The education system can cause students to feel stressed by the constant examinations and pressures they face to achieve their desired marks. Though these stresses can be debilitating, lessons learned from peers and reflecting on previous work can be helpful towards improving on future finals and achieving an academic comeback in the second semester.
One effective method students can use to better comprehend their schooling is to seek out a study group where they can gather with friends and learn the material together. This can provide a support network and help others overcome common academic challenges such as organization and time management.
“I had study groups with my friends and I had help from my math teacher,” said senior Anika Medina.
Tutoring with teachers, and reviewing with peers is not the only option that students can use to study. Many students use techniques like:
Pomodoro timers: a time management method based on 25-minute stretches of focused work broken by five-minute breaks.
Blurting: writing down all the information remembered on a topic (it doesn’t matter about the order or if it’s correct at the start) then going back to the subject’s notes to find out what was missed or wrong.
Active recall: a flashcard-like technique that constantly refreshes topics that need to be memorized
– finding the study habit that works best for the individual is crucial, as it will help to improve their overall comprehension of the material.
For other students, using online resources works best for understanding the content. Although many are available, some of the most commonly used on campus are Khan Academy, a site with a mission to help students understand their course material, and Quizlet, a web tool that helps students learn through several study tools that include flashcards, quizzes, and games.
“I know that Khan Academy helped me a lot for chemistry, also Organic Chemistry Teacher helped me… and something I like to do is recalling because I’m able to make sure that I retain all the information,” said junior Aeryn Cruz.
Coping with school-related fatigue starts with staying organized and avoiding procrastination which is crucial for success. When students adjust to a study plan and avoid cramming at the last minute, they are more likely to feel prepared for tests and keep up to pace with their classes.
“Take it easy… it’s easier said than done but definitely don’t stress yourself out… use all the time you get to study and make sure to retain the information as well… if you do get a bad score or a score you don’t like don’t take it too seriously… all in all, take advantage of the time you have and manage it well,” said Cruz.
The stress of school is generally common for students to experience. Relating with one another, forming new study habits, and making use of student resources such as after-school tutoring or events like Westco Crunch can help with the stress from the workload, which in the end, is key to achieving academic success.
