The Spring Break Problem
I’m in a program to become a student mentor, and immediately after Spring Break I will be assigned several students who are bombing half their classes. My goal will be to get them to pass their classes, and teach them how to organize, prioritize and still have a life. This is great, because this is the whole point of this website, and I have tons of advice to pass along.
However, we’ve all just finished our third week back on campus, and everyone I pass or see in class is talking about one thing – what they’re doing for Spring Break. Surprisingly, many are discussing the same locations they would have considered last year, with no regard to the current economic situation. And while this is a subject I intend to discuss further, for now my point is different.
Stop thinking about break and start thinking about the 3 or 4 exams you have right before it.
Honestly, I don’t want to have to explain to a sobbing freshman why she shouldn’t attend a sorority event in order to get her grades back up to C-level. So spend this weekend wisely my fellow college kids…
- Get caught up on everything you skipped out on this week. Take a page out of Cal Newport’s book and do an Early Mid-Semester Dash.
- Create a “semester at a glance” calendar and plan for future papers and exams. Having a big calendar with the big stuff written in bold, red Sharpie ensures you notice the looming deadline with a decent couple of days to procrastinate, or bolt through the work.
- Wait until Tuesday or Wednesday to check out airfare for Spring Break – the best deals tend to be offered during the middle of the week.
