Freshman Pitfall #5 – Getting Sick

Getting sick in the middle of the semester is not the end of your academic career, but it can make things very difficult and sometimes be the difference between a higher and lower grade.  The semester is so short and goes by so quickly that there is not time to take a week off to get better.  Some things you can do are:

• Stay healthy.  Don’t let yourself get run down.    Eat healthy food.  Get adequate rest.  Exercise. Wash your hands!  Once something starts to go through the dorms it travels quickly. 
• If you do get sick, try to catch it early and head off the worst part.  Missing one class early in an illness is better than missing an entire week of classes.
• The classes I teach are smaller (20 – 25 students) and I take attendance every day, so I notice if someone is missing   I prefer to know why a student is not there.  Just a quick email or a message passed on with a friend is sufficient.  You will have to read your professor to know if you should notify them, especially in a large lecture class, but I would err on the side of contacting the professor.
• Do NOT ask, “Did I miss anything?”   Of course you did!!!  It is insulting to ask because it implies that sometimes there was nothing important going on in class.   If you have to ask, be specific, such as, “Did you announce the next test date?”
• Early on in the semester make friends with a few people in the class (preferably those you think will earn an ‘A’) so that you can get missing notes or assignments from someone.
• While you are recovering do your best to keep up with assignments, reading and studying.

There is always the question about if you should push yourself and attend class.  If you are contagious I would prefer not so see you (and not to get sick myself!).  If it is manageable and you are not disrupting the rest of the class I say you should go!

Again – consciously work to stay healthy!

Next blog will discuss a more difficult subject – what to do when a family member at home gets sick and options to handle this.  Until then, go wash your hands!

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First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.