#bysemperdiscens

30 Day Studyblr Challenge | Day 1: A photo of your supplies

I just saw @coffeeandpies’s studyblr confessions post and I decided to do my own!

Here it goes:

Bullet journals don’t seem to work for me; I’ve tried keeping one in the past and I think they’re really cute, but I can’t seem to find a way to keep up with them; digital planner apps work waaay better! (For me.)

I’m a perfectionist and it’s a problem. It’s part of why I can’t keep a bujo; it becomes too time consuming because I want it to be “perfect”. And I get genuinely disappointed when I get any grade lower than an A. I wish I didn’t, but I do.

I don’t like how a lot of studyblrs use the same cursive in their journals. So many of them look the same, as though they were all drawn by the same person. It seems as though everyone wants to fit into an archetype for the notes instead of exploring their own lettering styles.

I don’t like how studyblr stereotypes seem to cover up what student life and life in general are really like. It’s one thing to share the good and cute things that you have and experience, but it’s another to create a dramatically skewed view of the world. Actually, I think this is the big problem with social media in general, not just the studyblr community.

This kind of goes with my previous points, but I really dislike how there is a kind of pressure to own specific stationery and bags because it’s what everyone else is using. I think a lot of people need to think about the things they own or want and consider, “Do I want/have this because I myself actually want it, or because I would look cute with it in person/on social media/etc. and probably receive compliments for it, or at the very least make someone else feel jealous.”

This guide is intended to mentally prepare you for returning to college after being away for a few months to around a couple of years. I have been away for less than a year, but I was not intending to return so soon. I felt I really needed to change my mindset and so I created this list as I came up with each item.

Disclaimer: This is not an all-inclusive guide meant to prepare people who have been away from college for many years! (Though it could still help you.) This list is just my own way of getting myself ready and I thought it could help someone else if I shared it.

Begin to prepare 1.5 to 1 months before your classes start. (Of course, you can start earlier or later; I personally started ~one month before.) Let’s jump right in!

Look up your professors! In my case, I had to sign up for four specific classes; they are prerequisites to the program I am applying to. I’m also attending a small school, so I didn’t really have many choices when it came to professors or class times. However I did the following:

Ask people you trust who know about your school (as students, as instructors) for recommendations.

Look up professors on ratemyprofessors.com.

By doing this I was able to grasp a general idea of my professors. This helps in choosing your classes (if you have the choice) and in getting an idea of what to expect once classes start.

Download/find a planner. This is extremely useful in the long term. I have found that I do not work well with physical planners! No matter how much I love the idea of bullet journalling, I just cannot keep up with it. Instead, a digital planner works wonders for me. I can’t decorate it, but it syncs across my phone and computer, sends me reminders for upcoming homework deadlines, I can input my grades, and it also shows my calendar events! It’s just a really inclusive planner that I recommend to anyone who finds that digital planners work for them.

I personally use iStudiez Pro (iOS $2.99 USD, MacOS $9.99 USD)

It’s not free, but I’ve also never had to spend money on a planner since I got them almost 5 years ago

Textbooks/class materials. I mentioned this in a previous post! In the past, I have emailed my professors to confirm the required texts/materials for class around one month before classes start. I love to be prepared ahead of time and professors usually reply! I tried this on my professors in my new school and only one has replied in the whole month since I sent my emails. If your emails are left with no response, just wait till the first day of class like many other studyblrs recommend!

TIP: Compare pricing across websites for your textbooks/required materials on slugbooks.com!

School email. Make sure you use your (correct) school email when communicating with your school and professors. Have easy access to this email by setting it up on your phone and turning notifications for it ON!

Class locations. Physically go to campus and figure out where your classes are located and how long it takes you to get there. I used to roll out of bed and walk to class, but now I have to ~commute~ to my new college which will definitely take some adjusting to. This includes taking the weather, traffic, and unexpected events/other traffic impediments into account!

First week of school supplies: 2 pens, 2 pencils, eraser, highlighter, folder, notepad, water bottle, snack, practical bag/backpack, umbrella, computer, phone, computer/phone charger, headphones

After you get a grasp of what you need in your specific classes, adjust this list accordingly

Be aware of the weather. I just mentioned this, but also be aware of the weather on campus (it might be different where you live).

No matter the season, bring a sweater in case the classroom is cold!

Be early to get good seats. I’m super conscious of where I sit in a classroom, so I want to be early during the first weeks to almost guarantee I get the seat I want. Be aware this could change due to in-class projects, etc.

Fix your sleep schedule. Christmas and New Year’s messed up my sleep schedule and I had a hard time fixing my sleep cycle. (I’m still working on it and classes start on Monday.) To fix my schedule, I have been exercising during the evenings to make myself tired by the nighttime. And if I wake early, I make sure I stay up by getting out of bed. Regardless, I am always nervous before a new semester and I have a hard time sleeping the night before the first few days. Fixing your sleep schedule is nevertheless crucial to making your semester more successful!

I’m back from another unforeseen hiatus. During this time, I also paused my Japanese studies because of doubt and confusion about my future. However, I’m happy to say I’ve picked up studying Japanese again! I learned hiragana and I’m almost finished with katakana. I’m planning on beginning to study the more complicated parts of Japanese—like basic phrases, grammar, and kanji—very soon.

If you still follow me, thank you for being here through my ups and downs.

If you are new, allow me to introduce myself!

I’m a recent college graduate. #classof2018!

I’m bilingual in English and Spanish. E parlo un po di italiano.

I’m learning Japanese because I plan on working in Japan (starting sometime next year!).

I’m an INFJ (like many others in the studyblr community, interestingly).

Autumn/winter is my favorite time of year.

I post about my Japanese language learning journey, language resources, study tips, and positivity. You can also find the occasional link to my WordPress updates.