By Melanie Spina
Assistant A&E Editor
Getting back into the routine of classes after having four months of vacation can be pretty hard, especially if you spent your summer going to the beach everyday, going out at night, and literally not having a care in the world. When September comes around it can feel like a rude awakening when you are stuck having to wake up for an 8 a.m. class. Although it’s hard at first, students tend to find a way to accommodate to this not so new routine.
But the start of a new semester doesn’t always have to be a bad thing in the eyes of students. Senior Associate Director of LIU Promise, Ali DiBona, claims that students may even be happy about the start of a new semester.
“They get to see all of their friends they missed over the summer,” DiBona said, “they get to know new faculty, start new classes and see all of the exciting changes that have been taking place on campus over the summer.”
However, both DiBona, as well as many college students themselves, think that there are ways to make this transition easier.
1. Start Early
During the summer students are doing anything besides thinking about classes, but it would actually be a good thing if they prepare in advance. “Students should check their MyLIU on a regular basis to review their courses, check their email for important updates, ensure they have their textbooks, and understand where their classes are located,” DiBona said. “The more they prepare before the semester begins the easier the transition will be.”
2. Get Yourself Organized
During the first week of class pick up a calendar and a notebook. “If you organize all of your work straight out from the first week things will be less stressful,” said Ben Brinton, a junior Musical Theater major. “Writing down all of the dates that you have tests or work due will help so much with getting used to the routine since it will help plan out a schedule, giving you the advantage of not waiting for the last minute to do work and still enjoying free time.”
According to DiBona, taking a look at a course’s syllabus on the first days will help students understand what the expectations for the semester are.
3. Set Goals
Carly Nelson, a senior Art Therapy major, has her own motivational way of getting back on track. “At the start of a new semester, once I get a sense of what my professor expects or wants from me, I like to
set some type of goal for myself,” Nelson said, “whether it is by getting a certain grade in a class or achieving my ideal GPA. I really do think that setting goals is a great way to motivate yourself at the start of the semester.”
Nelson finds that this has helped her throughout her years at Post where at the end of each semester she likes to take a look at how she accomplished those goals and what she needs to further work on.
4. Reward Yourself
“College students are adults, they should know themselves to understand when they need a break and when they need to keep going and work hard,” DiBona said. Students have the freedom of controlling their own schedules; therefore DiBona considers that it is their own responsibility to be sure all of their assignments get done.
Brinton thinks that it’s good for the students to reward themselves. “For everything you accomplished on that week or even day reward yourself with some free time either going out or catching up on your favorite TV show. Remember that you need to not only take care of your schoolwork, but also of yourself,” Brinton said.
Getting out of your summer routine does not have to be a hard thing, following these steps will definitely help students get ready to get back into school mode. Getting involved in all the activities that are going on around campus is another big recommendation from DiBona.
“I think the best way to transition into a new school year is to dive head first into all that LIU Post has to offer,” DiBona said. “Step out of your comfort zone, meet new people, make new friends and become a part of something you typically wouldn’t get involved in.”
Of course every student is different and each student probably has their own way of getting into the new school year, but following tips from other college individuals and professionals is always a good thing to do, and perhaps can help a student find their strengths and weaknesses when it comes to the start of a semester.
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