It's hard to believe that the academic year is coming to a close. But with February almost over, D term is approaching quickly. And with it comes spring break, spring weather, and spring fever all fine and good if you know what May will bring for you. But if you will soon be facing major changes, spring can be anything but a sunny time.
Those graduating in May can perhaps best relate to this. For you, May brings a whole new world: a goodbye to university life and all its familiarity, the support system you've grown to depend on and a lifestyle you've grown accustomed to. You may be involved in a job or a graduate school search that is time consuming, costly, and stressful at best. Upcoming additional challenges may include things such as relocating, creating a new social life, and making relationship decisions. All combined with your D term course load, and yet you still have only a 24-hour day. Stress!
It is not only for graduates that spring can be an uncertain time. Other students have to deal with finding summer jobs, scheduling for next year, and figuring out how to survive living back at home for a few months. Some of you are considering changing your major, wondering what you would switch to and if switching would "waste" too much time or cost too much money. And some of you may be considering whether to even stay at WPI.
So with all this coming up in May, why bring it up now? Because now is the time you may start to experience things such as procrastination, writer's block, poor memory and poor concentration. The more there is to do down the road, the easier it is to get overwhelmed; you then put things on hold (or your brain puts things on hold for you). Preparing now keeps manageable tasks from turning into major obstacles. Now is the time to get into action since you have a term break plus seven weeks still in front of you.
Getting started: 1. Sit down with a blank pad of paper and write down all the upcoming tasks in your life that will have to be addressed. This will include things such as projects, reports, weddings, graduate school exploration, apartment or house hunting, relationship decisions, summer or permanent job searching, and schedule planning for next year. 2. Next to each task assign a date by which it needs to be completed. 3. Break down each task into steps to make it less overwhelming. For example, apartment searching. 1) make a list of what you are looking for in an apartment (location, size, price, etc.) 2) gather apartment flyers from a grocery store in the area 3) call information for an apartment directory service phone number in that area 4) make phone calls to set up appointments to check out apartments, and so on. Assign a due date for each step. 4. Consider the resources available to help you at each step. For example, make an appointment with your advisor or the Academic Advisor for scheduling assistance, with the Career Development Center for job search strategies, or with Residential Services for housing assistance. 5. On a calendar plot out all of your tasks and the steps to complete them. Make adjustments if necessary. 6. Call West Street House (831-5540) if you need assistance with managing all these tasks. We can help you to budget your time, cope with the changes, and refer you the appropriate campus resources. 7. Relax - now you have a plan of action that is manageable.
It's important to remember - don't wait prepare now so that you'll be able to enjoy spring when it arrives!