Back to skewl... to prove to Dad that I'm not a fool!
"BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!!!!"
That earth shattering surprise as you try to open your eyes, and suddenly remember what day it is. You don't want to be torn away; your bed is so warm and the promise of what kind of dreams it bears it irresistable. Pulling back the sheets, you rub your eyes and give one big stretch and a yawn. It's only dawn but the time moves on and you think "just 5 more minutes...."
So I'm certain you've all been eagerly anticipating this time of year again... No? You've all gotten so used to sleeping in just that while longer, spending your days assessment free, doing what you want when you want knowing there are so many days in the holidays to do all those things you shoulda, orta, coulda done before this day has arrived again. And suddenly it's hear and all those memories of free time have blissfully disappeared into a new thought..... Today I go back to school.
Starting school can mean meeting new people, juggling new subjects and even that dreaded H word....."Homework!" And with this in mind, we often experience a range of different emotions towards our education and the environment we enter in. For me, the first day was always uncertain. Coming from a small country town, you never knew what each year would bring. How much effort I needed to concentrate into my work, what teachers I was stuck with, whilst upholding a social life and all other activities I endured during a week.
Whether you're heading back to school or TAFE this week - or those days are long gone but you've got some tips to share, join us in the forums this Monday (3rd of February) at 8pm AEST, to tell us about your first day of school.
TurnItIn also scares me. Silly, I know. But ugh. Nerves go crazy 😞
@dreamcatcher @unrealreality you'll have to get me with the program, TurnItIn?
@Kirdybirdy It's a plagiarism checker. One time I got a result of 21% and I was panicing and almost sobbing (I was quoting lyrics for a music essay, so I was obviously gonna get stuff picked up. haha). It's best to get 0%.
@Kirdybirdy haha...glad you find it motivating!! It was also hard because I moved towns...two hours away. So I was starting a new degree... costume designer to radiation therapy, moved out of home, was in a new city where I didn't know anyone, was starting at a new uni and it was just all very overwhelming.
Plus I was doing physics and I hadn't studied for 8 years since high school...so it was very HARD for me. I've figured it out for the most part though, I think...
@_sagira_ Oh my goodness thats a huge change! Costume designer!! Good on you for striving for your next dream 🙂
I think I'll forever be a country girl!!
@dreamcatcher Thanks for that!
Turnitin is the system some universities use for the submission of assignments. When you submit, it tells you your originality, or plagiarism score. Typically, reference lists show up as plagiarism, as do common words and phrases. Also, it wouldn't be the first time that its messed up and not fully submitted a document, or messed other things up.
Overall, its a terrifying experience and I wouldnt wish it upon even a mortal enemy.
I swear turnitin caused 80% of my university stress last year!
@florenceforever We have to hand in hard copies as well as sit our work to turnitin! I forgot to actually submit it a few times. That was stressful. It's okay...all the lecturers know me well. 😛
@_sagira_ I had something similiar. Submit an assignment through turnitin and then hand the hard copy with the originality report.
I stressed about not handing both the report and assignment on time because after the first time of submitting your assignment on turitin there is a 24 hour wait for your originality report.
I am big fan of putting everything in my diary, classes, due dates, work, volunteer commitments... It helps me to see how much time I have each week and sort out what's most important. I can also then "back-manage" to help me meet deadlines (i.e. I will add in additional deadlines for myself like, 'start essay', 'research done by x date' and 'first draft done by x date').
@_sagira_ - I have to hand in hard copies too for some subjects - often printers will cause equal amount of stress as turnitin!
What things stress you out the most at school? I think... deadlines. But that stresses most people, right?
What can you do to decrease your stress? Start assessments early and not leaving them to the last day
Who can you talk to if things become too stressful? The student support team and/or my professors (Small uni = get to chat to Prof. all the time)
@dreamcatcher wrote:
Who can you talk to if things become too stressful? The student support team and/or my professors (Small uni = get to chat to Prof. all the time)
+1. Gotta love small unis!
@dreamcatcher wrote:
What things stress you out the most at school? I think... deadlines. But that stresses most people, right?
Definitely! Unfortunately I have a bad habit of leaving them to the last minute... I have a goal to change that this year.
What year you'll be going into and what you'll be studying????
Bit of a different response from me as I'm not technically enrolled in anything at the moment. I'm currently studying to sit the GAMSAT exam in March to try and get into medicine though 🙂
My brain is currently melting trying to cram as much SCIENCE(!) into it in as short a time as possible, as I'm coming from a non-science degree (psychology), my job hadn't been conducive to studying until now, and I'm an excellent procrastinator!
@Fozzie - goodluck for GAMSAT - my friend is studying for it too right now!
- What things stress you out the most at school, TAFE or Uni?
Getting the marks that I want and becoming way too easily overwhelmed.
- What can you do to decrease your stress?
I try my best to get out of my head. I often become stuck with my thoughts which makes everything worse. I listen to music, go for a run, talk it out with someone, write everything I'm thinking down, etc. Anything to get everything out of me.
- Who can you talk to if things become too stressful?
I often talk to friends and peers who are very supportive. If I'm more stressed than usual, I talk to my psychologist and/or (usually both) my KHL counsellor
Good for you @florenceforever ! You sound like you have an amazing support network going on for you!
- What things stress you out the most at school, TAFE or Uni?
Getting behind on my assessments and struggling to understand what I'm meant to do.
- What can you do to decrease your stress?
I started up a Facebook group for the students in my class to communicate our concerns, q's, etc and so far it's helped heaps to know others are in the same boat as me!
- Who can you talk to if things become too stressful?
Good ol Mum! Shes always there to talk to!
@Kirdybirdy I started a FB group as well. It is a GOD SEND! We can all freak out and sort through the crap together and whinge about how ridiculous everything is! haha
@_sagira_ oh the whinging is sometimes not the most productive part, but we all have that tendancy when it gets mid year and we all heightened by stress! Facebook Group for the win! 😛
Well it certainly looks like you all have awesome ways to destressing when things get too tough or stressful! I know for certain when I'm too stressed, My organisational skills go out the window then the procrastination happens right before I have an assessment due!
We want to know... What's your best tip for staying organised?
Common guys, give us all your secrets 😛
I used lists to-do lists and constantly rewrote them at the start of each week. I also wrote down every TINY bit of homework I had to do, from highlighting to writing an essay! It got a bit overwhelming at times, but I knew exactly what I had to do. I also tried to keep my folders as neat as I could. I was a little bit of a perfectionist when it came to things being in the wrong place!
I think the best way to get organised and stay organised is to find a system that works for you and stick with it. I found if you try to change something that already works, it doesn't help any!!
What's your best tip for staying organised?
SO. MANY. LISTS!
I list everything I need to do, prioritise that list and work out realistically how much I can get done.
Then I schedule it, schedule breaks, schedule everything! Study, exercise, eating time, etc. Importantly though, I schedule social time and my 'lazy time'. I let myself be flexible too. I don't force myself to do something I really don't feel like I can do at the time.
It's often hard to stick to, and sometimes if I'm really down it doesn't work because I get overwhelmed by it. My friend once told me that even if I can cross just one thing off my list, even if it's the easiest thing, then it's better than doing nothing. I try and do that and feel so much better by being able to cross things off my list one by one.
What's your best tip for staying organised?
My best tip for staying organised is to have a diary. I've got a diary that the guild provides for free. And it is the best thing to have. Because it tells me:
- when I have a study break,
- when there is a public holiday BUT if I have any classes I need to go to uni. >.<
And I also add in my diary when I have labs or tutorials to attend to, because for some of my units I attend those classes like every fornight or every three weeks. And it's helpful to write out when I have those classes so it's one less thing on my mind.
And I also add in when my assignmnets are due.
So having a diary is the best thing to have so you know what is happening tomorrow, next week and what plans you have made today.
