Preparations for the final weeks of fall semester

Probably, the last 2 or 3 weeks at the end of the semester are both stressful and exciting moment in any college, stressful in that students are preparing for exams while the thought of the long holiday after that makes make them excited. Like no other, I am feeling the same combination of stress and excitement. No matter what, to be a successful student, one needs to be well-prepared. Now that the semester is nearly finished, there are some major assignments and some reviews to be done before I really can enjoy the after “end-of-the-semester chaos” moment.


Of course, there is a final portfolio for this ENG 101 class waited to be finished. There is not very much work to do, but I need to fill in more words and ideas to fulfill the word requirement for each blog posts as well as there are some mechanical problems I need to take care of before finally submit the final portfolio for evaluation. I plan to put up some pictures and make it more interesting. Moreover, I missed 2 blog posts, so I have to fill them in as well. I think it is not a really difficult task but I have to be careful and put effort in refining it as well.

Class presentation and research project assignment for ENG 490 class is one of my major concerns this semester. Just the fact that it accounts for 50% of my final grade already makes me nervous, not to mention the course’s demand for student’s critical and analytical thinking in the final exam. But no matter how hard it is, it is my favourite class; thus, I want to end it with glory. So I am now working hard on it, trying to grasp all the ideas and theories discussed in class and in students’ blogs. Hopefully, I am on the right track.

Now come to class that is outside my current major, ANTH 262. Preparation for this class exam requires lots of reading reviews and as part of my plan I am going to do it very soon. What is hard for me is to write a 6-page paper analyzing archaeological sites. It is a little bit challenging for me because some of the readings are not really technical and complex in its nature. I am working on it now; luckily there is no presentation accompanied the project, if not I would be in a very tight schedule.

Introduction to International Studies is probably my easiest class because there is not much workload and the level of difficulty is fine for me. Of course, given to the nature of this class with lots presentation of fact and information, there are a vast amount of information I need to study and remember in order to do well in the exam. Since it is not so difficult, this presents little challenge for me, fortunately. However, what I really need to work on is the upcoming class debate. It is difficult due to the fact that I am not a native speaker of the language itself, and I am not really good at debating, that is presenting with viewpoints, arguments, and examples, such and such. It is not talent. Still, I have to do it well. So what I am doing now is to be well-prepared for that debate by reading and planning my speech/argument.

After all the assignments and presentations finished, it is time to think about exam preparation. Fortunately, I only have to take two exams so the workload would not be that bad, hopefully. Actually, I think those exams will not be very difficult if I read and prepare well. They are not memory-based question and consist merely of multiple choice questions. Compared to the dreadful exams back home, I feel better here.

A tiring semester must be ended with a happy cherish moment. But how can I get that? I think I have to try my best in the exam, so that I will be able enjoy the last moment without fear of failing. Moreover, we the international students are going to have a farewell party for those who are leaving home after the fall semester. It is sad to say goodbye but it is a must to party. It is exactly how I hope my first semester at USI as well as in the States ends. But like it is generally well said “no pain, no gain”, to have fun I have to sacrifice my energy, trying to work hard for all the classes.