For those diligent students who sacrifice countless summer hours for just a few credit hours, this post is for you!
Everyone knows the pros to taking a class or two...or four...during the summer. But if you are anything like me, you might not have accurately weighed the cons. "Spanish 3 online? No biggie!" Wrong. Biggie. Really biggie. Unless of course you actually speak Spanish. Then, replace "Spanish 3" with "Calculus 3". Bam! Fear just entered the hearts of all college students reading this. Mwahaha (evil laugh through the computer)!
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| Dr. Doofensmirtz from Phineas and Ferb, laughing *not so* evily |
I guess I didn't realize how easy it is to neglect a class when you aren't actually IN the classroom. I didn't even remember what day my class started, I just figured I would get an email! No. No, you don't "just" get an email. Responsibility check! I failed that "Grown Up" test. It's like when your parents trust you to do something, and you agree...but it goes to the back of your mind. Then, you end up without groceries in the fridge because you forgot to go to HEB. Maybe it's just me? I fail a lot of big kid responsibilities, and summer courses have been no different!
I guess the lesson here is: Even though the classes are cheaper and a little more relaxed, don't let yourself treat them as inferior. They still count for the same amount of hours, so you should work equally hard! Through trial and error and error and error, I have discovered a few things: incorporate studying into your summer routine. Bring the textbook to the pool. Not in the pool because that might get messy, but while you lay out and tan. I even practice my Spanish while I jog on the treadmill. Do a little bit at the same time everyday. This creates a "classroom-like" schedule that you will remember more easily. You won't miss out on your summer, either. Instead of doing a week's worth of assignments in one day of frenzy, spread it out, around your water-skiing and snowcones. When a test comes, it helps me to get out of the house, go to the library or a coffee shop, and just rid myself of distractions.
Summer school is what it is: school. You can't expect for it to be easy breezy, but you can make the best of it. And come the fall, you will have those extra hours on your degree plan and a little extra color to your skin from studying in the sun!
Happy reading :)
