We are back and running in full swing with the spring semester. After a bit of a delay in the start of the semester due to snow conditions here in Houston, school assignments have picked up and piled up quickly. The last time that we received snow here in Houston was more than five years ago, so people were not really prepared for the weather we received when the school semester started. It was surely a nice way to end the winter break. Now with classes in full swing, I have been thinking about some goals I hope to accomplish by the end of this semester.
Aside from performing well academically. One of my focuses this semester is to use my summer effectively. The best to go about this is to prepare now and start thinking what I want to do this summer. I know I will need to catch up in some school labs which will take up only half of my summer. I hope to start applying for a new position some time during this semester, so I can really spend the summer saving money for when the semester starts. The take away from this is to plan ahead. It is always a good idea to think ahead and plan according to what you believe will be the most beneficial for you. There is only so much that you can be ready for because as I learned at the beginning of this semester, there are things that are out of your control.
I know some of you reading this may be finishing up any last minute changes to your college or scholarship applications. And just to add on to the list of things that you have to take care this last semester. Think now of what you would like to get out from your last summer before college. With all this planning comes an important skill. Prioritizing. One aspect I struggle with is in doing things that I want to do and things that I have to do. Something that helps me is thinking about taking things one day at a time. It can be a little overwhelming, and you do not need to add extra pressure on yourself. Do not forget you are not in this journey a lone, so reach out to those who can support you best.
-Abraham Vicuna