By Truett Jackson
Staff Reporter
Summertime can be filled with endless distractions. The kids are out of school, the weather is beautiful, and work doesn’t stop. Add in the fact that the term itself is shorter than the others, and students can quickly start to feel like they’re falling behind.
“I didn’t think that taking ten credits in the summer would be so much work,” said Stacy G., a 22-year-old Radiology Tech student at CNM. “The work started to pile up, but I’ve reorganized my time, and now it’s getting a lot easier.”
Doris Gasangwa, a first-year medical student, has some tips for her classmates that she says have come to help her get through the summer.
“Create a study space,” she said. “Having a dedicated study area will really help build the separation that you need in order to put you in a study mindset.”
Gasangwa says that it’s ok to be selfish with your time when you’re studying. “It’s OK to say ‘no’ to plans!”
She says that the most important thing is to take care of yourself, and it’s OK to say no to things that stress you out, things that divide your focus, and people in your life that can be energy vampires or time wasters.
“The list could go on!”, said Gasangwa. “Someone very wise once told me that it’s OK to say ‘no’, and later on, it’s always easier to change a ‘no’ into a ‘yes’ then to change a ‘yes’ into a ‘no’.”
She says that it is vitally important to take care of yourself emotionally, mentally, and physically. Making time to work out, to talk with friends, and checking in on those that you care about all add to your personal wellness and emphasizes that your own health is just as important as your future patients’.
As obstacles arise and the fear of missing out creeps in, summer can bring on the stress. Taking time for self-care and sticking to a schedule can mean the difference between an ‘A’ and a ‘D’.
“Keep up good communication with your professors and classmates,” said Stacy G. “Make sure to put everything on the calendar, and don’t miss those due dates, even for the smaller assignments. And don’t ever assume that online classes will be easier, because they’re not.”
She also wants to remind fellow students that there are many resources that they can utilize right on CNM campus to help them stay on track, such as visiting with a tutor, seeing an advisor, and starting a study group.
“I love my anatomy study group we’ve set up,” she said. “Since I don’t have time to socialize too much, I get to learn and have fun at the same time. It’s just once a week, but it really helps.”
If a student is having major difficulties and doesn’t know where to turn, Wellness CNM is always a great way to find support and is always confidential.
To find more info about tutoring, advisors, or Wellness CNM, students can call 505-224-3000.
