This past week meant midterms for most Wayne State classes. Midterms can be stressful for many students because they count for a large percent of a final grade.
This past week wasn’t stressful for me at all. I didn’t feel a need to panic. As a senior, I have a “been-there, done-that” attitude about midterms and finals.
As a freshman years ago, I would have suffered sleepless nights before big exams. I can remember cramming and worrying. I still study hard before exams now, but it’s different.
I don’t have a feeling of being lost or unsure about what to do. The reason I feel more comfortable is because of my experience at this point in the semester.
There are things I have learned in college along the way that have made me a much better student. They are simple things, but they make a huge difference.
The first thing is to attend every class. Sounds easy, huh? It is, but a person can be easily convinced by themselves or others that missing a few classes won’t hurt. Sometimes it’s OK, but missing classes can hurt you in many ways.
You may miss things that the professor goes over, and that professor may be less likely to let you redo assignments that you have made mistakes on.
There can only be positive results for attending every class.
Another thing I’ve learned is to build a relationship with your professors. I’ll admit, this isn’t always possible, but in most cases it is. I find it very helpful to ask what I could have done differently to earn a higher grade. Professors have always been very helpful to me when I ask for ways to improve my work.
So when midterms came around this time, I was ready and here’s why. I attended every single class. I know what went on during the lectures and I have notes to help refresh my memory.
Once again, attendance is important because during the last class before midterms, my professors let the students know what parts to focus on.
Armed with this much knowledge, I was confident walking into class before exams. The same goes for finals at the end of the semester.
It felt great. It will continue to feel great. Having confidence in your work never gets old. While it may take some longer than others to become strong students, it’s always important to be there and to let your professors know you’re there.
