By Alison Blazer
Greetings fellow Beavers!
Spring term is here, which means Beaver Nation is about to get a case of Spring Fever! Many of us have experienced it before, and as a graduating senior, I feel it is my duty to caution my fellow classmates. Days full of sunshine, Frisbee on the quad and iced beverages are coming our way, Beaver Nation, and we need to prepare!
This blog entry is going to offer a few helpful tips on how to plan ahead for a productive term. So read up, and let this be your remedy for Spring Fever!
1. Buy a planner- it’s never too late!
Whether you’ve managed to misplace your heavily used agenda over Spring Break, or have never before owned one, make your planner your new best friend. Having a concrete, hard copy of your schedule is never a bad idea. It allows students to better visualize the next 10 weeks, which believe me, are going to fly by sooner than you expect! So what do you put in this magical new life organizer, you ask?
2.See those syllabi? Transfer all those deadlines over to your new planner!
Here’s your answer! Syllabus week is all fun and games until you realize those packets of paper actually contain serious deadlines to large, looming assignments. Utilize your planner to organize all of the upcoming deadlines for papers, projects, and tests. If you’re like me, and want to be really thorough, you could even include quizzes, assigned readings, and other small assignments.
3. Be realistic.
Don’t overestimate your academic motivation, but then again, don’t underestimate yourself! Spring term can be carried out with the same determination as all terms prior. You just need to be realistic with yourself. Understand that the sunshine and friends offering to grab a bite to eat at a restaurant with some nice outdoor seating can be very distracting. Know yourself, and know your priorities.
4. Reach out for help.
Spring Fever can get the best of any of us—don’t be afraid to ask for help! Your academic advisor, your friends and even your parents *gasp* are there for you and want to see you do well at OSU. In addition to the many individual sources of support students can turn to, there are numerous tools that can be found both on our campus and beyond on the world wide web.
OSU’s Academic Success Center offers academic support to the entire student body and aims to assist students in numerous academic capacities. The ASC houses several different programs, including Academic Coaching, the Writing Center, and Academic Learning Services courses. You can schedule an appointment at the Center (located in Waldo Hall 102) by calling (541) 737-2272. These appointments are absolutely free for both undergraduate and graduate students, and you can even schedule a series of appointments throughout the upcoming term!
The ASC also offers a very helpful one-page “Term at a Glance” calendar on their website for free download. Access it here: http://success.oregonstate.edu/learning-corner/term-long-planning
In additon to OSU’s campus resources, there are always tons of tools available on the web. For instance, did you know there are websites designed to help you lock yourself out of your own Facebook account for a specified amount of time? Several of these sites require a browser add-on, but are completely free and can hugely increase your productivity during those tough-to-beat days full of sunshine.
Check out some recommended sites here:
5. Get involved.
Is there an organization or club you’ve been meaning to get involved with? Feel like it’s too late? Good news—it’s never too late! Although most campus groups heavily recruit new members during the beginning of the academic year in the fall, there is nothing wrong with dipping your toes into the water right now. Come fall term, members of the club of your dreams could already be familiar with you and what you can offer them and you could already be comfortable attending meetings, events, etc. What’s the harm in that? Similarly, if it’s your very last term at OSU and you still haven’t gotten everything you want out of your extracurricular self, get out there! Try your hand in student government, volunteer at the food pantry, or go create something exquisite at the craft center! The Corvallis campus is your oyster, so enjoy it!
6. Have a little fun in the sun (and maybe fit some snoozing in too)!
Last, but not least, remember to have fun! Productivity is nothing without the reward. So whatever it is that you do to relax and enjoy your time, whether it be alone or with a group of friends, make sure you find some space in that nifty planner to block out some you time. Among all of the papers, the involvement, and the fun, you also have to remember to sleep! Slammed for time? Combine your intake of Vitamin D with some shuteye in a patch of sun on the MU Quad.
With that, I wish you all the best of luck! Plan ahead and utilize the tools I’ve listed above and you’re sure to have a memorable and productive term! Go get ‘em Beavs!
