Chapter 4: Creating Your Study Environment
Linnea Spitzer
– Jean-Bertrand Aristide
Having a safe, supportive environment where you can learn is just as important as the learning itself. It is important to remember that your study environment does not consist of just one thing. Look around you and think about the friends, family members, coworkers, and/or community that have helped you in different times of your life. It is the same with your educational journey. It’s important to develop a network of people around you that you can use as academic, emotional, and social support as you continue down this path.
Some support that you can find is formal, which means that it comes from a program or an office on campus. Other support is informal, and can come from classmates, your professors, or other connections that you establish.
Exercise 4.1: Assessing your support network.
Where do you draw support from? Read through this list and assess your support network. Where is your network strong? Where do you have gaps?
Academic support: Where do you go if you need help with…
- editing a writing project or presentation?
- finding sources or information for a project?
- Understanding difficult assignments or readings?
- studying for a test or high-stakes exams?
- focusing on your academic work?
Career planning and support: Where do you go if you need help with…
- Planning your academic schedule?
- Deciding on a major?
- Finding a job that’s within your professional interests?
- Practicing interviewing or getting your resume polished?
- Finding internships?
Emotional support: Where do you go if you feel…
- lonely?
- stressed?
- like everyone else knows what’s going on except for you?
Who can you add to your network? How do you find them?
Institutional Resources for Support
There are many resources that students can tap into for support. These resources are common at most colleges and universities, and they are always free for students. Look at the list below. Does your college or university have something similar?
- Disability Resource Center (DRC): DRCs work to make college accessible for students with disabilities. They can work with professors to ensure that students have the necessary accommodations so their learning can be supported. If you are unsure about whether you have a disability, DRCs can provide testing for Attention-Deficit Disorder, learning disabilities, mental health diagnoses, or chronic medical conditions.
- Learning Centers: Learning Centers often offer tutoring and study support for students. They can help with specific classes, as well as things like creating a study schedule, studying for exams, and reading effectively. Learning Centers sometimes hire peer tutors, so if you are strong in some subjects, you may want to consider working in a Learning Center to help other students as well!
- Writing Centers: Writing Centers support student writing. They can help with any stage of writing, from understanding an assignment to brainstorming