Hello
2016-ers!
Prepare
yourself for contradiction—this letter is about midterms and having fun.
Now
for those of you who would never think to say those two words in the same
sentence, bear with me a moment. Part of
this letter is about getting into a consistent study/homework schedule so that
you are prepared for your assignments, exams, presentations, and class
discussions without stressing yourself unduly.
The other part is ensuring that you have enough spiritual, physical, and
emotional resources to balance your studies.
You are a human
being. That means that like most of us, you would
rather put off difficult or tedious work as long as possible. I am encouraging you to do just the opposite. You have probably gotten syllabi in most of
your classes and know when the major deadlines and exams occur. Take the time to put those deadlines in your
calendars, with 1-2 week reminders in advance of those dates (if you have a
smart phone, take advantage of its scheduling potential). I know that dividing an assignment into
manageable chunks has saved my life on a number of occasions. Give it a try consistently for 2-3
weeks, and I promise you, you will be amazed at how less stressful life will
become. You may not necessarily breeze
through your upcoming mid-term exams (yes, my dears, they ARE on the horizon, best
not to fall into denial….), but you will feel much more confident about your
preparation.
On
the other hand and at the same time, you
are a human being. That means
that all work and no play makes for a dull existence. I would encourage you to have some fun, which
is the best way to keep your spirits up for the work ahead. However, I am going to advocate for
recreation that will also help you to stay healthy and emotionally
balanced. By that I mean instead of
spending all of your downtime in front of the latest computer game or catching
up on Season Three of Games of Thrones,
allow yourself a couple of hours to get fresh air, exercise, and/or some
creative activity unrelated to your classes.
Go to a Trinity soccer game, head up to Austin for Austin City Limits
(the first weekend is sold out, but you can still get tickets for the October
11-13 weekend), get on your bicycle and pedal out to an off-campus church or
temple, go choose and cheer for your new ‘favorite team’ in the Dignowity Hill
Pushcart Derby, take a stroll along the southern end of the Riverwalk (there
are some great little waterfalls down there!), or just hang out on campus
(currently, the outdoor pool is still construction-free!).
And
of course, you are eating right and getting enough sleep, yes?
Cheers,
Dr.
M
Class Marshal
