YouAlberta
So, maybe this semester didn’t go as planned. There are infinite reasons why your semester may not have gone as well as you had hoped, and before anything else, I want to tell you that it’s okay. Your worth as a person is not determined by academic performance. You hold knowledge and take up important space in this world, and I am happy you chose to face today, whatever today may bring you.
Second, let’s make a plan for next semester. By the end of this article, you won’t be lying when you tell your friends, “Next semester, it will be different.” Regardless of what you're working towards, there are some key areas to lock in on to ensure you achieve your goals.
Determining needs/accessing resources
Take a moment to reflect on this semester. What went well? What would you like to change? Reflect on how you felt while working on the things that went well and what things helped you feel that way. Conversely, try to reflect on what was going on while working on the things that did not go well. This reflection can help guide you toward affirming strategies and resources.
For example, while working on the assignment I felt the best about this semester, I felt energized, prepared and comfortable. I had slept well the night before, stopped in HUB Mall to grab breakfast and tea and printed copies of the text I needed to read. The key takeaways are that I took care of my body by sleeping and eating well and dually accommodated my migraine-prone and ADHD brain by printing copies to read and highlight with at least 6 colours. I fully understood the expectations of the assignment and had enough time and space to work on it.
For my worst assignment, I felt cramped, rushed and somewhat confused. I was in pain and had a headache and brain fog. I had less time than I thought I needed to complete it, so shame and panic fuelled my work. Upon reflection, it was obvious that some more time, as well as properly tending to my body’s needs, would have made the ordeal better. I also could have reached out to my professor about an extension, an excused absence or even just to clarify an aspect of the assignment.
Realignment of goals/intention
These reflections help me to identify my needs and, more importantly, identify the actionable steps I can take to aid my success. Often, it’s hard to fulfill every need on my own, but there are many campus supports that can help. Reaching out before the stress hits has helped me immensely (I usually get really stressed in February, so I try to reach out to supports in January to work with them on preventative strategies).
Something that was hard to contend with for me was the fact that I can’t take five courses and stay healthy (nor achieve my academic goals). By reducing my course load and accessing accommodations, I’ve found a form of balance that allows me to pursue my academic goals and take care of myself.
Scheduling/staying connected
As soon as I know a deadline, I record it and then record a reminder a week in advance of the deadline. It can be a lot of work to do at the beginning of the semester, but the long-term stress it alleviates is worth the time. Something that we can always be certain of when making a plan is that not everything will go exactly as planned; be sure to give yourself time to rest in the event of catching a cold, for example. If you estimate an assignment is going to take you 8 hours to complete, schedule more time to work than you think you need.
Communication with professors and academic resources will absolutely help you stay on track to achieve your academic goals, but staying connected to loved ones can also help.
Everyone has multifaceted lives, and it’s important to spend time connecting with people and activities that bring you joy. Nourishing your mind can help prevent you from overdoing it. I schedule time to rest after particularly large bouts of work, and I schedule time for things I enjoy.
Ultimately, no semester looks the same, and by reflecting on your wins and losses this semester, you can align your goals to take care of yourself, so then, in turn, you can take care of your academic success.