Student Blog: Surviving Midterms

In college, there is no scarier word than *dun dun dun*... MIDTERMS! I will be the first to admit I am not particularly fond of tests. Test anxiety has always gotten the best of me causing me to blank the second the test is placed on my desk. Luckily I only had one midterm this semester which was for my script analysis class. This test would review the plays that we read so far in the semester. "Perfect!" I thought, "seems easy... now how do I study?"

The first thing I did was join a study group. In the past, when I studied it would be with the help of my sister with flashcards or old tests. However, with this test, we were starting from scratch, it was our first-ever test! So my friend and I booked a study room at the library and were joined by another classmate. I found this setup ideal, it was enough people to have multiple viewpoints and levels of knowledge on these plays but just small enough to remain focused. I absolutely loved this study group, while we obviously took studying seriously we had some fun and got a lot done. The best idea and new habit I walked out of this study group with was making a study guide! Study sheets are so helpful, especially if you know what topics will be on the test. This study guide was the perfect way to study in a group, alone, and quickly in the spare minutes I had before the test. On the day of the test, I took part in another study group just for a quick review. This study room was filled to the brim with my classmates who were all anxiously trying to prepare as well. While this study group was fun, it was also chaotic. I think smaller study groups work best because it's easier to remain on track.

The most important thing I made sure to implement during my first midterm in college was giving myself breaks. In high school, I constantly struggled with drawing the line between working hard for good grades and overworking myself to reach perfection. In my senior year of high school, I put an end to this bad habit and had every intention of going to college with my new mentality of doing what I could while also making time for myself. While studying I made sure to have snacks, take breaks, and relax for a little before and after. The snacks gave me the energy to keep going, and the breaks kept me sane and relaxing kept me motivated to go through with my plans to study. The night before the test, I made sure to fall asleep at a reasonable time, ate a good breakfast, and reviewed my notes one last time.

I can't deny that I was shaking before my test, but I knew my hard work would at least get me a passing grade. The test went great, I wrote so much my arm was cramped and I got my grade back! Let's just say it's proudly hanging on the fridge! Overall, the best lesson I learned from my first midterm was to remember to set aside time for myself while also focusing on my test. Of course, college is important and grades are important, but our mental and physical well-being are just as important