School Year

Many people will be starting or have already started school for this year. This will be the first year since the age of five I won’t be going to school this fall. It is so strange to think that that part of my life is behind me. While I still plan on pursuing a master’s degree, the fact that I am not starting school this week is a stark reminder of the fact that my life has irrevocably changed. However, this post is not about my nostalgia for academia; rather, I figured given my experience with school and the fact that I did quite well in school, that I could give some advice for getting through the school year.

1. Start studying for tests early. I know, a lot of people say this and it is easy to absently not your head and proceed to ignore them, but honestly it is great advice. If you take detailed notes and study them frequently you will remember the information a lot better than if you cram the night before or even heaven forbid the day of an exam. 
2. Don’t just read and re-read your notes. While this is more helpful than not studying at all the best thing to do is to uses mnemonics, or memory tricks; such as, creating a song (yes, I know it may seem lame but it works), using acronyms, or even creating funny phrases. Furthermore, it is best to test yourself on the information. Create quizzes or you and your friends can create quizzes for each other. Another helpful thing is to rewrite your notes by memory. 
3. Make sure to space out studying, very long study sessions without breaks can overwhelm you. Instead break up study sessions into half-hour to an hour increments. Take frequent sort breaks, listen to music, go for a walk, get a snack. I frequently studied with music or background noise; however, studies suggest that it is better to study without any distractions.   
4.  Look out for your mental health. School can be extremely stressful and it is easy to be swept away and neglect your mental health. Make sure to take time to relax; I know it may feel like you don’t have the time to do this, but in the long term it can have grave consequences on your studies and life if you don’t.

Finally, I know it is easy to feel like this time is just a stepping stone into your real life, but don’t take the moments you have for granted. Don’t let your life pass you by focusing too much on the life you may have in the future. Life is uncertain and unpredictable and if there is one thing I can advise is that you shouldn’t take it for granted.  If you are a freshman in high school, enjoy the first year of high school. If you are a senior in high school, I know you may be focused on the fact that it is your last year and that life is beyond it, but the truth is life doesn’t start after high school and it doesn’t start after college, life is a dynamic, ever flowing process that exists where ever you are. You may think that you just need to push through and your real life will start in college or at a job, but that isn’t how it works. Life is made up of all the moments we experience, so cherish each one.