Photo Courtesy: www.famu.edu
The collegiate midterm season is often a time of stress, anxiety and dread for students. With Florida A&M University’s spring 2024 semester approaching its halfway point, students are gearing up to prepare for midterms.
Students can often become overwhelmed with keeping track of all their tasks mentally, so planners are a valuable tool to combat academic stress.
According to Creating Positive Futures, using a daily planner is an effective way to manage time and keep up with daily assignments and long-term projects.
Jamyria Lopes, a first-year pre-nursing student, said she plans her assignments ahead of time. “I use my physical planner to keep my work organized and spread out,” Lopes said.
Along with academic planners, students often use online study aids like Quizlet, Brainly and Brainscape to prepare for midterms. With various study methods like flashcards, definition matching and self-tests, these websites are effective academic assistances.
Joy Carey, a first-year animal science pre-veterinarian student, said she uses study guides and Quizlet to memorize concepts.
“I give myself at least an hour a day to study the materials I learned in classes,” Carey said.
Autumn Haddox, a first-year pre-journalism student, shared similar sentiments. “For exams in general, I use Quizlet to remember and make sure I know the material,” Haddox said. “I’m still a pencil and paper type of notetaker so that really helps me comprehend the material as well as reading it over and over.”
Curating the ideal learning environment also determines how well people study. Some students prefer study groups, playing music while studying or an extremely quiet area to focus. It is important to find the best environment that suits individual needs.
Carey prefers an isolated environment to concentrate. “My ideal study environment is a quiet room with my phone face down on the table and a heavy concentration,” Carey said. “Occasionally, I play music, but on a low volume.”
Lopes shared a different viewpoint, preferring a more lively space. “My ideal study environment is in my room, at my desk with music blasting,” Lopes said.
In the era of self-care and self-prioritization, taking breaks between studying is a common ritual in students.
According to Cornell University Health, taking 5-60-minute breaks refreshes your brain, allowing the body to increase productivity, energy and focus. Study break activities can range from watching a film, reading a book or simply napping.
If it is not something to stay productive, Haddox prefers to relax during these breaks. “I normally listen to music, go on walks, clean the room or watch Netflix,” Haddox said.
For her breaks, Lopes likes to be by herself, although she doesn’t mind hanging out with friends.
“I’ll be by myself to gather my thoughts and rest my mind. I just ask God to give me the strength to finish my work,” Lopes said.
The keys to a productive study session are recognizing the different learning styles and finding what works for you. As midterms quickly approach, FAMU students continue to take the necessary measures to succeed.