Notes From Nd
 | Author:
Mikayla Kraft, MT43 News Correspondent
MT43 News School Correspondent |
Mikayla Kraft
MT43 News Correspondent
This semester has flown by incredibly fast. It feels like just yesterday that I said goodbye to my parents and made myself comfortable in my new home. However, this week is Dead Week: the preparation week before Finals Week, and I am studying nonstop to ensure that I can even pass the class and get college credits.
All classes are different. In some classes, the final exam barely impacts the final grade. However, in some, the final exam is weighted, meaning it could be worth a larger percentage of the grade. I have learned that checking the syllabus helps a lot during these situations. In the syllabus, there is always a section identifying the grading system and the weights of each assignment category.
Because most of my classes revolve around the sciences and I am on the pre-vet track, I cannot gamble with any of my test scores. Thus, I believe I need to put as much effort as I can into all of my classes. Throughout the week, I put together a few study strategies to hopefully help prepare me for the dreaded finals for Anatomy, Chemistry, Trigonometry, and Biology.
For Anatomy and Chemistry, I work through all of the previous exams, assignments, and study guides/practice problems. These classes are rooted in understanding how animal systems and the microscopic world work, so working through the information question-by-question helps recall the information. I also see as I work through these problems that they are being committed to my long-term memory, especially as I continue to put the concepts into practice.
In Biology and Trigonometry, repetition is my best friend. Biology is primarily focused on being able to convey understanding through diagrams, so repeatedly creating diagrams and models grows my understanding of the material. I don’t believe that this is the best study method for this class and it makes me slightly nervous for the final exam, however, I haven’t found a better study method for this style of class. Trigonometry is full of simple repetition and formulas while using complex concepts. Doing different problems over and over again solidifies the steps to solving the mathematical problems.
As my first semester in college ends, I have learned that you cannot get through each semester by “faking it until you make it”. I have to continuously study, and when it seems like it is almost over and I can relax, I have to study harder than I have ever studied before to achieve a good grade in each of my classes. However, in the midst of all of the stress, I never change my normal schedule in regards to meeting up with friends, church, or even my eating and sleep schedule. The brain cannot function well when social settings are avoided. The brain cannot function well when the wrong foods or even barely any foods are eaten, and it cannot function well with little or too much sleep. The times are stressful but never forget to balance everything and take care of yourself!
