The first semester was stressful for many students at CHS, including myself. Whether it was stressing over getting an assignment turned in on time, studying last minute for an upcoming test, or even staying up all night to finish a project, it was challenging. Especially after being online for so long, it took some time to adjust back to a normal school schedule. If you’re still having a hard time adjusting to the school year, then I recommend taking the suggestions below into consideration. 

Using class time wisely

Do you often find yourself struggling during a lesson? An English teacher at CHS, Gwen Goodwin, recommends “Try reaching out to a teacher whenever you are confused, it can be extremely helpful. Class time is always a great time to ask questions.” It’s also a good time to make sure you’re getting classwork done to avoid getting behind. 

Setting aside time

What time of the day do you feel most productive? Try to find a time in your schedule that works best for you to be able to study or to get schoolwork done. That way you still have time to do other things that aren’t school related without getting too overwhelmed. 

Eliminating distractions 

Try to find a quiet place far away from others when needing to study or get school work done. Technology, specifically cell phones can be distracting too, so turning off your notifications or even putting it somewhere where you know you won’t have the urge to check it could be really helpful. 

Using tools to stay organized

Are you struggling with finishing assignments and turning them in on time? A ninth grader, Katherine Garcia-Angel, recommended “Keeping something with you where you can write down any important assignments, whether that be an agenda, a whiteboard, sticky notes, can be a lifesaver.” You could also use some online organizational tools like Google Keep, Google Docs, Trello, Evernote, etc. A counselor at CHS, Brianna Hill, also recommends “Try not to just throw assignments randomly into your backpack; instead, try putting them somewhere like a folder or a binder. That way you don’t accidentally lose anything important.” These are all extremely helpful ways to keep track of your assignments. 

Establishing a routine 

Try and take advantage of the parts in your week that are slow. Devoting some of that downtime to study or to get schoolwork done can be super helpful. That way you don’t have to worry about doing any work at the last minute. It’s also a good idea to make sure you’re getting a good amount of sleep at night. That way you can be more productive during the day. 

It might be a little difficult at first adjusting to the new semester, but as long as you try your best, you got this!