It may be time to shed the sweatpants-blazer combination next semester – here are some things to remember
By Ambassador Diana
I sat down at my desk for the first time in a few weeks, just before my last-first-day of online school. As a senior at USC, this wasn’t how I pictured welcoming my final semester, but I still got the first-day jitters that I felt when I started my freshman year at USC. This past year certainly delivered the two most interesting academic semesters of my college career, but I was determined to make my last semester at USC great.
Throughout the fall 2020 semester, I realized that a lot of the lessons I learned in a virtual setting, I could take with me into the “new normal” of in-person classes and work. Last semester, I had more time to keep note of what worked for me in a virtual setting, what didn’t, and what I still need to figure out.
My hands-down most important habit from last fall semester was to manage my time to allow me to meet deadlines, have breaks, and spend time both by myself and with the people I care about. This may seem like an impossible feat, especially if you have a 16-to-18-unit course load of tough courses.
It came down to trial and error for me; large chunks of work for five-plus hours in front of the computer left me drained, abandoning my plans to cook a healthy meal and exercise for Postmates and vegging out in front of yet another screen. Setting smaller, attainable deadlines every two weeks was better. Most courses gave both small and large asynchronous assignments, the former being a discussion board post or an article to read. On days when large assignments weren’t due, I got these more manageable tasks out of the way so that the rest of the week could be devoted to the large, all-consuming coding assignments or long-form essays.
In the vein of time management, this semester allowed me to be realistic about how much high-quality work I can actually pull off in 24 hours. In fast-paced and in-person life, I found that I overestimated my ability to perform under intense circumstances. I was either on one end of the pendulum, overworking myself and carving out little time for my personal health, or the complete opposite end, avoiding coursework and procrastinating at all costs. When burnout arrived, I swung completely in the latter direction, which didn’t feel as good as I was hoping for.
However, once I recovered from my week of burnout, I made small efforts to rethink my days. Fall 2020 was my first semester using Google Calendar. Despite being a die-hard paper agenda user, I don’t think I’ll ever go back. Now, I have GCal as a backup tool that I can’t misplace, is easy to update, and allows me to block out time for activities that energize me. The GCal app syncs to all of my devices and offers structure – further motivating me to get back to people and set up appointments, which on some days is taxing.
The next tip was a lifesaver for me, but more difficult to execute: Make friends with your classmates, both online and offline. I’m fortunate to see familiar faces from classes in previous semesters, but this may not be the case if you’re a younger student, haven't decided on a program or are still taking general education courses. Regardless, I recommend befriending at least one person in your class who you can ask questions to or discuss curriculum and study.
For instance, in my first-ever in-depth coding course, I didn’t feel like I had resources to help me and everyone’s questions seemed too advanced for my expertise. Miraculously, I found a few people I know that were in different sections of the class through looking at the online forum, so I messaged them. We kept in touch about assignments and asked questions if we missed a session. In a class that felt so unfamiliar, I found familiar peers to build a helpful network.
I recognized more than ever that professors are invested in the success and wellbeing of every student. The more honest and communicative I was about the classes, the more supported I felt, and the better I learned. Sometimes, just small things like emailing the professor a question showed them that I had put thought and effort into the assignment.
Lastly, doing what makes me happy and healthy is the most important tip I can take with me beyond this semester. There are resources available that we can all utilize beyond the spring of 2021, whether that be in academic, professional or personal situations. A non-exhaustive list includes the Annenberg Career Services, the USC Kortschak Study Center, USC Student Union identity-based organizations, academic advisors, and more. If the past year has shown me anything, it’s that humanity and compassion will prevail, and I plan to continue this approach as we transition to in-person life.
