“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela

It is only October and you have already lost track of assignment due dates and all of your pencils. Waking up seems nearly impossible and you may have even considered skipping town to get out of going to school. But here is the thing, it is only October, and you have got a lot more time until Thanksgiving break, and even more until summer. Here is the other thing, you have made it through a bunch of years of previous schooling and the same lack of motivation as the weather gets colder and you would rather stay under the covers. And you know what? You pulled through every single year.

Somehow, I made it through 11 years of the same mid-semester slump and I learned a few tips and tricks on the way. So, as a (sort of) experienced senior, it is my job to share some of my knowledge with my fellow peers.

• Get organized. Like actually organize your school supplies. Have a place for every assignment, note, and handout from your classes. Stop stuffing everything into the abyss of your backpack. You will thank me when finals comes around.
• Take notes that actually make sense to you, instead of just copying what your teacher writes. Rewrite it in your own words and annotate, draw pictures, and/or color code.
• Go to a coffee shop or library to study. Treat yourself with a coffee or snack because you deserve it during a good study session. Bring a friend and help each other to stay on task.
• Set a timer for 30 minutes. Put your phone on airplane mode. Get some good studying in. When the timer goes off, have a bit of free time, and then do it all over again.
• Use sticky notes and your phone’s reminder/calendar app.
• Communicate with your teachers about assignments, missing work, and any questions that you have. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Advocate for yourself!
• Perhaps most importantly, remember that your mental and emotional health is a huge priority. Get enough sleep, take time each day to do what you love, and stop stressing so much about your future. You will figure it out with time, and you have plenty of that!