A New Semester

by Phillip Ramsay

Those darn kids are back at it again. Re-packing, re-moving, and final goodbyes are said and done and we are back to university life. This is it. This is the new semester. The new year. Last semester is over and forgotten by now. The grades earned, the money spent, and the missed opportunities are long gone and we must look forward to the future. Although, we should learn from our mistakes and our moments of triumph, we should do so with an eye toward doing better this time around rather than wishing to re-do last time. There are new students, we are in new classes, and we may feel a bit brand new ourselves, with new resolutions and confirmations of who we are and what we are doing with our college careers. It is so vital that parents help motivate us and keep us accountable to our goals early in the year and the semester. Ask your student what they want you to hold them accountable to and then remind them of their goal often and encouragingly.

Remind us how important it is to immediately get into our groove and discover and define what our routine will be. Hitting the ground running and beginning to find our rhythm in these early weeks will help us get a headstart and continue to make effective strides during this semester. Some of us may not have earned grades that made it onto the refrigerator. This is the second chance. It is not too late to boost your grades. Remind your student that it’s OK to be a late bloomer. There is still time. They have to start now, though. Some of us may still be reeling from the holidays and reminiscing over the break and this may delay the transition into the semester, but it is important to press on to the second half of the year and encourage us to look forward to the summer break.

Tis the season to apply to for next year’s financial aid and scholarships. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is already available. This application needs to be filed annually to qualify for grants and student loans. Grants are similar to scholarships in that they are gift to the student and they do not need to be repaid. The earlier that your FAFSA is turned in, the earlier your students will be considered for grants. Remind your students that most of the scholarships for the future fall 2012 semester are due in the current spring 2012 semester. My mother always inspires me to apply for scholarships. She motivates me by saying, “There is a world of scholarship opportunities out there that you haven’t even seen yet.” I have finally started listening to her. Scholarships can reduce the amount of loans that we need to apply for. We can earn extra money by being awarded scholarships. The triumph that we can feel by winning awards is remarkable and mentioning scholarship awards on our resume and in future job interviews can help us in the job search. Through our own campus and through numerous websites, there are endless scholarships for everyone. Connect your students to these possibilities and encourage them to apply.

We are one step closer to the conclusion of this school year, closer to the start of summer, and closer to a fresh new school year. For some, it is the beginning of the end of their college careers and for others, it is the end of the beginning of their college careers. Whichever position your student is in, remember to encourage them study hard; the race to summer is on.