By Steven Levine
Campus News
The term is almost over. How did you do? Can you still do better?
When the term started, you approached your classes and their attendant assignments with motivation and high expectations. You resolved to complete the assignments on time , submit good quality work and study for exams. The unvarnished truth however, may be different. There are times when life just gets in the way. A large percentage of students are balancing not only the demands and expectations of the courses that they enrolled in, but working as many as 30 to 40 hours per week while in school.
The term is still not over and in many cases there is still time to finish the term with a passing grade. But how? First focus on the balance of the term that is left. Do not spend time thinking on what you could have done better, but rather on what is left to accomplish. If you have research papers that are due, spend the time to complete these assignments when they are due, but more than, that put in the extra effort to hand in something that represents what you are truly capable of. Cite your sources, make compelling arguments for your point of view, and draw conclusions that are supported.
If you have homework that is due, no excuses, submit it on time. In class, listen and participate. Do not spend your time in class, figuring out how to look at your phone, but actually focus. Lastly when the time for the final exam is announced, find out what chapters it will cover, and its format, and come up with a plan to study for it. Set a period of time each few days to cover specific pieces that will be covered. If this is actually done, as the day of the Final Exam approaches, you will just be involved in a final review, rather than last minute memorizing which will usually result with less than optimal results.
So please don’t give up. Apply yourself. You may be surprised with the results.
Steven Levine teaches Accounting and Business at Nassau Community College. He has an MBA from Baruch and has owned his own business and worked for Pfizer and Mobil Oil, as well as very large electrical distribution firms.
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