10 Tips for Literature Students Making a Big Leap This Fall
Literature students need perseverance, curiosity, and perspective to make it big in the program during the fall semester. They must also abide to a short list of rules, where their earnestness would be put to a daily test. It should help them achieve their goals.
The life of literature students could be described as dark nights of realizing goals set by themselves and their professors or mornings of self-doubt. It revolves around paper writing, reading, and studying for examinations, and there would be many occasions where they wish they would do something else. The latest trial of Apollo is out in the market, where a chapter or two could be read between several chapters of an assigned classic. Reading a Rick Riordan book may not be included in the "Scout Law", but a break would be needed to keep those creative juices flowing through. They may not be curious about Tarquin, the last king of Rome, yet they couldn't help but wonder why James Gray chose a voyage through the Solar System as a metaphor of journey into the psyche (or Roy McBride's). A comparison between "Ad Astra" and the notable works in science fiction might not make a compelling essay topic, but there are more pressing issues.
Passion would provide students with perseverance, curiosity, and perspective. Whether they are enthusiastic about literature or they aspire to be bestselling novelists, they have to follow a list. It's the only way to stick to a routine, which would take them to zigzags and double backs. They must keep their eyes to the final year, though.
How to Make Plans and Stick to Schedules
Discipline starts in the evening, so prepare for next morning (before going to bed). This routine would ensure that you don't have to resort to procrastination. It would be manageable during the first month (of the term), but the following month could force you out of your comfort zone. And the succeeding months would make you wanting for more breaks. Arranging your books on a daily basis can be tiresome after a few months (of doing it), but it's no different from planning breakfast or packing lunch. You should include laying your clothes, charging your phone and laptop, and the laundry (if you don't want to do it during weekends). You would have more time for reading if you stick to this routine. You would have more time for loafing as well.
Your professors and coursemates won't be waiting for you. Punctuality can be a huge commitment. You don't want to disappoint, if not disrespect, your professors and coursemates by being late or not showing up at all. You must hit the sack early (if you have lectures in the morning).
Try to remember the names of your professors and coursemates. It would mean that you're not lost in your thoughts, if not too self-absorbed. You must focus your attention on the lesson, and think about other things later.
Don't be afraid to ask about the meaning of words that you don't understand at all. A broad vocabulary would help you analyze a written text better, so there's no shame in asking your professor or coursemate(s) about the meaning. It should help you remember their names as well.
Paper writing teaches you a thing or two on organization. You would forget about the hard lessons on colonialism (after studying Victorian literature), but you would remember how you analyze the notable titles under this genre. It’s the same thing with other literary genres. It should help you research better and refine your arguments as well. Both are highly-sought skills.
Always keep a calendar. It should remind you about deadlines and other things that are not related to the coursework. It would help you in maintaining that study-life balance, which may be easily said during the busy days of December and spring. You can also look at it in another way, as the calendar would warn you about indulging in socializing or any means of escape from the daily grind (of the coursework).
Be kind. You must not be too hard if you can't meet every expectation. Your coursemates would feel the same way, so don't be harsh if someone opens up about it. You could learn a few things.
Don't think too much about your insecurities. You can turn it into a positive trait, when you discuss about it in one of your papers. Your professors might be entertained, if not admire you.
Trust your family and friends. They will be on your side, even if they can't understand the books you read (and share with them).
Failure isn't the end of the world. Setback is a part of your self-learning, and it would happen more than once. Learn from it, but there's no excuse if it happens frequently.
Your Learning Curve
Don’t expect everything to go according to plan, as the life of a literature student is far from perfect. It’s OK, which you should know after reading a few classics. Learning is an interactive experience, so don’t go with the motions. And make sure that you read a number of (assigned) books before the start of the term.
