New Semester, New Habits

New Semester, New Habits You know that burst of motivation that you have on the first day of class? That feeling that this will be the semester you get straight As and never skip a day of class? Lets be real, that usually lasts for a few weeks, and then we fall back into our same habits. So, this semester, or from now until graduation for you current high school seniors, I have a proposition: keep the winter motivation strong. Gif from Giphy.com The truth is that this can  be your semester of change. Breaking old habits isnt easy, as we know, but it is certainly doable. The truth lies in a few simple choices: how do you spend your free time, and how are your study habits? If you spend your free time binge-watching Orange is the New Black, odds are your grades wont be as high as youd like. But the good news is that there is a simple solution: Finish your homework before enjoying free time. For me, that meant coming home from school and lacrosse practice and doing my homework right after I ate dinner. I was re-energized from my meal, and I would then reward myself with a few hours of TV before bed. If your grades arent as good as youd like and you are spending a decent amount of time focusing on your academics, then your study habits need to change, too. While good studying looks different for everyone (because we all learn differently), here are a few good tricks to get started. All in all, you are the main factor in your grades, and good grades come with a true dedication to the material. Put academics first, and you will achieve great things. Rachel Class of 2020 I am studying Middle Grades Education with concentrations in Social Sciences and Literacy in the College of Education. Although I now reside in Champaign, I am originally from Vernon Hills, a Northwest suburb of Chicago.