Preparing to go back to school is a very exciting time for students. The smell of new books, freshly painted chairs, new classrooms, the suspense of finding out what your section is and who your classmates are, meeting your class adviser and subject teachers for the first time- all of these things and experiences spell out a fresh start, a clean slate, a chance for a do-over, the beginning of a new chapter in one’s life as a student.
However, it is also this “newness’, this “starting all over again”, that can cause anxiety and dread in students. Suddenly, students start feeling that summer vacation was too short, and they start clinging to the last few weeks of freedom- from doing homework, tests, and projects, waking up early, sticking once again to study routines. Just thinking about school makes their body feel weighted down, their arms and legs heavy, and even the thought of seeing their friends again and experiencing new things is drowned about by the thoughts of all the stress they will be facing and going through “all over again”.
It is natural to feel nervous about the start of classes. But, students will do well to remember that the very things that a person fears or dreads are the very things that will help one grow and mature. Often, too, people tend to anticipate so many negative outcomes that never actually materialize (“I won’t be able to cope with the lessons this year”, “What if I don’t fit in with my class?”, “My teachers are going to be too strict and I’ll be too scared to recite in class.”). By being too anxious, people tend to miss out on the beauty of the present moment and all the lessons it can impart.
Also, a word to students: School has not even started yet! It will soon be stressful enough; don’t stress yourself out unnecessarily and enjoy the thrill of starting classes once again!
Good physical, mental, and emotional preparation are crucial to transitioning into the routine of going back to school. Here are some tips that can help students make the coming school year one for the books:
- Routine, routine, routine (especially sleeping routines). Start aligning your body clock to the rhythm of going back to school, preferably a week or two weeks before the start of classes. Going to bed at the time you usually do when there are classes (e.g. 10:00 pm) will help you, and it won’t be so hard to wake up early on the first day of school.
- Prepare the things you will need in advance. Make sure that you have everything you need for school- complete set of school supplies, uniforms- before the first day of classes, so you don’t feel stressed about missing school materials on the first day.
- Set 1-2 BIG goals for the school year. What do you want to achieve this school year? Is it to stop procrastinating? To get better grades in English? Talk to more people outside your close circle of friends? Drop by the oratory more often? Be able to approach teachers whenever you find a topic confusing? Aim for one or two goals to target this year. Write them down on a piece of paper and stick it somewhere visible so you won’t forget about them. Revisit them once a month so you can check your progress.
- Reconnect with friends and classmates. It is good to have your support system with you on the first day of school and throughout the school year. Having your friends and familiar faces around you can help you deal with first-day jitters better.
- Take care of your health. Take your vitamins, eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of water, exercise regularly, and sleep for at least 7-8 hours. Make sure to also schedule time for hobbies or other activities that can help you unwind and relax after a hard day at school. School work can be stressful, and you have to be fit and in good condition to handle all the demands of being a student.
- Organize your study area. Have a designated area in your house or room for studying, preferably one that’s well-lighted and well-ventilated, free from distractions and interruptions (away from TV, computer, or anything too noisy), and has everything you need for studying within reach (books, paper, markers, pens, highlighters, dictionaries, etc.).
- Maximize your planner. Keep one planner for tracking all homework, projects, and tests. Log them in your planner or homework notebook as soon as they are announced so you don’t forget about them. Estimate how much time is needed to complete each one so you can plan ahead and manage your time better. However, you also need to keep track of other equally important things like club meetings, varsity practices, hangouts with friends, family outings, school holidays; make sure to incorporate these in the same planner.
- Adopt a positive mindset for the school year. If you have any regrets and disappointments in the past school year, remember that now is the time to start anew. It is good to write down or say positive self-statements- “I can do this”, “I will be a better student this school year”, “I will make mistakes, but I can always try and try again.” Visualize the best possible outcome for yourself this school year, break down your goals into smaller objectives, and check yourself regularly if you are on track to meeting them.
- Talk regularly to your parents and mentor. Maintain open communication lines with trusted adults in home and at school. These people can help you manage your problems or concerns before they get too overwhelming, and they can be a safe venue for you to share about your experiences in school, friends, teachers, hobbies etc.
- Offer it up. Remember that God is always rooting for you and is always at your side, no matter what you are going through. Schedule regular visits to the Oratory, either by yourself or with your friends. Offer Mass once a month, week, (or even daily), for your intentions and that of your family’s and friend’s. All your struggles can be turned into joys if you remember that all things are done for, with, and through Him.
HAVE A HAPPY AND FRUITFUL SCHOOL YEAR!
References:
Haugen, J.A. (2017, June 05). 10 ways to transition from summer vacation to school. Mom.me. Retrieved on
July 6, 2018 from https://mom.me/lifestyle/20602-10-ways-transition-summer-vacation-school/
12 Study Tips for Back to School. (n.d.). In The Princeton Review. Retrieved on July 6, 2017 from
https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/back-to-school-study-tips.