Preparing for Success in Your Upcoming Finals

by Yazan Alkharabsheh

As we are approaching the end of the semester and face an incoming wave of

final exams, I saw this as a perfect opportunity to motivate and give advice for success. 

Experiencing difficulty as a student in inevitable. However, experiencing difficulty should not be interpreted as something that will inherently limit success. It is natural for any student to be worried when making a great effort to prepare for exams. This fear is normal, provided it does not become so frustrating that it affects test taking ability. 

To enhance your ability to study and navigate future tasks, try to go to sleep early the day before each exam. Medical research confirms that late night studying reduces 30% of a student’s learning rate, especially after 11:00 p.m. Lack of sleep reduces the ability to think and work the next morning. ‏The body needs at least six to eight hours of sleep each night. Students should prioritize going to bed earlier and waking around sunrise. Waking up early to study is essential since the brain is most productive and capable of absorbing information at that time. Additionally, it is important to eat light and healthy meals consisting of mainly vegetables and fresh fruits. While studying, refrain from the habit of sitting in a chair with feat raised, or stretching out comfortably in bed. This may lower your capacity to study. Instead, sit in front of a desk with your feet fixed on the ground. Most importantly, keep away from over using any substances such as coffee to increase hours of vigilance. After extended periods of use, substances of this kind reduce concentration during studying and exam taking. Lastly, effective study habits include readings notes and lectures carefully, summarizing readings, and making study guides and visual aids. 

Remember, failure to achieve a certain grade in the past is not the end of the world. There is always an opportunity to learn from failure. Learn from past failure to improve as students, do the best you could possibly do, and achieve your goals. Life is like a glass of water: it can be half full or half empty. Our job is to use our experiences to fill that empty half of the glass with new successes.

I am confident that UMSL Ambassadors are able to accomplish any task if they put their minds to it. The fact that you are all UMSL Ambassadors means that you are successful students who are capable of great accomplishments. I truly believe that you will all do great. So, work hard and fill that empty half of the glass to the brim.