Exams are upon us! But fear not, it will be over before you know it.
I honestly feel a lot calmer for my university exams than I did this time last year, sitting my Year 12 exams. I just take each day as it comes, setting goals and rewarding myself afterwards. My best friend through the examination period is my checklist; I write one every day with tasks I wish to accomplish, such as writing paragraphs 1 and 2 of my cultural studies essay, or studying this section of my linguistics course. Organising it into smaller chucks makes the tasks feel easier not only to start, but accomplish. And I personally find cookies to be a great reward! :)
I am yet to meet someone who actually finds exams fun, so just hang in there and know that we are all in the same boat. I say bring on the holidays!
Best of luck everyone!
Phoebe :)
I have a friend who's working towards a 95% average.
It's pretty much the most admirable thing I've ever seen and I kind of wish I had her resolve because seriously, that would pretty much guarantee my spot at any university I want to go on exchange to. And my parents might finally stop being disappointed in me for choosing arts.
But the thing is, the last time we met up was before semester started. My other friends agree that it's basically impossible to get her to come out because all she does I study. And I can't even imagine how stressful it would be - getting a low score on one single assignment/exam would ruin your entire average.
So what I'm saying is: it might be worth it, it might not be.
Last semester, I managed to maintain a H1 average. I actually attended all my lectures, mostly started my essays a week before they were due, did most of my readings and didn't passionately hate any of my lecturers/tutors or have fundamental ideological disagreements with course content.
This semester, I skipped pretty much all my classes during student election week and never really picked them up after. I liked only one of my subjects (although that was also the one I had my fundamental ideological disagreement with, so go figure), detested one of my tutors for being covertly racist (oh, but maybe you're just being too sensitive!!1!)and had like, a 20% attendance rate for one of my subjects. Basically, I was not your model student 2.0.
I also enjoyed this semester a helluva lot more. I got involved in the student union, went out with friends to brunch way too much, went to all the uni events, spent like two days straight, without sleeping, helping put together the annual magazine for the wom*n's department, wrote an article for Farrago, etc.
None of which negates the fact that last semester I managed to maintain a H1 average and I'm hellbent on keeping that.
So now it's come to the moment of truth. This week, I'm going to be spending approximately 12 hours a day at the library, getting way too little sleep and still trying to juggle extracurricular commitments. Right now it feels like my whole world has basically narrowed down to the next seven days.
It's not going to be the end of the world if I don't do spectacularly, but I come from a culture that's very used to overachievement. Right now, it's just a matter of working out how many hours of sleep a night I'm willing to sacrifice to maintain that average.
I'll end this on some study tips:
- If you live near uni, go to the uni libraries. Seriously. During weekdays in SWOTVAC, Bailieu, Giblin, ERC and Brownless are all open until 1am. And not just that 'ground floor study hall' nonsense or whatever, but as in, the whole library is open until 1am. So you can still borrow books and actually have space to study and all that. It's great.
- If you go to Giblin, they have a boiling water dispenser so if you bring a mug and a teabag you can make your own tea. I'm currently sitting in Baillieu and being sad over the fact that it doesn't have anything similar.
- Drink tea.
- Use highlighters.
- That's it. That's all you need to know.
May the exam questions ever be in your favour. And once again, I'll see you guys on the other side of the battlefield.
The sun is shining, I have some Tim Tams beside me and it is the last day of classes for the semester. It really is wonderful to be back in Melbourne! I've had an enjoyable past few weeks in Sri Lanka and I'm not quite sure whether I want to return to the hectic mess that is exam preparation. With SWOTVAC and the dreaded exams fast approaching, I thought this would a good time to share my full experiences of studying away from uni and how it has impacted my studies, as well as share a few tips on how to manage it all.
First of all, I'd like to point out that in no way do I recommend leaving overseas for an extended period of time during the semester. While I was able to keep up with lectures and assignments quite well, I still missed out on actually being in lectures and tutorials and asking questions and participating in the discussions. Also, I'd like to point out that studying while being away from uni becomes difficult when it affects your mindset and lowers your motivation to study.
For those of you in my in a situation similar to mine where you find that you have to leave overseas, while the above paragraph sounds quite negative, you may be able to stay on top of things if you remain organised and motivated. Here are a few tips to help with that:
- If possible, try to organise the semester beforehand- I knew that I would have to miss a few weeks quite early on so I opted to complete three subjects during the semester instead of four. I also tried to organise my trip so that it would coincide with the mid-semester break. This way I could keep up and not miss too much work.
- Plan with your tutors/group partners beforehand- as I mentioned before in a previous post, I had to notify my tutors of my travel plans due to assignments that I would miss and to sort out attendance requirements. It is best to have these discussions early on to make sure that everyone is on the same page. In addition, if you have any group assignments, make sure to plan with your group and stay in contact while you are gone, I found that submitting my parts early was best for everyone involved.
- Make sure to keep up with your university email and LMS announcements- this was particularly important as LMS notified me that one of my exams was rescheduled to an earlier date. It's also important to keep in contact with group partners and tutors and check assignment marks and subject updates while you're away.
Be forewarned. This is shaping up to be a very emo post, straight from the laptop of a very pressured, frazzled student.
So. How do I deal with pressure? Answer is, not very well. And boy, the pressure is ON. Let's see... There's exams coming up in less than three weeks' time, and I haven't revised through most of my lectures. (Yes, I told you I'm one of the "professional" procrastinators. :)) But that's not the worst. Pressure from exams, I can handle. It's the pressure I'm currently getting from my mother that's causing me to be as frazzled and on edge as a radioactive nucleon (Ha! A highfaluting physics term that I totally pretend to understand!)
I know she means well. I mean, which mother does not want her child to be the next Isaac Newton/ Mozart/ Renoir/ Churchill or whichever icon of whichever field of study? And yes, I know she only does these things because she cares and wants me to succeed, but come on! The constant "What have you done today? Have you studied at all?" questions, the whole "I expect you to do well this semester" expectations, it's enough to drive me up the wall! And these "words of advice" come up every. single. day. It's just... Ugh.
A week or two from now, I'm going to look back at this post and think "What am I saying? I can't say these things about my own mother, for goodness sake!" and be extremely guilty about this. But right now, I just feel like ranting, and getting things off my chest. I know I may sound like an ingrate, but it's just so hard when your own mother doesn't have enough faith in you, that she needs to constantly check up on you to see what you're doing and if you're actually studying. (Okay, yes, I procrastinate; so the reminder's probably a good thing, but that's beside the point, isn't it? No? Okay. Ignore this whole post, then. :))
Back to my rant. It's like my mother expects so much from me, and I'm just too pressured into becoming who she wants me to be, and it's so. very. difficult. Okay, that's not entirely true - I chose this university and this degree by my own free will, but sometimes I feel as though all my choices are centered around her and her expectations of me. A bit unfair for me to say something like that to the woman who gave me life and all I have right now, but I won't deny that I feel this way nonetheless.
So. There you have it. This is how I deal with pressure - by expressing myself in a completely irrelevant, unimportant and probably depressing post.
Well, then. Back to (er... start) studying! Exams are almost upon us. Brace yourselves. Seriously. Unless you're one of the non-procrastinating kids, in which case, good on you, mate.
Hello to you all from sunny Colombo, Sri Lanka!
It's been about a week since I arrived here and I've had a great time so far. It's been lovely to visit family and friends who I haven't seen in so long and I've also gotten used to studying while away from uni.
Although I planned to leave Melbourne on the first day of mid-semester break, my week wasn't completely free since I had two assignments due the following week. Despite feeling anxious to start work, I took my dad's advice and took a day (or two) off to relax and sleep off the jet-lag, I'm glad I did this because it meant that I was better prepared to start studying again (thanks, Dad!)
The most important thing to do, as always, is to manage your time well and try not to get too behind. I think I've been fairly successful at this, though it is difficult when I have plans that take up the whole day. On days like this, I try study a bit in the morning, even if it's only for an hour. To my surprise, I was so well organised with my assignments that I finished them well before I would have if I were back at home!
I guess I'll have to leave you now and get back to my night of elephant parades and the spiciest food imaginable, as well as heaps of studying (haha)!
So it’s been a while since my last post and there are two main reasons for that: 1. I have had TWO major essays due this week, both were incredibly draining and time consuming and 2. I have actually been quite sick this week. As a result, my stress levels have been running high. And I’m sure I’m not the only one feeling the heat. Mid-semester break (which isn’t actually occurring in the middle of the semester???) is next week and boy are we ready. So based on my own stress levels rocketing, I thought it might be time to share some tips on what I do to relax and how to relax when you’re strapped for time.
1.) Keep Hydrated
Water is important, it’s a fact. So make sure you keep up the water intake. However, sometimes water can seem a bit boring. I drink lots of tea (English breakfast is a favourite) when I’m studying and drink more herbal teas, like green and ‘sleepy’ teas at night to help me feel more relaxed before I go to bed. It may be a placebo but I think it helps me get a better night’s rest.
2.) Exercise
Again, another well-known theory that exercise and physical activity is good for releasing stress hormones. On weekends, and especially on weekends when I know I have a heavy study load, I try to fit in either a walk or a jog (from as short as 15 mins) on either or both days. I tend to exercise before I start studying or when I get one of those pesky mind blocks.
3.) Reading
Reading has always been a passion of mine, but I know that being a Bachelor of Arts student, we get a lot of readings for our classes which can sometimes feel stressful and overwhelming. This is why I try and always have a book to read because it makes reading more enjoyable again. Also, reading at night before I go to sleep helps me relax and fall asleep.
4.) Socialising
I try and keep a balance between my work/study life and social life. I live at home with my mum, dad, younger brother and sister (who are twins i.e. double trouble!!) but we aren’t always home together at the same time. However, I think it’s important to always make time to catch up with them. Also, just going out for coffee with a good friend for an hour or so, or going to the movies can give you a study break and the relaxation you need.
5.) Rewards
I always try and reward myself for my good study behaviour, completing a task or submitting an assignment. Sometimes the reward is as simple as a delicious choc-chip biscuit or going out for dinner with a good friend. Having the light at the end of the tunnel makes me more motivated and being able to focus on the reward takes a little of the stress out of the task.
All of these things won't take up all your time or energy, allowing you to still complete your tasks, whatever they may be. These are just some things that work for me, but we are all different, working and relaxing in different ways. You just need to find out what works for you, and use it. Being stressed never helps. If you’re really struggling, or feeling more overwhelmed than usual, speak to someone. There is always someone to help and you are never ever alone.
In the meantime, enjoy the well-deserved mid-semester break everyone!
Phoebe
Hi everyone!
As compensation for my lateness in posting, I thought I'd share some pretty exciting news with you all. I will be travelling to Sri Lanka next week due to family reasons and won't be back for a couple weeks. While I'm excited to be blogging from the tropics, I did have to make a few preparations to make sure I catch up with everything I'd miss.
My first worry was the lectures I couldn't attend, normally this wouldn't really be problem, except that yours truly is enrolled in a subject that doesn't have lecture recordings. Luckily I was able to entrust a friend to share the notes that I'd miss out on, however, keep in mind that I don't consider this a substitute for actually attending lectures!
Next on my list of preparations was organising how I would complete assignments that could not be submitted online. Since I had assignments that either had to be handed in person or were orals/presentations, I had to consult my tutors to see how I could work around this. After stressing over how to approach this, I was surprised to find that my tutors were more than willing to help me to either find an alternative time to do my presentation when I got back, or to hand it in online. And knowing that I had the support of my tutors helped me manage the rest of the coursework I would miss out on and kept me from stressing over study requirements.
Apologies for the short post, but I better start packing sometime soon.
I look forward to sharing my next post all the way from Sri Lanka!
So, it’s 7 pm on a Saturday night. So far, I have managed to accomplish the following:
1. Watch the first 10 minutes of a lecture capture.
2. Watch a rerun of BBC’s Merlin (insert Colin Morgan fan girl moment) for 42 minutes and 77 seconds on the internet.
3. Log back in to LMS.
4. Decide to go make myself a snack first.
5. Watch Liv and Maddie on Disney Channel while eating. (Yes, I’m twenty years old but still a Disney fan. And proud of it.)
6. Decide to watch the next programme after Liv and Maddie, cause, well, it’s been years since I’ve watched Radio Rebel and I’ve forgotten how it ends.
7. Well. Look at that. Dinner time.
8. I’m sleepy. Bed time. (Yes, it's 7PM. But I just yawned. So there.)
What remaining 40 minutes of lecture capture?!?
If you couldn’t tell by my drawn out and embarrassing summary of my day, let me give you the gist: I. Am. The. Best (worst, depending on who you ask). Procrastinator. Ever. Period. If there was only a degree for Bachelor of Procrastination Major in Cramming Studies, I’d get an H1 for sure. And yes, I am aware that this speaks volumes for my lack of self-discipline – I’m working on it!
Regardless of how I came across, I am actually not proud of my chronic procrastination syndrome. It has to stop, I know that. It’s just so hard. I mean, who actually, honestly, likes studying? To the best of my knowledge, no one. But regardless, it’s necessary, and the fact that it’s hard will make overcoming it soooo much sweeter. So, for the chronic procrastinator out there, here are some tips that will hopefully help you (and me!) overcome this malady.
1. When you say “five minutes”, you mean five minutes. Not five hours. Which means, when you need to take a break for a pre-allotted period of time, make sure you stick to it. Which again means, that if you set yourself a 20-minute break, don’t watch Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, because chances are, when the 20 minutes are up, you will want to finish the movie. And maybe even the entire series.
2. Assign yourself reasonable goals, and stick to it. Have a study plan where you can check things off of your list. It will make you feel good and accomplished! But don’t make it too unreasonable, because then you’d only feel disheartened and frustrated.
3. That said, don’t be too hard on yourself. Give yourself rewards after having accomplished something worthwhile (but not sooner). But do it at the end of the day. Not the middle, and definitely not the start, or else you won’t get anything done.
4. Get a partner-in-crime. Have a friend call in and check up on you, and do the same for him/ her. It would give you that much-needed jolt to reality, and your friend’s disapproving tone may just be what’s needed to jumpstart you to action. Plus, it’s great bonding time!
(If this fails, get your mom. But only in extreme circumstances, or you’ll never hear the end of it!)
5. Finally, never lose sight of why you’re doing this. Sure, studying is tough. But don’t forget why it’s important. Remember that dream job? Car? House? Turning off your telly or closing that riveting book is just another step towards reaching it. Trust me. When you look back, you’d be glad that you did.
To quote the wise words of a meme sent to me by just as wise a man (aka my friend whose sensibilities aren’t exactly delicate enough to enjoy posh company – love you, dude! Also, the more sensitive of you may want to skip through this paragraph.): Procrastination is like masturbation, in the beginning it feels good, but in the end, you're just f***ing yourself!
And with that eloquent statement, I bid you adieu.
P.S. Apparently that quote was from Michael McCarthy. Thank you for sharing that wonderful bit of insight to the world.
I've realised that my uni life consists mostly of not actually going to uni.
Oops.
Things that have happened since my last post:
- I've realised that I really like lists. They just feel less formal than paragraphs - or is that just me?
- I've been told in no uncertain terms that I should maybe stop talking about politics and stuff. Which means that this post will probably be boring. Sorry?
- Elections are over - thank god. The ticket I was with won some things. I'm going to be on a certain committee within the union next year. I feel like that's as specific as I can get.
- I'm writing this in a cafe and it's actually really cold so if the tone of this post is weird you can blame it on the weather.
- My roommate caught the flu. Subsequently, I also caught the flu. Ah, the perils of shared housing.
- I have so many lectures I need to catch up on and I'm internally panicking even as I'm writing this post. Procrastination at its best.
- Over the semester break I'm going on a trip that will involve transportation taken over roads, which will aim to eradicate the wealth gap between the global north and south. This is an initiative run by an organisation that has a club at Melbourne Uni, with a name synonymous to the tree that grows from an acorn.
- While everyone else was/is having midterms, I have nothing due until next month. What kind of witchcraft is this!?
- I'm probably having something published in the next issue of Farrago??????? I kind of don't want to say anything in case I jinx it but this is just something that continues to amaze me.
- Prosh is happening, what, next week? To all those involved - I bid you good luck, and may we meet again on the other side of the battlefield. For those who aren't - get ready for a very weird week.
That reminds me:
The other day I bore witness to a friend trying to explain Prosh to someone from another university. The reaction he got was: "That sounds terrible, I don't understand Melbourne University."
I've built up quite a collection of Prosh stories/rumours, most of which are either inappropriate to this forum or, well, perhapsnotexactlyquitelegal. But in case anyone's still in the dark about what's gonna go down next week, here's a rough (possibly exaggerated/totally incorrect) idea:
Teams, ranging from 100+ members for faculty teams to small friendship groups, compete in challenges for points. Challenges in which teams compete include:
- Weird foods eating contest, including delicacies such as whole bottles of sauerkraut sauce (lol what is that). There may be brains? To be honest I'm expecting brains.
- The Long Drive, in which teams of five drive for 24 hours and complete challenges along the way. Past teams have purportedly driven all the way up to the ACT and across to SA.
- Giant construction challenges. Apparently one year some team (possibly engineering?) created like 3m tall giant instruments that actually worked? Somehow? I'm a bit vague on the details.
- Really really weird/innovative lecture bashes. Prepare for a week of not getting much work done.
- A nude Olympics that only occurs in the dead of night. To put everyone on an equal playing field, you're only allowed to watch if you're also naked. Isn't that considerate?
- Naked wrestling? Not sure if this is part of (5) or just, y'know. More nudity.
- 24 hour scavenger hunt for over 700 items. A good portion of which will include nudity.
- Much nudity. Such wow.
Cut back to that friend from another university: "I'd understand if money was involved, but bragging rights doesn’t count as a prize. People actually do this for fun???"
Ah, next week is going to be exciting. And now I should really get back to getting my uni work for next week done early just in case I have no time next week (ha, I wish).
I'll see y'all on the other side!
Highlight of my week – ARTS BALL! I mean, what’s not to love? Food, drinks, friends, and most importantly, fancy dress!
I love costumes and always have, ever since I was little, playing dress-ups with my younger siblings. However, when I first heard the news that Arts Ball was themed, I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. I wanted to go all glamorous and glitzed, yet instead I was having to trade in my jewel-encrusted floor-length designer dress for the cheap laughs of a costume?
The theme for this year was ‘animation’ – you could be anything as long as it fitted with this theme e.g. Disney characters, Pixar, gaming characters etc. I tossed and I turned, totally unable to decide on a costume until about a week before the event (are you really starting to see a terrible pattern of procrastination in my life??). It was settled, I was going as Lara Croft. After finally deciding what character I was going as, I felt exhilarated at a chance to relive my childhood, playing my beloved game of dress-ups on a grand adult scale. That’s what university has afforded me – a chance to have fun and feel young again within an adult context.
The event itself surpassed all expectations! There was great music, a photo shoot set up like The Simpsons lounge room, and best of all great company. I was sharing a table with some of my best friends, having an absolutely blast. The food was delicious, and there was lots of it – this really impressed me because I’m such a foodie!
The costumes were amazing, no-one ever goes half-hearted! My favourite table costume was the group that did Sims. They had created the green diamonds (perfectly) and suck them on headbands so they would hover over their head just like in the game. It was so refreshing to see some original, quirky and well-planned ideas.
I strongly recommend anyone and everyone to give themselves a chance to get to a Ball, whether it’s Science, Arts, Commerce etc. It was truly a wonderful social event, giving everyone the opportunity to mingle and meet new people. It’s a great way to network and connect with people, and there’s always the ‘I love your outfit/costume!’ to break the ice.
It’s never too late to make friends!
Phoebe
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