I should mention that I will resume discussions on the impact of teen pregnancies on academic in a fortnight. Let me take this time to appreciate those who have been commenting on what has been discussed so far- I value your contributions.
Since schools are on break, I have decided to share some of the hints on how to spend holidays of which I have drafted some from the previous article about how to spend holidays.
It has been almost two weeks since pupils closed schools. If you are a pupil this is the time to reflect on the just ended term with a focus on your academic performance, sports participation, and relationship with the school administration, classmates, teachers and school at large. It is also the time to evaluate the goals and resolutions you had set for term one and how far you are from achieving them.
Holidays are there as moments of refreshments. No one can dispute the importance of rest, in fact it gives an individual time to rejuvenate.
Moreover even God commanded the children of Israel to observe one day of rest-which is Sabbath. This shows why rest is important in one’s life. It is something God has seen to be important. However, being on holiday does not mean you go on Sabbath with your books. It is time to reflect and regain your strength.
Sometimes you can also use it to come up with strategies in reference to your academic life.
Holidays are always interesting in the academic life of a pupil. More especially, the term two one because if you are in an examination class you almost have a single term to go- term two before the final examinations.
Besides, the next term is the time you have to sit for mock examinations.
Mock examinations should be taken seriously because they will give you an idea on how you perform in the final examinations.
Spare some time for your academic life.
When you are on holiday or vacation is not an opportunity to put aside your academic work.
Of course I normally tell pupils especially those from boarding schools when they close school to take the first three days off books, during these three days they should just relax and think about the just ended term. However, holiday time is an opportunity to catch up where you are academically behind. This is the time to revise what you have covered during the term and previous ones. Moreover exam questions are drafted from a wide range of topics, if you are going to sit for grade 12 exams they will not only ask you questions from the grade 12 but from other grades as well.
If you cannot study at home, look for a school nearby where you can study from. I remember one term when I spent my holiday in Kitwe, I decided to be studying from Wusakile secondary school where I met new friends who later became study partners.
We exchanged some data, at the same time we began to have group discussions.
I learnt a lot from them, I believe they learnt something from me as well.
After sometime, we met at UNZA as ‘freshers’, we all appreciated the time we studied together and the academic material we had exchanged.
Time for friends.
It is important to spare time with your friends during the holiday.
However, I shared sometime back on the importance of friends in one’s academic life.
I recommend that if you are pupil you should spend more time with your class mates or church mates whom I believe will have good influence in your life.
They say show me your friends, I will show you your destiny and where you are going.
Moreover, the Bible says bad company corrupts good morals.
Hence hang around friends who will have a positive influence on your academic life, individuals who will challenge you to do better in your academics.
Time for church and God.
I always say the church is the best institution that can raise you into a responsible youth.
The church has the potential to mentor and mold you into a responsible youth.
Find time to be at church, attend youth meetings.
During my teen days there were so many things I leant from youth church meetings which even at home I wasn’t taught or warned against.
I remember during my grade 11 we had a workshop at church on how a young person can lead a pure life.
I learnt a lot of things, made strong resolutions such as the type of friends I was going to have, type of music I will be listening to and made up my mind to shun pre-marital sex. Whenever, we closed school it was time to renew my spiritual life.
Beware of social media and its effects.
Most people have argued that social media has done more harm than good to the young people.
There are few young people especially pupils who have used it for productive things such as on their academics, most of them have used it to cyber bully their classmates, gossip about their teachers and share information on celebrities.
I have made a personal observation and interviewed a good number of young people including some of my pupils on the effects of social media especially where time management is concerned, most of them have agreed that it is a time waster.
I remember, one of my former pupils sharing with a class on how she deleted her Facebook account because it was wasting her time.
Minimise the time you spend on social media and use it for other productive things such as studying.
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