From Academic Victim to Academic Weapon: How to Win This Semester
- N4CSGA
- Jan 27
- 3 min read
With the fall semester behind us and the spring semester ahead, make this semester great. I will be sharing some tips and tricks to make it your best semester yet.
First, find out what your learning style is. According to Southern New Hampshire University, the different learning styles can be broken down into four different categories, which include visual, aural/auditory, read/write, and kinesthetic. If you are a visual learner, you may retain information best through graphics, maps, or charts. For example, if you are taking a history course, you may retain important event dates by creating an infographic that includes information on the key historical events. If your learning system is aural or auditory, you may learn best by listening to information. This may mean that you retain your biology terms best by stating them out loud multiple times to yourself. If you fall under the reading or writing learning style, this means that you prefer information in a written or reading format. A kinesthetic learning style indicates that you learn best by doing, moving and touching. If you're taking anatomy and physiology, for example, this means you learn best with hands-on learning, such as performing a dissection in class to learn the different muscles in the body, rather than listening to the instructor lecture on the topic. Knowing what your learning style is can help you find study methods that work with the way you learn, not against it.
Second, learn how to manage your time. Whether you are judging multiple leadership roles, work, or family responsibilities on top of being a student, finding a routine to manage your time can help you juggle life responsibilities. A research-backed method for time management is the Pomodoro Technique. This technique was created by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980’s which breaks tasks into 25 minute intervals followed by a 5 minute break. After completing four consecutive sections, it is recommended to take longer breaks of 15-20 minutes. During these breaks it is recommended to ensure you do not reach for distracting items such as your phone; rather, use the time to rest your mind. Some things you can do during these breaks include meditating, doing breathing exercises, stretching, or stepping outside and getting some sunlight. After using this technique for a period of time, it is recommended to increase work sessions to 50 minutes, followed by a 10-15 minute break. This technique helps improve focus, minimize distractions, and prevent burnout.
Lastly, stay organized. Whether you prefer digital platforms like Google Calendar, Notion, or Google’s task board, or physical methods like a traditional paper calendar or planners, use these different tools to help you keep your school life, leadership roles, and personal life organized. I personally like to create an outline for each day of the week of the various tasks I need to complete. Additionally, I like to spread out each of my tasks, like school assignments, into small intervals to prevent feeling overwhelmed and stressed. I like to add in three different sections: academics, leadership, and personal life under each day’s outline to keep it organized. Trying different techniques that work with your life is essential to helping stay organized as a student.
Keep your eyes on the prize, and don’t forget to ensure you are taking care of yourself amongst all the greatness of life. If your mind and body are well rested, you will perform to your best. Best of luck to all students across the Great 58 this semester, and finish the year strong!
Written by Hayley Ale-Beltran, Treasurer, N4CSGA 25-26
Date: January 27, 2026
Thank you for taking the time to read! Stay engaged, make your voice heard, and keep leading in your community. For questions or to get involved in upcoming initiatives, feel free to reach out at n4csga@gmail.com or follow us on @n4csga.
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