Overcoming Back-to-School Jitters

Are you a high school or college student preparing to reenter classes for the Spring 2010 semester? If so, you may be experiencing bouts of nervousness over your classes. What if I have a difficult teacher? What if the class material is over my head? What if I have to drop a class and extend my graduation date? Such feelings are completely normal, but can often be remedied just as quickly as they occur. Here are some practical ways you can avoid the all too common state of worry and panic before the start of school:

1. Begin to Visualize the Class in Advance

The vast majority of college and/or university course catalogues and bulletins will contain a description of the format, layout and content of every course within a particular degree or field of study. By reading these descriptions, you can better prepare yourself for what will be coming at the start of the semester. Odds are you will be less nervous if you know what to expect.

2. Continue to Engage in Fun, Non-School Related Activities

During your week(s) before the start of the semester, continue to engage in social activities such as spending time with friends, fellow students, family, etc. so as to keep your mind off of school. The more distracted you are and the more you allow yourself to have fun, the less likely you will be to stress over your upcoming classes, tests, projects and papers. Spending time with fellow student friends will also help to ease the nervousness. After all, you're all in the same boat and you may find many of your friends more nervous than yourself.

3. Look Over Class Material in Advance

If possible, purchase your course textbooks a week or two before the start of the semester. The vast majority of college students register for courses months before the semester actually begins. After registration, the student can then discover what books will be required for each class. This typically involves making a trip to your campus bookstore.

If you have the financial means to do so, purchase your books as early as possible after course registrations and begin to skim through the material. Looking over a few pages from each book at night before you go to sleep will not only serve to prepare you academically, but emotionally and mentally as well. For students who struggle with pre-semester jitters, this is a great way to acquaint yourself with the material you will cover during the course of the semester. When a professor gives you a pop quiz, you will be less likely to stress out.

4. Spend Time on Campus before the Semester Begins

If you are a returning student who lives off campus, it may help to spend some time walking your campus or finding a campus event to attend. Such time will refresh your memory of school, particularly if you have been on an extended break, such as Christmas holidays or Spring Break. If you already know your class schedule, it never hurts to walk it in advance. Start with your earliest class and take a journey through a typical day. If classrooms are unlocked, it never hurts to step inside and get an overall sense of what the room looks like, smells like and feels like. Hopefully, when you return on the first day of school, you will be far less nervous (not to mention you won't be lost!).

5. Purchase Back-to-School Materials in Advance

Not only will this tip keep you prepared for class, but it will also serve to keep your mind centered on school-related activities. A simple trip to Wal-Mart® to purchase pens, pencils, paper, etc. can do wonders to ease pre-semester nervousness. The familiarity of such a trip will help to ease your mind and calm your anxieties.

As your semester approaches, don't get nervous! Take a deep breath, practice some of the aforementioned tips and suggestions and remember that you have the ability to remain calm and relaxed. After all, if you've been a student this long, you can tackle another semester!