We are now in the final weeks of the Fall 2019 semester, and tensions are high for a lot of students. Teachers are dumping every assignment they have into these last weeks such as projects, homework and essays, not to mention finals are right around the corner. The pressure is on. Keep this in mind though: just because finals are almost here, that does not mean it’s the end of the world. Just because you did not do well this semester, does not mean you will do horribly the rest of your college career.

Before finals arrive, take a moment to look at what other assignments and regular exams are left. Talk to your professors about what you can do to improve your overall grade. Professors do care about students, especially those on the brink of failing. Professors are willing to work with you to help you pass, but you also have to put forth an effort to improve. That means not spending too much time watching YouTube, playing video games and catching up on new episodes of “My Hero Academia.” I understand that you need to take study breaks, but do not let those breaks last more than an hour.

If you were not satisfied with how you finished this semester, learn from your mistakes and change your habits. The spring semester is your chance to turn it around and become a better student than you were originally. For instance, if you were always confused about the material and tried to teach yourself but ended up failing, talk to your professor! As I stated before, talking to your professors shows them that you care and encourages them to work with you. Breaking old habits can help improve your grades and attitude. Five minutes on your phone can turn into 30 minutes if you are easily distracted. Set timers for when you are using your phone so you know to stop using it sooner rather than later. Utilize all the resources that are provided at UTSA, such as the library and tutoring services. Rewarding yourself also helps you feel accomplished. Let’s say you studied for a good three or four hours with a 10-minute break every hour; you can then buy yourself a treat as a reward.

With a few weeks left in the semester, there is still time to raise your grades. Do not feel discouraged because of one bad grade; let that motivate you to finish strong. Do not think about what you could have done differently in the past; worry about what you can do better now.