Lessons from a College Sophomore
The Productive Student Survival Guide

By Demitria Sanders | VOX Staff

Many of us think the college experience is a time for parties, friends and freedom. But college is mostly about making the most out of the education you or your parents are paying thousands of dollars for. I had to learn the hard way that college isn’t anything like high school. With the freedom also comes an increased level of responsibility. My freshman year in college taught me how to balance keeping up my grades and having an active social life.
Whether you’re a high school freshman or a college freshman, these easy steps below will help you open your eyes to what is important and become a productive student.

PRIORITIZE
Reading the required pages in your textbook and doing homework is no joke! Make sure that all of your homework, papers and projects are at least started before you go out to have fun. The “Thirsty Thursday” party will be there every Thursday, but the project or paper needs to be completed soon. So, set your priorities straight from the beginning and keep at them.

PLANNING
Getting a planner may sound corny, but being organized can help out a lot. A day calendar, pocket planner, or a notebook to keep a to-do list in will allow you plan around other events, remind you of due assignments projects, or social events you would have otherwise forgotten.

PROCRASTINATION
This may be your best friend during college, but it is also your worst enemy. Completing projects and papers as they are assigned is a good way to keep up with your work and avoid the stresses of last-minute deadlines. Staying on top of your studies is better than pulling all-nighters

ASK FOR HELP
If you’re like me, you rarely ask anyone for help because you don’t want to feel like you don’t understand or because you think you can catch up on you’re on. Well, now is the time to put your pride aside and ask someone for some help. Sometimes the teacher says things you might not understand. Other times, the homework you were assigned looks like a foreign language to you. Or maybe you missed class and are feeling left behind. Talking to your teacher, peers, upperclassmen, or even a tutor is a great way to find out what’s going on

STUDY!
You may think you know the material, but you have no idea. I can’t count how many tests I failed because I simply did not go over the work before the test. An easy way to learn from my mistake will be to make note cards, get in a study group, or skim the work, but make sure you study for at least 20-30 minutes a day to keep the information fresh and not overwhelming. According to Studytips.org, you should start studying 24- hours after that class and before that class to keep the information fresh.

HAVE FUN
After doing your best, make sure you enjoy the high school and college experience for what it’s worth. The best way to have fun is to be safe at all times. Be sure of your surroundings, be with good friends, and enjoy yourself.

TIME MANAGEMENT
It’s important to learn how to manage your time, so you can be more productive. There should be a time for you to hang out with friends, study, do homework and have fun. It’s good to take breaks between studying and doing homework, but remember to finish the homework. Once you learn how to balance your time, you then will be able to have a stress-free environment.

Demitria Sanders is a sophomore at Clark Atlanta University. Other than writing for VOX, she enjoys creating videos and maintaining her blog, “Moment in Meche’s World. She wants you to know that this is also her last piece for VOX as a teen.