you’re almost there!

Referring to the title:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hhi43zV91F0 So, we’re about a month away from the end of the semester. Are you excited? I bet under those tired eyes, pyjama pants and bath robe lies a student who is jumping for joy at the possibility of going home and celebrating the holidays with friends and family under a background of a fresh winter’s snowfall (I hope, global warming go away).  However, there is still a month left of classes and about two weeks’ worth of exams left.  But, we won’t panic.

At this point, we have all seen our first set of midterms – some of us may be really impressed with the way we did. To those people, I say congratulations – you worked hard and you got your marks, so yolo and stuff. More likely, most of us got a mix of good and bad results.  It’s like a box of Raisin Bran – you have the desirable raisins and then you have the bran.  I’m probably in this Raisin Bran category. But don’t worry, it doesn't take much to turn your marks from a box of Raisin Bran to a box Frosted Flakes (so good)! (This post does not endorse any Kellogg's cereal, or General Mills cereal for that matter. Obesity is a serious problem, so lay off on them Frosted Flakes.  If a cereal company, however, wishes to market cereal boxes with my face on it, this can be arranged).  So this post is for me, but it’s also for you. How am I to go about making a box of Raisin Bran into a box of Frosted Flakes before the holiday break, so that I can watch Charlie Brown specials in peace?  Let’s make a plan.

1)       I’m going to start fresh. What happened in the past is history, it’s time to brush the dust off your shoulders and move on. Treat it like the beginning of the school year 2)      I have to make sure that I keep organized.  Have all my exam, essay and remaining midterm dates written down so I can effectively prepare. Also, I’m going to prepare a schedule for each day to minimize last minute cramming, and then report back at the end of the day how much I accomplished.  Also, keeping my desk neat and binders clean, that kind of stuff. 3)      Keeping motivated.  Keeping an eye on the goal, reminding myself of the holidays, getting support from family and friends and listening to that you-go-girl Demi Lovato music. 4)      Keeping it positive.  As my psychology professors have drilled into my head, attention is everything.  What we choose to focus on will affect our outlook and attitude, so I’m gonna focus on the positive and not the negative. 5)      Minding the caffeine and sugar.  While they do give me a boost of energy, they also make me sluggish.  And sluggish is bad. 6)      Relaxing now and then and scheduling my breaks so I don’t take too many of them.

The box of Raisin Bran is now magically a box of Frosted Flakes.  You're almost there, keep on truckin' U of T. 🙂 - Abdullah