Spring quarter is now into its 4th week and that means that midterms are just around the corner. In my days as a student midterms always brought mixed emotions. On one hand, I knew that we were halfway through that classes materials and that much closer to our next break. On the other hand, it meant that I would be tested on how much of the course material I had been able to grasp up to that point.
There were a couple of occasions when I felt overwhelmed at midterm. My grades up to that point were nothing worth getting excited about and it seemed like I would never dig myself out of the hole. The great thing was that I still had the second half of the class to build myself back up to where I needed to be.
If I had to give a piece of advice to students as they prepare for their midterms it would be this, “Don’t quit, no matter the outcome.” If you are struggling in your courses up to this point, you can still recover. We offer a lot of personal assistance to students that are having a tough time in their classes. Rob Neuteboom, the Mentor Center Director, is available throughout the week to provide one-on-one help. He can also connect you with student tutors or faculty mentors that can give you the extra push that you need. It is also important to be in communication with your instructors. They are not able to give you extra help if they don’t know you need it or want it. They may also be willing to work with you if they know you have been seeking extra help from the Mentor Center or a tutor.
Most importantly, stay positive. You can do this. We want to help you and see you succeed. Let us know what we can do to keep you motivated and to encourage you along the way!
