Believe it or not, we’re at the end of another semester. As cliche as it is to say, time really does seem to fly by faster each year. I start finals next week and am mentally preparing myself for hours in the library (check out a complete guide to getting through finals here), but there are other, non-academic matters to attend to before the close of the school year. Here is what you should add to your agenda to finish the semester strong!
Thank professors
I am fortunate enough to have absolutely amazing professors who truly care about my development and academic performance. I am sure you feel the same, as professors provide us with a great service over the course of the year. The least we can do is thank them! While it would be nice to give gifts, some colleges (especially public colleges) may have policies in place that prohibit this. A thank you note, visit to their office, or complimentary email will all do the trick.
Start packing early
This is so important! You may not think you have a lot in your room (especially if you followed my minimalist packing list), but you’d be surprised. Start getting your things together as early as possible so when your kind parents arrive to move you out, you are ready to go.
Set expectations with friends
You’re used to seeing your friends constantly; going to the dining hall, walking to another dorm on campus to hang out, and attending campus events together. When you break for the summer, that easy proximity goes away. To combat the pain of separation, set some expectations. How often will you call/FaceTime? Will you hang out twice a month if you are close enough? Laying this out before the end of the semester will allow you to know what the plan is and be more apt to see one another!
Clean out
Along with my earlier point about packing, the end of the semester is a great time to clean out. You can go through anything you’ve accumulated and decide what to keep and what should go. Purging your notes also feels really good. Whether they are digital (and you should seriously consider going paperless, if you haven’t already) or physical, sorting through your notes is a therapeutic process. I would urge you to be highly selective in what you keep, because what is the actual likelihood that you’ll need to refer to your notes on insert inane subject here ever again?
With this end of semester checklist in hand you’ll finish off strong and be well prepared for your much deserved break!
What do you do at the end of the semester?
-AJF
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