By: Erica Bettan
I remember the last day of school like it was yesterday. Exams were over and so was... high school. I remember everyone running around frantic trying to get those last-minute signatures in our year books. I remember going to Graduation, putting on my hat and gown, smiling from ear-to-ear. Everyone was so nervous. This was it. This was our high school graduation. And in a matter of what seemed like seconds, we were Graduates and this was going to be the last time we’d see each other.
Then summer came. Everyone went their own separate ways and now it was time to focus on the next adventure waiting ahead of us – University. At the time, the word “university” seemed to draw some horrid images to my imagination. The daunting lecture halls, the intimidating profs, and midterms that were worth 80% of your final grade...It was terrifying!
So I guess you can imagine, as a student preparing for first year university, I was quite stressed out. Here’s why: first off, I would have to pay for tuition which wasn’t cheap, then I had to find and buy books which weren't cheap either, and finally I had to print out my schedule which made no sense at all. Then, after all of that, there was an orientation tour around campus, but I didn't know anyone to go with!
But then something cool happened. I got to University, made it through the first few days and discovered that I was starting to relax. I discovered that University is not actually as scary as I thought it was going to be at first. In fact, it can actually be a lot of fun!
So here’s my little step-by-step guide to not only get through your first year, but to also make it something you’ll actually enjoy.
Step 1: Come Prepared
As silly as it sounds, university students are often stressed out because they don’t prepare themselves ahead of time. Whether it’s for lectures, tests, presentations, interviews, what have you, you need to know what’s going on before you actually start whatever it is you’re going to do. So here’s a tip, if your professor posts his/her notes before a lecture, take the time to read them before you go to class. This will not only help you understand the material better when the professor explains it, but it will give you an opportunity to get any confusion out of the way or to come up with questions you could ask during class.
Another thing is the textbook. There’s a reason why we have to buy it. Its purpose is not to sit on our shelves and collect dust (though it can definitely be used as a giant paper weight some days). It’s a good idea to read over the chapter before or while the professor is discussing the topic. Take the time to make your own notes, practice the material with questions and focus your attention on the big ideas.
Step 2: Study with Ease
With University, comes stress. It’s a given and it’s not going away. But it’s how you manage that stress that makes the difference and the first step in doing that, is learning how to study. Now you may say, “Erica, I already know how to study. I graduated from high school and I got accepted to a program at a University, didn’t I?" Yes, that may be true, but it doesn't mean that the studying habits that you used in high school are going to work as well in University.
In every new learning environment, you have to change a little. Like I mentioned before, coming prepared is a smart technique for success, and it is a new step I have been taking since arriving at York. Therefore something of importance is your willingness to change bad habits into good ones. I’m not saying that you have to do an overhaul of the way you study(though that may be the case), I’m saying try to be open about learning different strategies that will make you less stressed out and a little bit more relaxed.
For example, learn the prof’s technique – especially when it comes to tests. If a math professor repeats a concept in class more than once, chances are it will be on the test. If your English professor tells you how to support a thesis in a certain way, try it out – practice. The key idea is to learn and see that in University, profs no longer focus on the itty-bitty details, but rather the broader connections between a specific topic and others mentioned throughout the course.
Step 3: Get Involved
Upon coming to York University, I realized very quickly that Keele is a huge campus and that that it is very easy for first year students to feel lost in the shuffle, especially when walking through Vari Hall to Central Square at lunch time. But you can learn to appreciate York for its size because one nice thing about such a huge campus, is that there are lots of ways to get involved.
For example, I got involved with the student program SLDP this year and this article that I am writing to you is one of the many things I have been able to do there. I get to promote student leadership, get involved in may school and therefore, not feel like I’m lost in the shuffle.
So whether you’re into sports, student organizations, and art clubs – York’s got it all. The first step – once you relax a little and settle in – is to start looking.
Step 4: Have Fun
There are many opportunities to have some fun at York University. If you weren’t able to attend Frosh at the beginning of the year, that’s okay, there are still many things you can do at York. There are movie nights, where you can catch a flick with some friends (information usually posted in Vari Hall), theatrical performances, events at the Student Centre, clubs and sports, socials, semi-formals and more! However, the key thing to remember, especially as a first year student, is to be safe and be legal. There’s nothing wrong with a little fun, but I caution you to remember that York is still a school and you are still a student. With your new freedom, comes new responsibilities.
As you can see, the world of University is not such a scary place. Just keep up with your studies, have some fun and you’ll be in second year before you know it. Remember that if you have any questions about anything going on at York (like current events, how to decide next year’s courses or when’s the next social), there is always someone who can lend you a hand and answer your questions.
It's February, and while it's usually thought of as the month of love (ahem, Valentine's day specifically), it's also thought of as the dreaded month of MID-TERMS. Cue the dramatic music. But fret (or fear) not! At SLDP, we're committed to help you get through it all, including preparing for those mid-terms.
Tip #1: Plan Ahead
It's so imperative that you make use of your agenda, (or wall calendar, which is what I use personally) and schedule dates with yourself to study for specific exams or tests. Set aside appointments with yourself to study for courses chronologically based on when exams are.
Tip #2: Prioritize
Prioritize which exams need the most attention and time. The courses that you seem to struggle with the most need your attention the most. Also, when studying consider studying the sections that you find most difficult first.
Tip #3: Take Breaks
I always advise my friends to never study for hours on end. Simply put, your brain will fry out. Studying after your brain has already gone to sleep is so ineffective that it is seriously a waste of valuable time. Do not hesitate to take 15 to 20 minutes and rest your brain for a bit. Go outside and take a walk or have a snack. Refresh your mind so that it's rejuvenated for more studying.
Tip #4: Take Workshops that Hone Studying Skills
The Learning Skills Workshops under Counselling & Disability Services are there to help you successfully complete your academic year. They include workshops on time management, exam preparation, and how to write better. Take advantage of them and use all of York's services to the fullest. Visit the Learning Skills Web site today to reserve your spot!
Tip #5: Manage Your Stress
Make sure that on top of taking breaks, you check yourself for stress. Stress can actually be a hindering factor in your studying and success on tests. The more stressed you are, the less likely you will be able to understand and grasp concepts concretely, thus hindering your chances come test time. If you are not sure how to do this, Student Leadership & Development Program offers a Stress Management workshop. Our next workshop on Stress Management is on March 4th (Thursday, from 5 to 6:30 PM at the Ross South Building, room 501.)
I hope my tips help, and that you survive the Mid-Term Blues!
Can many hands really make work lighter?
Ever wondered why professors and other successful people always tell you to “get to know others” and to “build a network”? Why exactly is “cooperation” important?
A common definition that you can find in a dictionary for “cooperation” is: “an act or instance of working or acting together for a common purpose or benefit; joint action.”
Your life and your decisions are in your hands, why is it so important to work with other people “for a common purpose”? Can’t you just survive on your own? You hear success stories about people making millions from nothing or pro athletes coming out of the prairies with little access to sport facilities.
Quite often the small details add up to make up a large picture that makes a significant impact on our everyday lives. In the “Friend or Foe” session, host Kevin talks about the importance of cooperation and the small points that accumulate into a larger picture as previously described. The session is very fun in unique way that completely changed and reconstructed everybody’s view on teamwork.
Coaches praise teamwork as an important strategy in sports. However Kevin argues that it’s just as important in real life. Check the calendar to register for his future sessions:
http://www.yorku.ca/scld/leadership/programs/cooperation.html
Review by Artur.
What is diversity? Why value diversity?
These were some of the questions addressed by the speaker, Selwyn McSween in the SLDP seminar, “A Journey to Diversity”. When one speaks of diversity, it is much more than racial or ethnic diversity; it also includes religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status and so on. A diverse body is able to attract and retain a wide range of people with individual interests, dedication, backgrounds and perspectives.
Diversity forces people to challenge their assumptions, stereotypes and perceptions and it fosters social growth and the ability for people to properly understand one another. Therefore this session becomes an invaluable learning experience for those who will/do work with people.
The seminar was informative, enlightening and educational. The speaker, Selwyn McSween, was moving, intellectual and coming from a human rights background, he provided insightful information about diversity. Additionally, the listeners were involved in the seminar by discussing various case studies that addressed human rights issues and emphasized the importance of being diverse. Besides the fact that it was insightful, many of the things presented could be applied to everyday life.
Review by Abena.
Speak Out: Harness Your Voice is essentially a crash-course on Public Speaking squished into an hour and half. I highly recommend you take this workshop if you can grab it, because it teaches an essential skill that all university students, regardless of their future profession, should obtain to some degree.
As a teacher to be, I learned how to project my voice, and to understand the importance of really ‘harnessing’ my voice in an effective manner. A good speaker also makes for a good presenter, and if you are dreading and presentations that you have to do this term, "Speaking Out" might help you clear those butterflies away!
This workshop is hosted by brilliant former Public Speaking professor, James Allen. He starts his sessions with an introduction to Public Speaking (its importance and why we practice Public Speaking), as well as the theories behind it. After that Allen gets into a series of great exercises that really help you put the theories in practice amongst your peers.
Among the many things I learned, the one that is most salient to me is how good public speaking takes practice and good structure. Much like writing an essay, you need to plan out and structure your speech or presentation. Good public speaking skills translate to good leadership, therefore if you are able to coherently present yourself and your ideas, then you will consequently become a better leader.
Once you’ve got a good structure down pat, you need to a) practice, b) practice and c) practice! You can’t practice enough in Public Speaking, in fact the worst that can happen from too much practice is that you’ll be perfectly prepared!
As you can see, public speaking well is very important, therefore the "Speaking Out" workshop becomes a very valuable tool. Check out the next session on February 11, 2010.
Review by Afroza.
