Tips to Prepare for Midterms and Fun Ways to Celebrate When You’re Done

^{Kayla May, Staff Writer}

As you are moving through the semester, there comes a point when it seems like all your professors are assigning papers and presentations at the same time. It can seem like they are in cahoots to try and drown you in work. This simply means midterms are approaching.

Although this time of year may be dreaded, it is unavoidable. So, to help you prepare for the long journey ahead, here are some tips to balance your workload, prepare for exams or presentations, and most importantly, how to celebrate at the end when you have turned in your last assignment.

First, and most importantly, making a midterm schedule will help you organize your workload. Prioritize your assignments based on which are due first. Make a daily plan of when, and for how long, you are going to work on certain assignments or study for specific tests.

For exam taking, ask your professors questions about the exam such as what the format is (short answer, multiple choice, true/false, a mix, etc.) or if they will provide a study guide or conduct a review in class. It can also be helpful to look back over your prior tests, quizzes, and other assignments to remember how the questions are formatted and familiarize yourself with material from the beginning of the semester.

Forming a study group can also be helpful because multiple minds are often better than one. Study groups allow you to share notes, be more efficient, and stay focused.

Outside of exams, you may be working on papers or presentations. These may not require the rigorous studying that tests do but they do need you to be focused and critically thinking for extended periods of time.

That is why it is so important to not get stuck doing the same thing for too long. Your brain, just like your body during exercise, needs rest. It is important to take breaks to clear your mind so that you can refocus and make the time spent working productive. Breaks can include a walk around campus, hanging out with friends, watching your favorite tv show, or grabbing coffee.

Changing up where you decide to study/do work can also help you stay focused and productive. Instead of always doing homework in your room, try going to the library or a coffee shop. It is important that wherever you choose, you are comfortable and not distracted by your surroundings.

Also, things like correctly fueling your brain with three meals a day and getting eight hours of sleep consistently will go a long way to ensure success throughout the week.

Fast-forward to the end of the week. You just submitted your last paper or finished that last test and now you have the week off from school. After all the work you have put in, it is only fair that you treat yourself to fun activities and relaxation before school kicks back up the following week.

Although everyone would love to go on a magnificent vacation to Disneyland or Hawaii, for the average college student, that is not feasible. Luckily, Olympia, Washington is filled with fun things to do as we head into spring.

The Olympia Farmer’s Market is open from 10 AM to 3 PM every Saturday. They have vendors serving a wide variety of products such as fresh fruits, vegetables, seafood, and plants, handmade crafts, soaps, candles, baked goods and more.

A collaborative zine workshop takes place on March 2^nd from 2 PM to 5 PM. Attendees will work together to create a zine based on prompts concerning the importance of access to affordable spaces.

For music lovers, a jazz concert by the D’Vonne Lewis Group will be held on March 8^th from 8 PM to 10 PM. The event is at the Washington Center Black Box Theater. The link to buy tickets can be found here: https://www.washingtoncenter.org/event/black-box-jazz-dvonne-lewis-group/.

On March 9^th, our very own SMU campus hosts Lacey Cultural Celebration from 10 AM – 6 PM. This festival is free and allows you to enjoy music and dance entertainment, experience the diverse food and craft vendors and learn about various world traditions.

If these things do not interest you, an hour north the big city of Seattle awaits. Day trips to experience Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, the Seattle Aquarium, or the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum is never a bad idea.

If you want to use this time to explore the great nature that is Washington State, Mount Rainer National Park is an hour and twenty-minute drive away. There are lots of beautiful hikes and walking paths to explore. If you are feeling extra adventurous, Olympic National Park is a two hour and twenty-minute drive away with equally breathtaking views.

And if you are not the adventurous type, there is nothing wrong with taking the week to binge-watch that tv show that has been on your list forever or try that new coffee shop or restaurant you keep seeing. People celebrate in diverse ways, choose whatever makes you happiest.

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