It’s winter and I’m getting the sweats. How is that possible? Well, it isn’t from my Ugg boots – it’s because finals are here. Thanksgiving’s over and Winter Break is almost here, but in order to get to that fantastic rest and relaxation, we have to face finals.
As I cross out the days in my planner and sit with my friends for coffee, it seems like every conversation I have involves finals. We talk about how finals week will be hell and how we’re going to “go all out” to get that “C+” or “B-” because we just weren’t that focused this year for that “A” we could have gotten if we actually applied ourselves from the beginning.
The panic that finals evoke often has us looking back at the semester and prompting us to re-evaluate the year. Then it unfortunately makes us ask, why didn’t the semester total out the way we planned it? The answer to that question is simple, but often ignored. Most students, including myself, have deviated from what we thought would get us good grades.
How often have we said we’d study for that big midterm only to be distracted by watching the latest Justin Timberlake music video on YouTube? Then, as you’re watching the video, your roommate tells you he has an even better video. After going through all his latest videos, you both decide you’re feeling nostalgic and end up watching all of *NSYNC’s videos because you think a curly-haired Justin is hilarious.
Another concentration buster that many are familiar with is MySpace. It starts with just wanting to check your messages and leaving comments for people who left comments, but one click leads to another click and suddenly it’s 2 a.m.
Pitfalls such as the Internet can be avoided by simply not visiting those Web sites in the first place. Studying is a draining process and necessary breaks are understandable, but if there are self-control problems, choosing the Internet as a form of a “break” isn’t for you. The best way to avoid deviation is just to get down to business and completely finish your studies. If you have three chapters to read for U.S. history, and it’s hard for you to focus, make it your goal to get through all three chapters – then, when you’re finished, do whatever you want. Now that you’re free from the higher priority of studying, going on MySpace for three hours isn’t a problem.
The final grades received at the end of the semester are a reflection of personal actions, but when the going gets tough, defeat is difficult to accept. At the end of the semester, the blame game is a popular one. Professors, relationships and work are the more popular targets.
I have a professor who is fervently opposed to giving review sheets for tests. The class I’m in has more than 400 registered students with more discussion sessions. The thought of not having a review sheet is unpleasant, but his reasoning is valid: He claims everything he lectures about is going to be on the test. The notes we take in every class should be better than a one-page review sheet. If he gave a review sheet, he’s insulting the 50 percent of students who took the time to regularly attend class.
As for relationships and work, students are young and have a lot going on, but making the best decision for school is paramount. Most likely, the person you’re dating has some studying to do for his or her finals. Working to pay for school is also a priority, but if you get bad grades from neglecting class, you won’t have to worry about college for much longer.
At times such as these, the remedies are obvious. Stay consistent with your plan of success from the beginning, keep going to class, study more than you take breaks and prioritize. This sounds like a mother nagging during her weekly call to her flighty college student, but it’s simply common sense.
-Cyrille Villaflores is a political science junior.
-This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec. Send e-mail to letters@thedailyaztec.com. Anonymous letters will not be printed – include your full name, major and year in school.
