With graduation on the horizon for many KU final year students, it probably isn’t an understatement to say that many of us will be excited but mostly terrified about our futures, buckling under the weight of multiple assignments and deadlines, and pondering the meaning of life. Seriously, what is life?
However, grad students have come to our rescue as they share their best studying and organisation advice for final year students avoiding their wall calendars in the hopes that the inevitable assignment deadlines will somehow disappear.
Credit: Matt Ragland / Unsplash
Take one day at a time
Kingston journalism graduate, Keyari Page, now working as an Editorial Curator for Upday and a Media Officer for The Danver Group, advises:
“Honestly take it one day at a time and don’t cram everything into one week. Organise your final projects on how much you’ll have to do for each one and when they are due. It shows when you should start working on them.”
Likewise, masters student Andrew Shortall emphasised not to rush the little things because the smaller details matter when it comes to your assignments.
He said: “A paper is 100 marks and a lot of them come from the small details and additions you can easily miss, so don’t be afraid to go over the paper a few times before submitting.
“Unfortunately, I learned the hard way on what not to do. It really came back to bite when I started having multiple deadlines in a week.”
On the other hand, graphic design grad student Antonia Helbich-Poschacher, who is currently working three part-time jobs while she works on her portfolio and CV, explained how lockdown made her approach her assignments differently.
“During lockdown, I learned that you have to make use of everything around you and be creative in order to achieve your goal,” Helbich-Poschacher said.
Credit: Jess Bailey / Unsplash
Balancing deadlines, classes, social activities and yourself
Page admitted that during her studies, she wasn’t good at balancing everything and she became so overwhelmed to the point that she considered dropping out.
“I would say to give yourself some R&R (rest and recreation) if need be. Take a break and walk away for a while because the project will not go anywhere.”
On the other hand, Shortall highlighted the importance of starting your assignments early and not letting them build up.
“My advice is to simply do the work,” Shorthall said. “It doesn’t get easier the longer you leave it so getting a bit done every day saves a lot of stress later down the line.”
Lessons learned
In regards to what Page learned during her final year, she said that being kind to yourself and picking your battles carefully were the most memorable lessons for her.
“I went through a lot of battles at university and looking back there were a few I could have left alone. I also fought other people’s battles and that drained me. So now I don’t allow anyone or anything to rob me of my energy.”
On another note, Helbich-Poschacher said that it is important to enjoy every second of your university experience because, even though it is stressful, it’s the time to make more use of what the university offers.
Page echoed this sentiment by highlighting the need to appreciate what your university has to offer instead of waiting for it to be over.
Page said: “I wouldn’t be where I am now if it wasn’t for my experiences at university.”
Whatever you may be feeling right now, just know you aren’t alone. If there is anything to learn from the advice the grad students so kindly shared, it’s that you definitely aren’t the first to feel this way and you definitely won’t be the last either.
Focus your eyes forward, take a breath and get yourself excited for the opportunities that are to come.
Megan Kelly 
Maurizio Kayonjo