employee is a vital part of how the university functions. You are helping run things smoothly and safely. If your life gets overwhelming (from academic, work, or personal related stress), it is advised you speak to your supervisor. Let them know what is going on. Your supervisor is not only here to help the university, but also to help you. And with finals season coming up fast, having a support system is more important than ever. When you discuss schedule changes as far in advance as you can, you have the best chance that your supervisor can work with you to be flexible.
WITH FINALS ON THEIR WAY…
Finals season is coming up fast, which is a time of stress and panic. Working while also attending classes can be challenging, but with the right tips and strategies, you can still be extremely successful. It would be great if Campus Enterprises could allow all of our student employees to have finals periods off just to focus on studying. However, we rely on our student workers and our units still need to stay open and operating during busy periods. Supervisors try to balance flexibility with work needs and we ask employees to do the same. Just take a deep breath, study hard, and know that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to, even when working while attending classes. Good luck on your midterms and finals!
Resources
Midterms and Finals: Making It Through Without Falling Apart