Hurricane Irene may have passed by, but the mess left behind is still stirring up trouble. Power outages, flooding, and other forms of storm damages continue for many individuals. This can be stressful and disruptive for students who are starting a new college semester. Some students have been displaced from their homes while others have opened their own homes to displaced friends or family.
Are you a student who's life has been disrupted by Irene? Here are a few tips to avoid turning the Fall 2011 Semester into another disaster zone.
First, be sure to keep up with previous strategies, such as keeping lists or calendars.
If the roads are flooded or blocked, search for possible alternate routes ahead of time and consider additional traffic problems created by flooding in the area. Always remember that safety is a priority.
If you are using campus or community library computers, email all assignments to yourself to back up your flash drive. This way, if your flash drive is damaged, forgotten, or lost, you can still retrieve your work.
If your living space is a little chaotic, carve out work space in a room. Even a corner or a shelf can help you stay organized.
If you can’t carve out a permanent workspace, use a file box. Create a pocket for each class. Then create a folder for finished work, for work in progress, and for documents such as your syllabus and handouts. Be diligent in your filing.
If your study space is inconsistent, scan handouts and important class documents, then email them to yourself for mobile retrieval.
If you are sharing space with others, ask not to be disturbed while studying. You might also visit a library or book store.
If you are studying in a busy area, wear headphones with music that does not have lyrics or use ear plugs to avoid auditory distractions. Try to face a wall to avoid visual distractions.
If your normal routines have been disrupted, create a new schedule for study and stick to it!
Keep your backpack close when you study and place all materials for next class in the bookbag as soon as you are finished. Then put the backpack right in the car, by the door, or place your car keys on the backpack so you can’t forget it in the morning.
Staying focused on studies and keeping your permanent academic transcript in good shape can be a challenge in a crisis, but with the right attitude and a plan, a great semester could be in your forecast.
Has Irene caused problems for your Fall 2011 semester? Share how in the comment section below this feature.
Please bookmark this column to receive the next set of tips for keeping up with classes in a disaster zone.
Comments