Five Questions to Prepare Yourself For A New Academic Year

To all the college students around the world: we know and understand each other’s struggles by mid-semester. The library is flooded with overwhelmed peers and you can’t believe how much work you need to accomplish in such a short period of time. 

Sometimes the simplest changes to our mindset can have exceptional outcomes. Stay proactive and set the tone for your semester, because the same thinking and habits tend to yield the same results. 

Here are five questions to ask yourself this semester in order to set yourself up for success:

How can I see beyond my own stress?

When unexpected changes happen on and off campus, we have to adjust in the moment. Have you ever lost focus on a problem or issue that weeks and months later had resolved itself over time with no real long-term impact on you, your well-being, your family or friends? 

We have to strive to find meaning in these challenges and continue prioritizing without allowing stress to affect our decision making.

We’re not as focused when we’re stressed so we need to find solutions. Instead, we can learn from our mistakes, and be okay with moving beyond them to make the most of our time.  

What are you excited to learn about?

In other words, what do you want to learn about this year? Rather than getting preoccupied  about the syllabi and the infinite list of assignments, focus your energy on the big-picture positives and what you can take away from your course.

There might be a certain community service project or content focus that peaks your interest. Focusing your attention on the favorable elements will make your semester more enjoyable as the months fly by.  

What do you need to be successful? 

Would greater time management skills enhance your productivity from the start? Staying ahead of assignments can be critical when juggling multiple deadlines with school and work.

There might be a difficult course you’re taking where you could ask for assistance early on in the semester by getting a tutor or joining a study group.

An additional component that many overlook is what you can do to help destress after those tough weeks. Taking up a hobby, such as reading or exercising, can significantly improve your overall mood and mindset. 

how can you utilize YOUR STRENGTHS this semester? 

It’s beneficial to your schoolwork and general motivation for education if you can hone into your strengths to help carry out the semester.

If you’re incredibly organized, you might want to consider taking up a leadership role in a group project. If you have a certain interest or skills, maybe look into a club or organization on campus that you can get involved with to use your talents. 

Finding various outlets for what you do best will allow yourself breathing room from all of the busywork that has held you down in the past. It’s easy to complain and feel discouraged, but it’s a lot more valuable to give yourself a pat on the back from time to time and embrace your gifts.

How are you building your professional portfolio? 

As you continue through college, you should start thinking more and more about the skills that you have and skills that you’d like to hone for professional purposes.

As you get into higher level course work, start thinking about how you’d use and transfer your skills into a professional setting. 

Can you show an employer some data that you’ve compiled, research that you’ve done, or a design that you’ve made? Anything that you create in a classroom can show your skills to a future employer!

An EdOdyssey student studying abroad in Lima, Peru, volunteers with children and supports local community programs.

Find a way to infuse your particular passions into the project so it shows your particular skills, strengths and love for the subject or area. 

It’s never too late to start bolstering those skills! During EdOdyssey’s study abroad, all students are encouraged to do a personal project. This piece typically relates to their major or minor for their portfolio to show employers their creativity, ingenuity, and hands-on skills.   

Are you still trying to make study abroad a priority for the future? One of our recent blogs, Creating a Roadmap to Study Abroad in 2020, goes into depth about planning for future semesters and how you can stay ahead of the game when it comes to your educational journey.