By Wemimo Odejede
Second Year Journalism and Communications student and
Intern with Holland College Marketing and Communications department 

Coming back to learn after the holidays can be challenging. You feel a range of emotions, from excitement to nervousness, but there is no need to be nervous. It's a new beginning and you have the power to start on the right foot. To ensure you have a successful semester, here are some helpful tips you can use for guidance. 

Get A Planner/ Journal

Having a journal where you write down due dates for your projects, assignments and important schoolwork helps you stay organized. It will also help you track where you are with your coursework.

Set Achievable Goals

Setting achievable goals keeps you accountable and gives you a sense of direction. Your goals need to be clearly defined so that you stay focused and don’t get distracted along the way. You can start by setting a reading routine. An hour or two in the library after your lecture will help you stay ahead.  

Take advantage of all the academic resources at our libraries.

Say “No” to Procrastination

Putting things off until later steals time. Even when your assignment deadline is a week away, always set your deadline to two days before the general deadline. Pushing your projects and assignments till the last minute before working on them can build up unwanted pressure. If you don’t start your assignment until the last minute, it makes it harder to ask for help. It is okay to submit your work early. DO IT NOW! 

Study buddy/group

Connect with some of your classmates who share your academic goals to create a study group or find a study buddy. You can create a weekly schedule to study and share ideas.

Stay healthy

It's the winter semester. Rain or snow, classes are still on (unless there’s a snow storm – in which case, work at home). Create a healthy routine and stay hydrated and warm. Your physical health is essential to your academic success. 

Ask for help

We all need help, and reaching out is always okay. Talk to your instructors if you feel like you need to catch up. Your instructors want to see you succeed, and they are around to help you. 

If you feel overwhelmed, Holland College has resources available to help you succeed. Connect with Student Support Services and take advantage of the resources available to you. 

Contact:

Academic Support Services
studentsupportservices@hollandcollege.com

Library 
library@hollandcollege.com

Book an appointment with the Holland College Writing Centre here.

Book a Counselling appointment here

Student Wellness Program Free 24/7
www.studentbenefits.ca
Tel: 1-833-549-3281

In this picture: First-year Business Administration student Jesus Manuel Lopez works on his assignment ahead of the deadline in the Regis and Joan Duffy Library on the Prince of Wales Campus. Wemimo Odjede photo.