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Month: January 2021

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In light of the current pandemic, a lot of people are moving, changing their schedules, and modifying their workstyles. Students are no exception: some of them moved back home and others live off-campus with friends. Accessing a physical space in the library and studying in an indoor public area might be difficult for lots of students. Below are some tips on how to build a personal study place:

 

1. Find a spot where you feel comfortable and productive

Everyone has different study habits and works well in distinct environments. The first step is to search for a space where you are able to focus with minimal interruptions and feel comfortable (but not too comfortable!). This place can be the table in your garden, a desk in your bedroom, home office, and so on. Be creative and don’t limit yourself to what seems like a conventional working space. Then, designate the spot mainly for work and study. In this way, you are able to train your body and mind to quickly get into work mode and focus more efficiently. 

 

2. Organize your study place 

The fastest way to keep your study spot tidy is to first remove things that will distract you. I know it is hard but being honest with yourself is the key! Have you ever had the experience of looking for supplies such as a pencil, calculator, or stapler while you are in the middle of studying and need to interrupt your studying to look for the materials? You don’t need a fancy pen holder to solve this problem. A washed jar, can, or even toilet paper rolls (just need to attach a piece of paper underneath) can do the job of keeping all your office supplies in one place, so you don’t have to spend unnecessary time finding them. 

3. Prepare a planner or calendar

Remember to have a planner or calendar with you during your study. It helps to organize your study session and prioritize what needs to be done. Some people like to write everything down in a planner or calendar; others prefer to keep track of the due dates of assignments and tests and study plans in a digital calendar. There isn't a correct or single way of doing this. It all depends on what works best for you.

 

4. Decorate the place to make it personal

You will be spending a significant amount of time in your study spot; thus, it is crucial that you like the place and enjoy being there. You may want to put some small plants, paintings, etc. in your workspace to bring some liveliness to the room. Remember these items should not be distracting or occupy a huge space.

 

5. Add some inspiration

Lastly, think about what motivates you! It can be your goals, past achievements, proudest moment, a quote, or a picture of where you want to be in the future. I know studying can be tiring and you may lose track of your purpose. Writing these things down and sticking them on walls that are visible would help clarify your goals and keep you motivated during your study time!

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I’m sure by now you know that college comes with a lot of rejections. We get rejected applying to colleges, to clubs at college, to leadership positions, to the job at Boloco, to the fancy finance internship --  you name it. Here are some tips that might make rejection easier to bounce back from.

     1. Remember, it’s usually not personal.

A rejection doesn’t necessarily mean you’re not qualified or worthy. Sometimes we just aren’t a good fit for the place we’re applying to. Think about it, would you want to work with people you don’t fit in with?  

     2.  It’s okay to feel sad, upset, or however else you feel! Your feelings are valid!

You put time and effort into your application. It’s perfectly reasonable to have grief over the rejection. Something that makes me feel better is thinking about the time I spent on an application as a proportion of my life thus far. For example, three hours spent on an application is less than 0.00002% of my life. It isn’t the end of the world!

     3. On a similar note, give yourself time to process your emotions.

If you need to cry, then cry. If you need to slap around a punching bag, do that (only literal punching bags please). Do whatever helps you process your emotions, so you can release them and focus your energy on things that bring you joy!

     4. Avoid comparing yourself to others.

Okay, so Sally from Harvard got the job, but you didn’t. Who cares what Sally’s doing? You’re the most important person in your life. Your life isn’t about the job and who they did or didn’t take, your life is about you! Focus on yourself!

     5. Figure out what skills might give you an edge.

If you keep getting rejections from the same industry and feel underqualified, it’s time to change that! Find people at the companies you want to work for on LinkedIn, network and ask them what skills you should build to put you on track for a job there! If you’re new to networking, log into Dartboard (google dartboard dartmouth, and click the first link), scroll to “Resource library,” and find their resource titled “Networking Guide.”

If you got rejected from a place like Target, it’s probably less because of skills and more because you applied for departments they didn’t need people in; don’t take it to heart. 

     6. When one door closes, another opens! 

Now that you won’t be busy with your next club officer position or internship, you’ll have time for other stuff! Step back and enjoy life, work on building skills, build your network and relationships, apply for another position if you want! The possibilities are endless!

     7. Know you aren’t alone.

Maybe you were the only applicant to get rejected from this particular club or internship, but you’re still not alone! There are plenty of other people around the world getting rejections too, and there are plenty who are the only applicants rejected from their opportunities as well! The bottom line is, you aren’t alone. There are many people in the same boat, and you’re all going to arrive safely onshore one day!