Click the Link

I've never been one for making predictions, but today I'll make an exception: Come the end of this semester, someone reading this post will be in academic trouble--seriously behind in a class, hopelessly confused by a course's content, and overwhelmed by readings and papers assigned back when the weather was warm.

Here's another prediction: The student who'll be agonizing over these problems in December knows about them RIGHT NOW.  The signs are already there: a bad first test grade, a lab that's not making sense, a textbook that grows more intimidating each time it's opened, papers and assignments that are already late (and maybe haven't been started).

Sound familiar?  Hope not.  But if the person in these "predictions" is you, it's time you did something to avert a disaster.  Simply hoping things will turn out okay on their own probably won't work.  In fact, a manageable problem in early October is likely to become a monstrous one later on--unless you act.

What can you do?

If you attended Orientation or are enrolled in NCC 101, you've probably heard that there's no shortage of academic services at Nassau.  A writing center, several math help services, tutoring in a range of academic subjects (Biology, Accounting, Marketing, Nursing, Foreign Languages, Physical Sciences, and so on)--they're all available.  So are your professors, who can offer help or make suggestions that will increase your chances of getting a handle on that troublesome class.

But you have to take that first step and ask for help. You're the one who has to visit that writing or math center (or other academic service) and explain what you don't understand.  If you think a conference  with a professor would help, it's up to you to schedule that appointment.  And if you're behind in readings or assignments, you need to push yourself to catch up, even if it means changing your routine a bit.

Notice all of the references to "You" in the previous paragraph? That's because you're the key player here, the one who has to decide what's going to happen in your classes this semester and what--ultimately--your December is going to be like. Such  decisions are all yours, no one else's.

And contrary to what you may have heard somewhere along the way, the decision to get extra help in a class isn't at all a sign of personal weakness or deficiency.  Just the opposite, really: the smartest, wisest, and most savvy students on campus get help when they need it.  They take full advantage of what's available.  

If your courses are going well this semester, awesome!  But if something in one of your classes doesn't feel right--or if a class is getting away from you--time to act.  Information about NCC's many free academic services is a simple click away:   http://www.ncc.edu/studentlife/orientation/student_support_services.shtml 

If you think I'm kidding, click the link and see for yourself.  Bet there's a service on campus that's just what you need and that will make the semester seem all right again. 

So go ahead: click the link.  Now.  No time to waste.  December's coming.