Week 1
Here we are, at the start of a new semester. Excited? I am, and not the least because for us with kids it's back to adult conversation and intellectual stimulation beyond Paw Patrol.
Content for my units has been available this week in the uni intranet, and a quick glance made me reconsider what sort of expectation I should be putting on myself this year. I have already been super pleased with my results, but I know I can't keep the HD GPA up forever unless I want to drive myself to the ground. I thought after last semester that finishing the first year with the perfect score was excellent, beyond expectation even, and if it drops slightly from that I can still be mighty proud. Perfectionism is a tricky beast to deal with, but I have to learn (I've been saying this to myself for ages, I wonder if this year is my year).
Week 1 is all about building the foundation on that expectation for each unit. I highly recommend attending all lectures because typically the lecturers set the scene for the coming semester during the first meet, and go through assessment items, and compulsory components. The most important task this week is to download and read the learning guides for each unit, and ask any questions you might have for the unit coordinator - the further in to the semester you go with uncertainty, the worse it'll get.
In practical terms the first week is a great test run for figuring out the best time and route to travel, where the best parking is, where to get the best coffee on campus, and other little details that will make your studies easier. Although week 1 may seem cruisy things will soon start to kick in; the best thing you can do now for the whole semester is trying to work out a weekly routine, i.e. finding regular times for course work for each unit. Things will look a lot easier when you have a plan.
Good luck with Autumn 2018, if this is your first semester welcome, and if you're returning this week then welcome back!
To read last semester's week 1 post click here.
What am I doing this week?
Attending all lectures
Meeting with my science project supervisor
Finalising the semester planner
Working out a weekly routine
Prep for week 2
