The start of a new school semester can be challenging for almost everyone in one way or another. Whether you’re a returning student or a brand new student, everyone is in the same shoes when it comes to a fresh start. Learning how to best go about and navigate how to reach your goals can be hard here’s some advice to help you get through the spring semester at All Saints’ from Mrs. Candace Strickland our academic advisor and our school counselor Mrs. Laura Dickinson.
When Mrs. Dickinson was asked, “If you could change one thing about the semester to improve the emotional well-being of students throughout the new semester what would it be?” her thoughts were:
“I am not sure I would change anything about the spring school calendar. My first thought is to remember to get enough sleep!!! The spring is a very full time of year. We are blessed to have many breaks, but it is easy to look ahead and see a break coming and start sleeping less thinking, “Oh, I will catch up later this month!” I found myself in this trap as a student and I still do it as an educator. Sleep. Exercise. Stay on your best schedule. Hydrate. Make time to relax and decompress with friends and alone.”
If Mrs.Dickinson had an opportunity to tell All saints’ students one thing about the spring semester she’d say:
”Stay on top of your organization and due dates. I am not a naturally structured person, I love fun and spontaneity, but I was raised by very structured parents. Your personality determines how you prefer to “do school”, but all of us need a system that works for us and that we stick to in order to create a routine. Schedule “downtime” in your phone, planner, etc. I have periodic alarms for prayer and meditation set up daily on my phone. If we are not purposeful, time gets away from us and procrastination leads to stress. Life is hard enough, take care of the little things to make it more fun and less stressful!”
When questioned about what she believed to be the most underutilized resource here at All saints’ Mrs. Dickinson responded:
“I feel like the ARC is way underutilized. Every period there is an adult and teachers in that room to help students with writing, math, organization, etc. Make use of their expertise. They want to help you!!! I would also encourage students to go to tutoring more often. Not only is it helpful to build your skills and get work done, but you build rapport and relationships with your teachers which is so valuable. Lastly, focus, pray, and meditate in the Chapel. There is a temptation to see Chapel time as not important, but it is a gift!!!”
Lastly, Mrs. Dickinson would like more students to just be aware of the following:
“Spring is fast and so much fun! Enjoy it. Embrace it. Be present and full of gratitude. As Ferris Bueller says, “life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
Mrs. Strickland our academic advisor was asked to leave a message for upperclassmen for the spring semester she left upperclassmen with this message “ Just because you got accepted into college doesn’t mean you just give up, and not to let senioritis get the best of you. Power through and finish strong.” Underclassmen were left with this message “Lock in, and hopefully, by now you’ve found your groove and can stick with it.”
One thing she wishes more students were aware of going into this new semester was not to get comfortable now that they are aware of their workload and are no longer trying to figure their classes out, learn from first semester experiences and either know what to do or not do.
An academic resource Mrs. Stickland feels is underutilized is “Tutorials, nobody wants to honestly wake up and come in the morning, students tend to want to do it on their time.”
If Mrs. Strickland could change one thing about the semester to improve the emotional well-being of students throughout the new semester she’d “give more breaks throughout the semester to keep us motivated and not burnt out.”
Overall a new semester is an opportunity, what you do with it is ultimately in your hands. You’ve got this!
