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My Spring Quarter So Far...

Let me just tell you, we have just started our third quarter, which is our last quarter for the school year, and I am just straight out exhausted. Yes, you are all probably thinking that I should be energetic, refreshed, and excited to start the new quarter; however, I am pretty far from that notion. Yes, we did get one week off for Spring Break, but that was just not enough for me. However, I am trying my hardest to keep ahead of my studies and start the quarter successfully and with excitement.

This quarter I decided to challenge myself more than usual by taking on four classes. Now this may not seem like much, as tons of other college students are taking four or more classes this quarter or semester, but for me, four classes is a lot. My schedule this quarter consists of an upper division course for my major (shocking right?!? I'm a freshman, who is already taking upper division courses for her major?), the final lower division course for my major, a Biology course, and a course just for first year students. I am enjoying all of my classes so far, but from the first day of the quarter, I knew they were going to be very very intensive. Because of that notion, I have been trying to manage my time more effectively and efficiently, starting homework as soon as possible, taking short breaks in-between subjects to refresh my brain, and being productive in my studies.

Besides taking four classes and having so many syllabuses floating around in my backpack, I had to get my textbooks. Now that was a journey! Having to go to the bookstore three times to get my textbooks, plus having to rush downtown via the bus after one of my classes to get my textbooks for that class, and having to figure out how to buy one of the textbooks online to a Kindle app, was just crazy. However, I have successfully managed that dilemma, and have all my textbooks that I need on my desk in front of me. What surprised me the most was how I was definitely not expecting to be running around getting things (textbooks, notebooks, study materials, etc.) for my four classes. Over the past two quarters everything ran so smoothly and painlessly for me, but this quarter, I was running around like crazy, and even driving myself crazy!

Besides the textbooks dilemma, I have been attempting to do all my homework on time while going to sleep at a reasonable time. I have been going to sleep at 11 pm every night which seems early, but once I start dozing off while reading from my textbook, or losing focus when I am writing a paper, that means it is time for me to go to sleep. Since my roommates typically stay up much later than I do to finish homework, I wear an eyemask to sleep every night. Having that eyemask has saved me; it makes it so much easier for me to fall asleep since it blocks any light from keeping me awake. But going back to the homework completion, I have been trying this quarter to start my homework before class, when I have a break in-between classes, or before it becomes too late in the night. It is a work in progress, and hopefully by taking four classes I will learn to manage my time much more efficiently!

As you can see, the quarter has already got me on the edge, and it has only been the first week of the quarter! I hope that I can be successful in all my classes, and stay on top of my game for the rest of the 10 weeks. Yes, this quarter is definitely going to be a challenge for me, but hey, I made the decision to challenge myself. And honestly, even though this quarter is going to be filled with many many hours of studying and doing homework, giving myself this challenge is good for me, as it will force me to learn to manage my time more efficiently, learn better study habits, have me focus more on my studies, and continue my goal of wanting to be successful in college.

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