Setting yourself up for success

Counseling Services and Center for Academic Success employees encourage students to use campus resources to better deal with finals stress

BY ALEXANDER TUMALIP

As students enter exam season, employees at Counseling Services and the Center for Academic Success shared resources available within their departments to help students be successful and decrease stress. They advised students to make a study schedule and set aside a space for their studies.

Rachel Kekaula, a BYU–Hawaii alumna and director of Counseling Services, said despite moving to remote learning, stress during exam periods remains the same because of the weight of an exam on academic performance. She said preparation is critical, and it begins before exam week, even at the beginning of a semester. “Preparing for an exam involves staying on track with the lectures and taking effective notes, especially on key concepts,” she said.

Joshua Krueger, a sophomore majoring in computer science from North Carolina, said having a plan to study is important. “If you have a plan, you can have more time on your hands to do what you want,” he said. “Even though plans may change, you must learn to adapt.”

Krueger said in computer science, it takes repetition to understand the concepts. “One of the most challenging things is there is a lot of math in computer science, which is not really my strong suit,” he said, adding that one error in your program can make a big difference.

Yet, he has always enjoyed challenges, he explained. To him, when he understands something, it is a huge reward. “Challenges always put your mind to the test, and it feels good when you are done,” he said. “I love challenges because of the satisfaction of solving a problem.”

“The reality is we cannot get through this life without help. Our job is not to judge; it is to work together with you to succeed." - Michael Aldrich

Kekaula said how students study in class is their decision, even though there are many recommendations. She explained some people can study for only 20 minutes, while others can study for up to 40 minutes. According to her, the increase in time spent studying comes with experience.

She added students will hit their limit at an hour — if their brains don’t stop before it. “It’s important you recognize your own warning signs,” Kekaula explained. She said things like distractions, frustration or fatigue can cause you to “hit the wall.”

“If you do ‘hit the wall,’ see what resources are there,” including the valuable resource the Center for Academic success, she said. Michael Aldrich, director of the library and the Center for Academic Success, said seeking help is not only vital; it makes all the difference.

“The reality is we cannot get through this life without help,” he said. “Our job is not to judge; it is to work together with you to succeed. For example, if the student’s goal is to get straight A’s, we work with them to plan how we can achieve that.”

Aldrich said his job is to help students struggling academically, which is decided by the student themselves or by a professor’s suggestion. Aldrich added he has been at the university for 10 years, and he was originally assigned to create the center.

“Originally, the Counseling Center was dealing with academic challenges,” he recalled. “We launched the Center [for Academic Success] in 2012, mostly staffed with senior missionaries. The missionaries oversee the students’ development, and I manage the center and see students’ individual needs are met.”

According to Aldrich, one of the suggestions the center has is to create a study space. “That space is different from a student on the mainland or living in the Hales,” he said. “You also must spread out your study. If you’ve been staring at the screen for an hour, get away from it for a short period.”

Krueger said he has done better with a study environment, stating there are less distractions and more ways to understand the content. He said he’s also learned more about his strengths and weaknesses during this pandemic.

“My biggest distraction was my phone,” Krueger said. “Whenever I study, I try my best to put my phone away and motivate myself to study. After that, I can use it as much as I want.”

He said students must still make their own decisions when they study. “There are some people who are smart on their own,” he said, “but some people need that motivation.”

Kekaula said she hoped students understand there are resources, like the Center for Academic Success, to help motivate them. “Seeking help is huge when you get overwhelmed, especially during this pandemic,” she said. “I hope students prepare individually for their studies and know what the resources are for them on campus.”

Even though students cannot control what happens, they can still make things happen, Krueger said. “The biggest thing is to plan your time and stay focused on your goals.” He said he learned how to focus on his goals when he joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) in high school.

“Somebody said school is like a pack of wolves: You always take out the most dangerous wolf first. That means to pick the assignment that is easiest and figure it out,” he said.

Krueger said to do that, his mantra is to “start small, go smaller.” He explained students should work by assignment, not by time spent studying, breaking their larger assignments down into smaller tasks. “If you work by assignment, and not by time, you can get more done than you think you can,” he said.

Aldrich said students have never had a better opportunity to take control of their learning. “If we take some of those opportunities now, face-to-face classes can become enriching through meaningful discussions,” he said.

“Applying these skills now can help you be successful in the future, especially when you must adjust in the corporate world. At the end of the day, students are learning to fulfill the prophecy given by President David O. McKay on becoming genuine gold.”

Illustration by Hannah Manalang