One of the main concerns students have: not having enough time in a day to complete  everything they need to. Students do not realize that they have several breaks in their day that  they can use more effectively. They also do not realize how much time they spend playing “the  waiting game”: waiting in line or waiting for something else to be finished before they will resume studying. By using these “breaks” more effectively, they can give themselves real  breaks and still have time for social life and sleep. 

1. Commute 

Students commute to class anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour. Usually there is a long  wait time for the bus: they could use that time, and the time spent on the bus, to review their readings, listen to audio recordings, or review pre-written flashcards. Even if the bus is noisy, it  will test their concentration skills and how they react under pressure. 

2. Exercise 

Students generally find it difficult to balance a healthy lifestyle with their studies.  Depending on the workout, they can incorporate some time to study. Treadmills and ellipticals  have a flat table surface on them: students can use this to put their notebook on and review  their notes while they do some cardio. 

3. Phones 

Students spend a lot of time on their phones. By downloading flashcard apps they can use their phones more effectively. They could also watch youtube videos on a given subject. 

4. Meal Prepping 

Meal prepping requires a lot of planning and time spent waiting for meals to cook.  Students generally opt for quick meals such as pasta or rice. Both of these meals require  waiting for water to boil then waiting for the food to cook. Students can use this time to pull out  their flashcards or review their readings. 

5. Laundry 

Students dread doing their laundry: it consumes too much of their time and they spend  most of it procrastinating, while waiting for it to finish. Students can bring their books or  flashcards to the laundry room. Students usually set a timer for when the laundry is done; they  can use this time to complete a mock test and see how well they perform or how much they know during the limited amount of time. 

6. Waiting in line 

Students generally need their coffee or snack fix while studying. The wait times on and off campus stretch out the door. By the time they go to order 15 minutes has gone by. Students  should bring their flashcards, paper or electronic, to pass the time and utilize their study time.  Coffee shops are generally loud and chaotic, which will also test the students concentration  skills.  

Students always find themselves in a time-crunch. Once they realize they can  incorporate studying into their daily routine without cutting into their social life or sleep schedule  they will reduce their stress and notice an improvement in their academic results. Thus, “the  waiting game” does not have to be a waste of time or an excuse to procrastinate. 

2019 – 2020 Scholarship Essay

Carolyn Cormier