A New Year, A New Start 2009!

~ How to have a great time in school - and beyond - this year...

It's the time of the year when we all scramble to finish (or maybe start) those literature essays and math questions. With the holidays and Christmas parties coming to an end, it has now come for us to welcome the new year ahead…

Here are some tips and… EXCITING WAYS TO KICK START THE NEW YEAR!

1. ENJOY SCHOOL! (Trust me, it CAN be fun…)
Look, it makes sense. We spend so much time in school, almost a third of our time awake. Why torment yourself in hell, when you can learn to have fun? Here's how…

Start liking your subjects
We usually hate stuff that we're bad at. So the next time you find yourself drifting away in class, ask the teacher (or your friend - if you're shy) for help. Do this during the class or immediately after - so that you maintain the same pace as the class. By understanding bit by bit, we conquer the subject part by part.

And… yeah, physics formulas and character studies might seem senseless at times. But they can get meaningful when we understand the wider context surrounding these subjects. Learning becomes interesting when we explore deeper into our subjects.

Manage your time well
Hate school because of all the stress and tests? Well, three simple steps: listen in class, do the homework, revise regularly. By dividing your work into bite-sized portions, you'll find studying quite a breeze. Say goodbye to last minute cramming and sleepless nights!

Of course you should have time for friends and CCA activities. (What's school without them, right?) Devote yourself to your CCA when it's time for meetings. Play hard. Just remember to work hard as well - by allocating reasonable parts of your day to both your studies and other meaningful stuff. =)

2. Keep yourself in great shape (hmm, I meant health =P)!
It's trite but true - the trio of adequate exercise, nutrition and rest does wonders to one's well being.

Exercise: sweat it out!
Do you know that exercise is one of the most natural ways to detox? (Heh, of course one of the most inexpensive as well…) Working out allows the body to expel impurities and toxins through perspiration, while the use of energy burns unwanted calories. Also good for venting stress!

The best thing is, exercise comes in many forms, from traditional ball games to the cool hip hop dancing. Don't fancy jogging or the regular soccer? Sign up for the latest kick-boxing or body-sculpting classes. With so many benefits, jump on the fitness bandwagon today!

Eat well
It's common sense, and it's also part of biology class. A mix of veggies, meat and carbos (with sufficient water) makes you feel fresh and functional daily. While the advice sounds old fashioned, the fact remains that a balanced diet keeps you healthy. No more dreaded sore throats or flu for the smart ones!

Get enough sleep
Yes, we all know how important (beauty) sleep is to our health (and complexion =P) and well being. But do we know that it also gives us more time to do our stuff? When we have enough rest, we concentrate better. Hence, we take a shorter period to complete our tasks (yes, it means less time needed for studying…) - allowing more free time to explore other areas.

Also, we become more patient people with adequate sleep. When we rest well, we feel good. When we feel good, we become nicer. Remember the time you snapped at a friend out of senseless grouchiness? High time to spare close buddies such frustration!

3. Improve yourself! (Isn't upgrading the IN word?)
We always have wishes and dreams - be it to learn the piano or to curb our bad temper. Why not take the opportunity - start the new year with a bang - and get started on these hopes?

Pick up a new activity
Always wished to learn Latin dancing? Or how to bake brownies? Act on these little dreams this new year! Check out the classified section of newspapers, search the Internet, ask your school clubs - to see if these places offer the activity you want. Oh, and do persevere once you've decided on learning the skill.

Here's a tip: if the hobby seems too expensive for you, do check out the community centres. They offer a wide range of the latest courses with qualified instructors. You might be able to find your desired hobby there!

Alternatively, if you'd like to participate in an activity or hobby as a CCA - and if your school doesn't offer it (sigh…) - set up a new CCA! Gather a few like-minded friends, approach your teacher for guidance, and get about planning and writing proposals. Be proactive! You might find yourself with a new hobby, new leadership skills… and extra CCA points! Why not?

Learn life skills
You know, people always say that EQ (emotional quotient) is more important than IQ (intelligent quotient). Indeed, character and interpersonal skills are crucial for effective living and happiness in our daily life. Hence, do become a better person this year. Kick the bad habit of procrastination or impatience!

Now, how do we do that? Seize opportunities if your school offers talks on life skills, leadership or character building. If unavailable, improve your personality the 'manual' way. Ask yourself these questions:

Which areas of my character can/should 1 improve on?Any bad habits to kick?
How can I improve these areas?
Rope in trusted friends and family for suggestions. Request that they guide you and give you feedback on your improvements along the way. It may be tough to correct a stubborn bad habit, but when you finally improve in that area, it'll be worth it.

Finally… rest well, recharge and have a great year ahead! I'm sure we can all do it! =)

~ Stephanie Choo ~
A volunteer with MPFSC, Stephanie also serves with UV Network