ETHAN PLINSKY
reporter
collegian.editor@tccd.edu

Students need to do many things to be successful and accomplish their goals.

Whether it’s studying hours for exams, waking up early to get to class or having a daily planner to stay ahead on due dates, students do different things to better understand the class material and come out ahead. 

Students explained how using organizational tools to keep track of important test dates has been useful. 

“I have a weekly planner that I write out every Sunday night, and that really helps,” NW student Trenton Swinford said. “A planner helps me keep everything organized and helps me be as productive as possible.”

Another student said she writes the due dates into her planner at the beginning of the semester, so she can see what assignments are coming up.

“I like to keep a planner with all the assignments I need to do,” NE student Laura Pearson said. “I also like to use the calendar on my phone, so I can have access that way as well.”

NE student Christopher Hale said he tends to procrastinate when it comes to doing his assignments.

“I have three free days where I don’t work and don’t have school, so that’s usually when I get all my work done,” Hale said. “I usually start with the more important assignments that I have and then work down the list from there.”

Swinford said he tries to set aside at least an hour or two to study every night.

“I will typically read ahead in the book, so I have an idea of what is going to be discussed during class before I even go,” he said.

Pearson said the number of hours she studies per week depends on what is assigned for the week.

“Before exams, I like to study for 25 minutes with five-minute breaks in between until I feel like I have accomplished what I needed to for the day,” she said.

Hale said it depends on the class, but he’ll set aside a few hours to study per test.

“I usually just skim over the material for history tests because I have a lot of knowledge in that subject already, but for other classes, I usually go more in-depth,” Hale said.

Some students have non-academic goals they want to reach.

“My goal is to be a professional tennis player one day,” Swinford said. “I try to get at least three hours of tennis in per day. However, I put aside as much time as possible for studying because school is my main focus.”

Pearson’s goal is to become a music therapist in the mental health field, and she said she sees each class as a step to achieving that goal.

“I look at the big picture when I am losing motivation in school,” she said. “I try my best to fully engage in my assignments and classes, so I am able to receive the most information out of them.”

Most students have academic goals that they strive for every day to achieve.

“My goals are to keep a 4.0 GPA and continue school until I get a Ph.D.,” Hale said. “I achieve the former by simply working hard and paying attention in class. Taking good notes also helps out a lot.”