Some Closure

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If you've been following along with me throughout this fall semester you will recall how many times I have stressed out and have been completely wiped. This was definitely a difficult and mentally taxing semester for me. Finals week nearly destroyed me--I actually fell asleep in the lounge on Friday while I was studying for my algebra final. Thank God for the fantastic guys on the floor who woke me up in time for the exam! Overall, I had felt that I did average on the exams and was not too sure that I was going to be closing out the semester on a high note.

This morning I finally got a look at my final fall semester grades. Overall, they were okay. I did manage and A+ in one class, Bs in two classes, and the other two classes were Cs. Algebra and psychology definitely were not the kindest to me. But at least their over, right? That's my feeling right now...I'm upset that I wasn't able to do better but at the same time I am so relieved that it is all over and I am getting ready to take on a new semester with a few more classes more focused on my major, minor and certificate--and just a couple gen. eds.

<3 Ashley

Are you finding closure as the year is winding down?

Finals: In Retrospect

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Okay, so really I'm only halfway through finals (or at least I will be by 2 PM) then I have two finals tomorrow. But already there are things I wish I had done because I am stressed to no end right here. Honestly, the only reason I am blogging right now is because it is so therapeutic for me. I also think I'm so frustrated and crabby because everyone else on my floor is finished with their exams already and started having their fun last night. Seriously, yesterday I woke up early to study and there were people in the lounge studying. This morning I did the same thing...I am the only one here!

Anyway, I have under 3 hours before my psychology final and I still don't really think I am retaining any information (except I could tell you all about personality disorders; but I won't!) I really think that maybe I should have started at least making up my notecards and study guides maybe a week or so ago and not over the past weekend. I also wish I had done more of the readings assigned throughout the semester. Just so everyone knows, there's a lot of nice thorough information in these books that would probably have been useful in furthering my understanding of these concepts. But here we are, three hours before the exam and it's a little to late to do those readings.

A perk, however, is that yesterday I took my rhetorical process final (this class is for my major!) and the grades are in. Who's got two thumbs and scored a perfect grade on that exam? This girl! I was honestly speechless for an hour after seeing that grade. My final grade over all in the class is a 98% and that is just fine by me! Hopefully, I can get through the rest of these finals well enough!

<3 Ashley

What little triumphs have you had this week?

On Staying Organized

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One of my worst features is probably the fact that I am quite prone to procrastination and allowing things to slip my mind. This ugly feature came out in full force as I was studying for my anthropology exam this week. I was looking through my binder, found my psychology syllabus and discovered that my first psych exam is this Thursday! Whaaaat?! So naturally I threw anthropology aside to get in one chapter of psych reading. At 10:30 PM I realized that I had yet to complete all of my online math homework which was due in and hour and a half! That was when I went into full panic mode and maybe almost cried. It is just too early in the semester to be having episodes like last night.

I have made a vow to utilize all of my organization practices and not slack off! This is what I typically do: I have a little notebook that I record all my homework assignments and exam dates that I keep in my bag at all times. Then I have my calendar overload. What do I mean? I have my calendar on my phone which is linked to my calendar on my laptop so I get alerts on both devices. I also have my big desk calendar which is color coded. No more last minute, panicked working!

<3 Ashley

How do you stay on top of things? Have you ever gotten so far behind?