By: Phillip Mattie
Semester break is a beautiful thing, a rare chance for some R & R after a tough slog through finals. But, as your marks from the past semester steadily roll in. Perhaps now is a good time to start evaluating where you are in your academic career and to join university and college tutoring. The first thing that should come into your mind during the break is the need to keep pressing forward and choose the new semester.
And, if you scored perfect grades in all your core subjects, I congratulate you. However, you now have the opportunity to get a little introspective in your thought process. So, I’m going to get a tad pensive and break down some hard questions you might hear from a Guidance Councillor.
But don’t worry. I’m not here to lecture; I’m here to advise you with the little wisdom that I’ve gleaned over the course of my education, beginning with that most annoying question…
Short-Term Goals for New Semester
Interesting question. The wrong question, but still…. Interesting question. You see, goals are desires, something you want. And (as my dad keeps on telling me) wants are self-fulfilling: I want an A in Math 30-1. Great! You have achieved your desire for an A in Math 30-1! Rather, instead of, “What are your short-term goals?” the question should be, “What are you going to do to achieve your desires?” Now this question really has some punch.
Every person will have a different method of achieving or acquiring desired things, and if you don’t have a method. I suggest you find out what works for you by working twice as hard as the next guy/gal. Learn about yourself by pushing your comfort zones ever outward. Take the difficult classes, work twice as hard as the other people in the class, and see what happens in new semester.
Now, there is one thing you can do to help you get that grade you want (if that is indeed your goal) besides working hard. I suggest you look at the course curriculums for your upcoming classes and identify exactly what those classes are designed to teach you.
For example, the Social Studies 20-1 course curriculum revolves around one question: How much should we adopt a national identity?
Failure to address this question in any exam pretty much results in a failing grade. Basically, every class will have what is called an “objective” or “aim,” and your job is to stay focussed on that objective. Learn and burn into your mind the objectives of all your core subjects, and don’t stray off-topic.
What Are Your Plans After High School : University and College Tutoring
First of all, you don’t need to know the answer to this question. This is more of a long-term goal type question, and you know how I feel about those. However, here’s the skinny on approaching questions like this one: Life will take you down a wandering path that has as many branches as an aged oak tree.
To pick one branch and regimentally plod down that one without so much as a peek at a neighbouring bough won’t serve you well. And with career changes more common today than ever before. I think it’s safe to say that the career you start with won’t be the one you end with. Also, join university and college tutoring to score good in your new semester.
So don’t be narrow-minded in your approach to your future. You should, however, have a general idea of what you want, be it travel, business, or art. So, when answering this question, I suggest keeping it general, for you never know what paths life will take you down.
If I may give one piece of advice, it would be this: be flexible. Don’t set yourself down a branch with no way out. I mean to say that pigeonholing yourself by laser-locking on one thing will actually hurt you. At one point, I incredibly focussed on passing business school because I saw it as the only viable future for myself.
I earned a diploma in accounting, which without an accompanying degree really gets you nowhere, especially without experience. And after enduring two years of menial ledger work after graduating, I realized that my focus had been too narrow, too small.
And you know what? I now have a degree in English of all things, something I couldn’t have possibly conceived of after graduating high school. Forgive my digression, but all I’m suggesting is this: Don’t think you have to be something, an accountant or a businessman/woman or a plumber or whatever. Be adaptable. Adjust to what you need in order to grow as a person and as a professional.
Believe in Prudent
That being said, I believe it prudent that you keep as many doors open as possible coming out of high school. Take as many science classes as possible. Take the tough math classes.
Get the arduous English class with the weird teacher. Go to summer school to upgrade. If it’s too late, graduate and then upgrade. Because you never know when you’ll need those classes as a prerequisite for a class or course you need to take. Again, you want to give yourself as many opportunities to succeed as possible.
I actually intended to have more talking points than two. Two seems like a number only slightly less lonely than one. Maybe I’ll revisit the topic next semester break. But for now, during this break, keep in mind that creating goals is easy. Achieving them, well, not so easy.
You should plan for the space in between now and whenever that deadline comes. And, be open-minded when it comes to your future. Be flexible and adaptable, and if you stagnate. Look for ways in which you can develop yourself. All the best in the New Year, and ‘till next time, happy studying for new semester.