Ending the Semester Well

The end of the semester is near, Christmas feels both distant and near, and most college students I've talked with are feeling the heavy load of end-of-semester projects, papers, and finals.  What is a student to do?  If you have the answer, let me know; we'll write a book and make our millions.

In the meantime, here are a few tips.

1. Start preparing for final exams NOW.  Commit an hour or two a week to review notes, assignments, readings, and feedback from your professor.  Avoid cramming a night or two before the exam; doing so is one of the least effective methods for success on a test and is even less effective for mastering material.  Read a few more tips at 5 Tips for Wrapping Up Your First College Semester.
   
2. Put time management principals to use.  Make a list of things you need to do and prioritize by date, importance (is it worth 20% of your grade or 1% of your grade?), and effort required to complete the task.  Maintain healthy life practices: Get enough sleep, avoid unhealthy foods (including energy drinks), exercise.  Block out (or turn off) distractions when you're doing schoolwork; set specific times for checking Facebook, email, text messages, and such.  No one multitasks effectively; in reality, we "switch-task," with each switch taking time and energy away from our ultimate goal.  Ten Tips to Reduce End-of-Semester Stress gives a few more ideas you might implement.
   
3. Prepare for your transition to home (or wherever you're going when finals are over).  End of the Semester College Tips for Students suggests conversations with family members about expectations when you return for Christmas.  You've been away from home with more independence and flexibility; will you continue living as a college student or do your parents have the same expectations as they did while you were in high school?  And while Christmas is a wonderful time of celebration, beware of getting overwhelmed by activities and gift-giving expectations.

One last piece of advice: End well. 

• Be intentional about the end of this phase of life, whether this is the end of your first semester or your last.  
• Finish assignments as well as you can.
• Focus on mastering content or skills, not getting a particular grade.
• Thank those who have impacted your life.
• Say goodbye to those you are closest to, while accepting the reality that you can't see everybody at just the right time.
• Have a cup of coffee with a good friend and reflect on how God has worked in your life this semester - intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, vocationally.

Why do you Learn?

As we take classes and complete assignments, we often focus on what we are learning but don't always consider how or why we are learning.  David Krathwohl developed a way of describing how a student's approach to an activity can impact learning. 

The lowest commitment for learning is displayed when a student is in a receiving position, taking in information without doing much with it.  When a student responds to information or an experience, she demonstrates new action or thoughts as a result of applying that information.  If a subject, activity, or assignment is perceived as worthwhile, a student values the learning and is likely more likely  learning the topic at hand.  An even higher dedication to learning is evident when a student organizes his values to integrate what has been learned.  Acting out one's values, or being characterized by a value set, indicates an incorporation of learned information, abilities, or beliefs; learning has moved beyond intellectual exercise and into life application.  According to Krathwohl's model, the higher one goes on the pyramid, the higher the commitment to learning.

Take a moment to consider your attitude as you encounter learning experiences such as lectures, discussions, homework, or tests.  Can you shift your attitude from one of receiving - hoping information will be poured into your brain - toward an openness to have your life changed as a result of new information, grand ideas, or beliefs that are discovered or affirmed?

Writing Cake

Another contribution from ARC Consultant Drew Miller:

When you bake,

do not dunk

your head in wet

cake inside

a 350 degree oven.

When you write,

let batter become

better, and firm.

Wait and walk away

until your work is

cool enough to frost.

Do Almost Nothing about Almost Everything

"If you're truly faithful to your calling, you're doing almost nothing about almost everything in the world."  

When I heard these words from John Stackhouse, I was struck by the difficulty of focusing on my unique call and contribution in this world.  I want to do more, have it all, not make choices between good, better and best, and please everyone, including myself.

But what if my "best" involves leaving some things undone, or saying no to good things?  Perhaps being faithful to one's calling as a student requires studying on an evening when all one's friends are going to a movie.  Or perhaps - and I think this one is more difficult to determine accurately - being faithful requires going to a movie when one has homework that remains undone.

An ongoing question that I'm trying to answer is "What can I not do?"  We live in a culture that places so much emphasis on freedom and choice that it can be paralyzing.  What if I reduce the number of choices I have to make?  What if I give up some of my freedom so I can live a more healthy life?

Join me in the journey of searching out God's call, then engaging in faithful pursuit of a life attuned to that call.