By Isabella May
TAMPA, Fla. — April showers bring May flowers, and may flowers bring a new semester for the students at the University of Tampa.
As we start out the Spring semester of 2025, there are many things that students are looking forward to and many things they are dreading. I’m sure we can all agree that the majority of UTampa students are looking forward to the beach, tanning, and going out with their friends. But the part that students are already dreading is the idea of late-night studying, trying to find a study room that hasn’t been claimed, and finding time to get your daily Starbucks filled to the rim with caffeine.
Even though college work is demanding, there are many ways to make it enjoyable and relaxing while giving you more free time so you can tan at the pool with your friends on a random Tuesday afternoon.
Here are three tips to help incoming freshmen, sophomores, and senioritis seniors:
1. Write down your assignments for the week:
After leaving your class, make a note in your phone or planner and write out your homework. This can help you to stay organized and mentally prepare for the week. I know for me, I have a lot of short stories and essays to write throughout the week, so taking note of what needs to be done helps me stay on track.
2. When beginning to study, pick out which assignments need to be done first:
When looking at your schedule, see what is due sooner rather than later and start on that project first. As a creative writing major, I look at what short story or poem I have to turn in first, and once I finish writing it, I make a short outline for my next assignment and take a break. While it seems easier to go from one project to another, you may need to give yourself some time away and take a break before jumping into something else.
3. Take notes on pen and paper:
While this is something you may have heard from parents over and over again as kids, it is important when studying to write definitions — or literary devices, in my case — on pen and paper because it helps with retaining information. If you are taking a biology, grammar, or psychology class and have hundreds of definitions to study before an exam, write down what you don’t remember. Then, write it three times in a row and quiz yourself later. This will help you remember the definition of “algae.”
When studying, it is also important to take note of your mental health. If you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or anxious, remember that it is ok to take a break, walk, listen to music, and get a coffee with your friends.
I know it may seem like there are only two hours in a day to get everything done, but with good time management and much-needed study breaks, you’ll find that there are many more hours to get everything done.
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Photo courtesy of Faith Montalvo.