Hello guys.đ¤đ¤ Welcome back to my blogđťđź. If youâre new, I hope youâll love this article and donât forget to click on the menu to find more. Before we start, I want to apologize for taking so long to publish another articleđŠđ. Due to the quarantine situation, Iâve had a lot of homeworks and I was focused on them mostly. But Iâm back with a great topic for the dayđđ˝đđ˝. Iâve noticed that after my first article I havenât talked about things related to schoolđ¤đ. Thatâs why today, Iâm going to share some tips đ to help you get through collegeđ. These tips are not only for new students but if youâre currently in college they can still help youđđž. Since I love my readersđđ I have decided to include 5 bonus tipsđ¤. But shhhh donât tell anybodyđ¤Ť. Let them find out by themselvesđđ¤. Letâs get to it guys. Donât forget to like, comment and share. ITS FREEEEEE
Story timeđ¤ .- As mentioned in my bio, Iâm currently a senior as a Business Administration student. Growing up, that wasnât really my plan. Choosing a career was really hardđ¤Śđžââď¸. Maybe one day Iâll make a post about that. During my senior year, with a little help from my sister in law, I have decided to go for Business managementđđž. Iâve gotten sick at the end of the schoolâs year and I had spent my entire summer plus the first semester after that going to the hospital 4 times a monthđIt was hard. Despite the situation, I have applied to one of the best colleges in the country. Due to my health issues, I couldnât study. I was like âyou know what, I will not give up, I will take the exam and do my bestâ. The results came up. Over 600 candidates, 80 people were selected and I was between the 82nd or 85th person on the list (donât quite remember). Because of that, I didnât go to college the first semester after graduation. Like I had said before, I truly believe in the saying Everything happens for a reason. Although my doctors said I could go to school, God knew that I needed a bit more time to heal. I didnât cry, didnât feel down or anything. I stayed home and rested. Iâd already decided that I will go again the following yearđŞđž. In December, my dad told me that a friend has reached to him and told him that the college Iâm currently in was having registrations for the semester of January. I didnât want to go but my dad insisted and I did. I studied, took the exam and passed. During the first week of integration, my Dean called my name in front of everyone. Being an introvert, I was scared and wanted to dig a hole and get under the groundđđ. But then he pronounced these words that I will never forget : âShe is the person who has scored the highest grade in the examâ. On this day, my journey beganâ¨âŚâŚ.
These are my tips for new college students (mostly in Haiti)
Tip #1 Find students whom you have went to school with. Once you get to college, identify the people you recognize. Iâd suggest you to try to find someone who have went to the same high school as you. Some people wonât agree with this but let me tell you. These people were once in your shoes. They already know the dos and donâts. They will be like a guide, a mentor or an advisor to you. They might not be open and that is okay. I thank God that I have found two amazing students when I got to college. Theyâve helped me register for my classes and choose the best teachersđ. Also when itâs time to get ready for your exam, they will be there to answer your questions and help you understand something youâve missed.
Tip #2 Make friends. Not everyone is lucky enough to go to the same college as their high school friends. Whether you are shy or not, youâll have to make friends. Donât be a loner and stay in a corner by yourself. College is where you interact with people about life, politics, science, etc⌠College is the place for debate. So be open and make friends. Youâll need friends when you have to do group projects. If youâre always alone, trust me nobody will want you to be a part of their group. Thankfully, on my first week, Iâve met some amazing people and weâve been together ever sinceđ¤.
Tip # 3 Print out your schedule with the name of your teachers. I always do this and people always think Iâm being extra. Once I have registered for my classes, I take a piece of paper and I fix my schedule.I write down the semester, the days of the week, the time of my classes, the title of the course and lastly the name of my teachers. Why?đ¤ Because in college, for every single homework, youâll have to mention your teacherâs name on the cover page. Whenever we have an homework, people are always texting me, asking for the name of the teacher. Donât be one of those peopleâ ď¸. Make sure you know your teacherâs name and the correct spelling. I print out my schedule and tape it on my closetâs door but if you canât print it you can do it with a piece of paper and a pencil. Hereâs an example belowđđž
Tip #4 Donât be scared of your teachersđ đžââď¸. Unlike high school, in college, you are permitted to have a debate with your teacher. Ask questions!! If you donât agree with what he/she is saying, youâre allowed to state your opinion. As long as you are RESPECTFUL and can come with facts. Some teachers love interacting with their students, others will be annoyed but you cannot get kicked out for stating your opinion âRESPECTFULLYâ. Teachers love it when you can come with facts to prove your argument. They will remember your name and you never know, that could come handy when searching for jobs in the futuređđ¤. Your teacher isnât there to only share his/her knowledge, theyâre also there to help you develop any type of skills that youâll need in your field of work. Even if he/she could seem a little intimidating, they were once a student like you and you aspire to be like them if not better when it comes to earning degrees. So donât be scared of them but donât be too friendly eitherđŤ.
Tip #5 Make sure you know how yo use a computerđŻ. If using a computer is a big deal for you, start making a change now. Nowadays, with a little help from YouTube, you can do anything. Go on there, watch videos and try to do everything while youâre learning. You might not need to know how to do everything on a computer but you need to master Microsoft Word and be able to manage Powerpoint and Excel. In College, no homework written with a pen should be handed to your teachers. Even if they accept it, they will ask you to make a cover page and that can only be done on Microsoft Word.
Tip #6 Participate in extra curricular activitiesđđ˝đđ˝. Studying hard is the number one rule in college but you also have to enjoy yourself . Your main focus should be academics but it shouldnât be your only focus. College shouldnât be considered as a prison. There are plenty of clubs or activities to do in college whether itâs sports, music, arts, readingâŚ. You need to choose one or two of them based on your schedule. Donât choose something that will require too much time. What Iâve noticed is that when you participate actively in activities, youâre well known and you might find great opportunities.
Tip #7 Be careful when making friendsđ đžââď¸. Although I said that you need to make friends, you should also be really cautious on who you call your âfriendsâ. When my family became aware that I was the laureate, thatâs the piece of advice that they have given me âBecause of your performance, a lot of people will want to be your friend; be careful they arenât in your life for a good reasonâ. I know itâs not easy to know whoâs real and whoâs not. Some people camouflage themselves and wonât let you even sense that theyâre actually snakes (sorry for using this expression). So be careful. Also my brother once told me that in college, not everyone is here for the same reasons. Do not count or rely on people too much. Do your thing!
Tip #8 Go with your rhythmđ. Donât rush to get over with college cause youâre tired of schoolđ. Donât forget that everything that youâre learning is supposed to guide you through your career path. Thatâs why you need to go with your rhythm. If youâre in a College where you get to choose your own classes, donât take multiple classes because your friend is doing so. Go with your rhythm. If you can only take 6 classes, take 6. I know my strength and abilities. There are some semesters where I feel like taking 9 classes would not be healthy for me so I just reduce my schedule until Iâm comfortable. Donât rush!! College isnât high school. You need maximum understanding of the subject youâre studying.
Tip # 9 Choose your classes wisely. If your college allows you to choose your classes, be aware of the requirements before choosing any class. Follow the Courses Outline (or cursus in french) . Some classes might be related. Make sure you know which one you need to take first. What Iâve noticed is that some people tend to choose all the easy classes in one semester and the more you go through, the harder it is to pass because your schedule is now way too full and âheavyâ. The courses outline is a guiding tool. Itâs not a piece of paper youâre just supposed to put away. Just like my schedule, I also have my courses outline taped on my closetâs door. At the end of each semester, I cross off the classes that Iâve passed. Each time I cross off a course, itâs not only satisfying but also motivating as it gives me a clear view of where I am and how long the rest of the road is.
Tip # 10 Sleep well and stay hydratedđ´đŁđŁ. Donât be like me people. I donât really sleep because most of the times I do my homework or study late at night because thatâs when I can focus and even when I donât have anything to do, I donât sleep early because my body has now adjusted itself to it. Not getting enough sleep is dangerous. So work hard but also take time to rest and drink plenty of water. The amount of sleep is important, but so is the regularity. There will always be exceptions, but students should aim to keep to a somewhat regular sleep schedule (Amy Nelson)
Tip #11 Always back up your homeworks to your phoneâââ. Very important!! Once youâre done with your h.w, save it on google drive or just send it to your phone. On my laptop I have a whole folder divided in 6 other folders for the each semester. In each folder I have all my homeworks. There are two reasons why you should that. The first reason is because you need to keep your homeworks in case the teachers lose it and you donât find your final grade in your report card. The second reason is because in college Iâve noticed that the students always wait until the morning of the due date to go print their homework. Most of the times they have their homework on a jump drive. If you forget your jump, you wonât have to worry because the homework is on your phone. Iâm pretty sure you wonât ever forget your phone. So please guys back up your homeworks.
Tip #12 : Make your class your top priority. You have decided to go to college because you have a goal. Iâm pretty sure that everyone wants to be successful in this life. So you know your goal and you know why youâre there so make it count. Your classes should be your top priority. Once the teacher has entered the class, thatâs where you should be. Stop skipping class because thereâs a good ambience outside. Youâll have time to have fun. Youâll probably say âIâll just take the notes from a fellow studentâ. Some classes require your presence. Being in the classroom, listening to what the teachers have to say and participating are the key to academic success. Grades are often tied to attendance, think about that the next time you want to stay outside instead of going to classđđ.
Tips #13 Use a calendarđ . Planning is key. In college, procrastination is our number 1 enemy. The calendar will not only remind you when your homework is due or when you have an exam but it will help you plan your time better. Based on your schedule, Iâd suggest you to plan a work habit. Like for example you know that every thursday you have an homework for Mr T. On your calendar you can set a time to do this homework every sunday. Your calendar can be on your phone or you can just buy one. It works and itâs effective.
Tip #14 Always jump on the opportunity to speak. Once again, college is all about debates. If youâre a shy person like me, make sure to always find an opportunity to speak because it will help you overcome your fear of speaking in public. Although I am shy, I speak loudly and with confidence. How? Because ever since my first semester in college, whenever thereâs a group presentation Iâm always the one who introduces the work. I also never use a piece of paper when Iâm speaking. Once I understand the subject clearly, nothing can stop me. And as shy as I am, I love presentations because I donât usually participate in debates so teachers donât really know me but after my presentations I always get compliments. I think that itâs important to try and speak whenever you have the opportunity because in the future, wherever youâll be working, youâll be able to present any types of projects.
Tip # 15 Be confident. Lastly and most importantly believe in yourself. Know that you deserve your spot there just like everyone else and youâre going to make the best of it no matter how hard it is. No matter how many things tou have to overcome. Kenbe tèt ou, kraze bèt ou epi kwè nan tèt ou (creole for Hold your head high, work hard and believe in yourself)
Thatâs it for today peopleđđžđđž. I hope that youâll use these tips and let me know if thereâs any results. Iâm open to all your questionsđ¤đ. Also Iâve made a post on how to get better grades. Iâll post the link below so you can check it out. DONâT FORGET TO WASH YOUR HANDS. Stay safe and be blessed. Always!! Xoxo
https://karoslittlecorner.com/index.php/2020/02/01/10-tips-on-how-to-get-better-grades/