How to manage your time more effectively during a snow day
By Shawn Potter
Opinion Editor
It is no surprise to any student at Bridgewater State University that the seemingly unending waves of snowfall have made a significant impact on each student’s everyday schedule.
The residents’ cars were buried under several feet of snow, and those who were lucky enough to make it into the parking garage didn’t have to deal with shoveling out as much snow from their cars.
The first day that classes were cancelled, I felt nothing but relief. It was similar to my memories of staring at my television screen in middle school when the snow was falling, waiting for my school’s name to be listed under the cancellation list. A snow day is, without a doubt, an exciting time for students to be able to take time off on a day when their classes were supposed to be going on.
However, it’s not in the best interest for students to take the entire day off to do nothing but watch television, play games, or participate in any other non-school related activity.
There should be something else that students can do to utilize their time more wisely on a day off. Time management is undoubtedly a skill. It may come easier to some, but every person has the ability to manage their time in a smart and effective manner. The methods of time management vary according to every student’s own life. However, there are many methods that apply to most, if not all, students.
Let’s say, for example, that you have acquired each syllabus in every one of your courses. A good strategy would be to go through each syllabus, and underline the most important content. This can include the course objectives, required material, as well as the method of grading the instructor plans on using.
Along with the content, make note of and mark down all of the assignments and when they are due on your calendar. By doing these things, you gain the advantage of knowing when assignments are due so you can plan accordingly on when to work on them.
For students that commute, it would be a good idea to email each of your instructors and introduce yourself and tell them why you enrolled into the course. Double checking with the instructors to make sure that you have the correct material for the course is always a safe strategy, one that will hopefully provide the assurance needed that you are on the right track.
Whether you commute or live on campus, it is always a good idea to keep informed of what is going on around your area, especially during a snowstorm. Take those few minutes you may use to watch your favorite show on Netflix, YouTube or any other site and stay tuned to your local news channel. They will, more than likely, always provide the latest updates in terms of the weather and what to expect within the coming hours and days.
There are more important reasons as to why it is in everyone’s best interest to make the best of a day off. Besides gaining the advantage with classes, it is never too late to look for volunteering opportunities, search for upcoming school events, or help another fellow student shovel their car out of the snow.
Shawn Potter is the Opinion Editor for The Comment. Follow him on Twitter @shawn_potter.
