What are your daily study habits? “One of my study habits is to pay close
attention in class. I believe that listening carefully and actively to lectures helps me get more out of the class. Moreover, I also try to read course textbooks for more detailed information and useful examples. More importantly, most of the time I read in advance, before class starts, so that it is quite easy for me to understand the lecture and be prepared.
for any unexpected questions.”
Do you do anything different when studying for a quiz or exam? “When it comes to studying for a quiz or exam, I always review my notes and PowerPoint slides, and then I read the course textbook to get further details on any points I have doubts about. Furthermore, I also find group studies to be very useful because they allow me to get a lot of good ideas and extra information that I can use to develop my own ideas, in order to write even better during the exam.”
Do you study at another university or have a job or internship?
“I also studied at the Institute of Foreign Languages (IFL) in the afternoon, majoring in Professional Com-munication (PC), but I graduated last year. Now, I am searching for employment opportunities as well as any available internship programs.”
How do you manage your time and schedule?
“In order to cope with my tough schedule, I have come up with a very simple, yet effective, study plan. That is, to learn and review immediately what I have learned in class each day on a regular basis. For example, if I study two subjects per day, I will spend at least one hour reading and reviewing for each subject every day. By doing so, I save a lot of time, reduce my heavy workload, and enjoy learning smoothly without too much pressure.”
Being a student can be a very stressful and busy time, how do you manage your health?
“I have to admit that stress is an unavoidable part of academic life, which can be quite challenging for every-one, especially for a student studying at two universities at the same time, like me. That’s why I always rank my health above my other important priorities. I personally believe that instead of trying to run away from stress, we better confront it with bravery by trying to find ways to deal with it. Among all the methods I have used to maintain my health, being well-prepared before a quiz or exam can be a very good way to avoid being stressed simply because we don’t have to worry that much about what will appear on the exam papers. Playing football regularly on the weekend is another technique I use to release all the stress I have accumulated during the week, and also to keep myself physically strong and mentally fresh. In addition, I manage to get a good amount of sleep, between 5 and 7 hours per night. More importantly, I always keep myself happy by talking with my friends during the break time.”
What are your future plans?
“First and foremost, I plan to work for two years in the private sector, and then I would really like to win a scholarship to pursue my Master’s Degree abroad. In the next 5 or 10-years, I would like to have obtained an international Master’s Degree, and work in a private company, possibly in a high position, and also have my own business.”
What advice can you give to other students who are hoping to be more successful next term?
“The advice I would like to share is to simply ask as many questions as possible in class, and to not be afraid or ashamed to raise your hand while your lecturer is speaking. Also, try to spend some time reading the course textbooks because your lecturers cannot teach you everything. It is only through self-study that you can ex-pand your knowledge. Always be well prepared, so that you don’t have to cram for an exam. Finally, read as much as possible in English because reading provides you with new knowledge, information, and experiences, and it can also improve your English language proficiency. Reading enables you to write better, grammatically correct sentences, and without doubt you will get better grades on your exams and essays.
