The Toughest Weeks

St.Thomas University students get ready to pack up these last weeks of the semester. Their excitement for summer has become their motivation to finish assignments and study for their last tests.

“Excitement, fulfilment, and happiness with how my academic year went, but I’m also tired and emotionally drained,” said Eugenia Rodriguez, student in the anthropology department.

Rodriguez is in her second year, she said that these last weeks has been busy and stressful, but also kind of exciting. She added that in her final project of her Forensic Osteology class they did a mock crime scene, which has been amazing and exciting; however, the final report has been very demanding and long.

“Although I have been enjoying it and learning while doing it, it has taken many hours of days and nights,”said Rodriguez. “At this point of the academic year I just feel extremely tired.”

Shamy Rukokora, a first-year student, majoring in Criminology, was working on her book review. She said this assignment is more difficult that she expected.

“ The book I chose, I find it hard to read and it is too late to change the book. It’s kind of stressful,” said Rukokora.

During this last week, procrastination became the enemy for students. St. Thomas University become aware of this, offering to students a variety of sources. They said time management and beating procrastination is a skill to learn, they try to motivate students in this toughest weeks.

“I feel regret,” said Rukokora. “ I have this bad habit of procrastination, and then I realized that for some of my project I have less time to work on them than I thought.”

Last weeks of classes are full of challenges but also students have multiple strategies to light up their work and different achievements that make them feel proud of themselves.

Rukokora said she got to finish working on her final paper by going to library or the study hall. She added working in a quiet space makes it easier to achieve concentration and get work done.

Rukokora said the study sessions get easy when it is with friends.
“Going to the library with friends so that you can keep each other motivated and accountable for the works that we have to get done,” said Rukokora.

Kayla Wright, third year student, majoring in Psychology, said she prefers to go to library, where it is easy to focus. She added writing her assignments in her planner helps her to know how much time she will put into them.

“Often setting short time goals for when I want to finish it and move on to the next task,” said Wright.

“When I’m studying and working on assignments, I’m doing so at a much slower pace than earlier in the semester.” She added that there were moments that finding balance in life and motivation to work on assignments was a major challenge.

“Sleep, meal prep, exercise, spiritual life, and social life have taken a hit,” said Wright.

Wright said that she’s been having to spend most of her nights in the library, some until past midnight because her classes finish in the afternoon. She added, her Research Methods class for Psychology has been the most demanding. She enjoyed it, but she found a lot of work to do in little time.

Most of the students find this last week a lot of work was demanded, and it could be emotionally consuming. After a lot of work was put into it, students are getting their assignments done, and these challenges became achievements.

Wright said her biggest accomplishment this academic year is taking a full course load.

Iliza said that her biggest achievement was starting her studies in a new country and being able to finish her first academic year.

Some students found their achievement in moving to another country, finishing a tough assignment or a book for their class, but they all have an achievement to feel proud of.

“How good I did on my crime scene and the feedback I got from my professors was a proud moment for me. Definitely my biggest achievement of the semester,” said Rodriguez.

The academic year is almost done, and summer is around the corner. Students are trying to find a balance in different aspects of their lives and the motivation to work on the last assignments. There was a lot to work on, but a lot of reasons why to be proud.

“It was a challenge to push past how tired and drained I feel at this point, but just the last effort to not let go of my classes and assignments; and finish the semester strong,” said Rodriguez.