Tag Archives: tips and tricks

Starting the Semester Off Right

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A new semester always feels like a fresh start, and this one is no exception. With new classes, new schedules, and new goals, I’ve found that how you begin the semester can really set the tone for the weeks ahead. Over time, I’ve picked up a few habits, tips, and tricks that help me stay organized, motivated, and less overwhelmed from the very start.

In this post, I’ll be sharing what I do to start the semester off on the right foot and hopefully help make the transition back into school a little smoother. 🙂

1. Clean Your Work and Living Space

After the holidays, your house, dorm, kitchen, office, and overall environment can easily become a little unorganized and chaotic. Between decorations, travel, and time off, things tend to pile up without us even realizing it. That’s why it’s so important to take time before classes begin to reset your space and set yourself up for success. I like to start by going through my desk and getting rid of old papers I no longer need, then reorganizing everything so it’s easier to find important materials when I actually need them. I always end up throwing away papers that are over a year old and taking time to clean out and reorganize my craft supplies as well.  

Having a clean and organized living space—whether it’s an apartment, house, or dorm—can make a huge difference in how smoothly your academic life runs. When your space is cluttered, your mind can feel cluttered too. Instead of focusing on schoolwork, you may find yourself distracted by thoughts like, “I really need to clean this up,” or “I’ll do my homework later once my desk is cleared off.” More often than not, that leads to procrastination and doom-scrolling longer than intended. By keeping your space clean and organized, you remove those mental distractions and make it easier to sit down, focus, and actually get things done. 

Now I still have Christmas decorations to put up but I’m taking care of that today before classes get going. 

2. Laundry …. I know this may sound silly but trust me

Another simple but lifesaving way to start the semester off right is getting all of your laundry done before classes begin. And I mean all of it—the clothes from winter break, the “I’ll wash this later” pile, and whatever else mysteriously ended up in your hamper. Starting the first week of classes without clean clothes is a struggle no one wants, especially if you live in a dorm and have to share washers and dryers with everyone else who also suddenly remembers they need clean laundry at the same time. Trust me I’ve been there and done that.

Getting laundry out of the way ahead of time saves so much time and stress during that first busy week. You’re not scrambling to find an open washer at midnight or realizing all your favorite outfits are dirty the morning of an early class. Plus, having clean clothes ready to go is one less thing on your to-do list, which makes the transition back into school feel way more manageable—and honestly, a lot less chaotic.

3. Walk Your Class Schedule

One of the most underrated ways to prepare for a new semester is to walk your schedule before the first day of classes. Taking a little time to find where all your classrooms are can save you so much stress later on. There’s nothing worse than rushing across campus, frantically checking your phone, and still ending up late because the building or room number didn’t make sense. If you have classes in the College of Engineering you know what I mean.

Walking your schedule ahead of time helps you get familiar with your routes, figure out how long it actually takes to get from one class to the next, and avoid that first-day panic. You can also locate important things along the way—like bathrooms, elevators, or which stairs are the quickest. Starting the semester already knowing where you’re going makes the first week feel like a breeze.

These are just a few of my top tricks for starting the semester off on the right foot—from organizing your space and getting laundry done to walking your schedule and setting yourself up for success. Taking a little time to prepare now can make the first week (and beyond) feel so much smoother.

I hope everyone has an amazing Spring 2026 semester filled with productivity, growth, and maybe even a little fun along the way!

Bests,

Grace Hamilton 🙂

Unlocking Scholarships: Tips, Tricks, and Hidden Gems

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Hello everyone! Since summer is here and we all have a bit more time to breathe and relax we can focus on funding our future. Embry-Riddle is an amazing school that’s worth every penny plus some. However, it is really expensive, and that’s coming from a Florida resident. The only way that I have been able to attend Embry-Riddle for the past 3 years is all thanks to scholarships. I am so grateful for every single one of them and all the donors who are making my aviation safety dreams come true.

Now many people will tell you, “You’re going to have a bunch of student debt when you graduate” and “college is too expensive.” You know what my response to that is? I will always respond, “College funding can be a breeze if you prepare before hand and continue to pursue opportunities.”

Here’s my guide for how to graduate college debt free like me and so many others. I will warn you its not going to be handed to you. You will have to work and put effort in. Just remember that that effort will pay off big time and allow you to have a little less stress through your college years.

For my Florida resdidents look into the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship. There are two different breakdowns depending upon your GPA, volunteer hours, and SAT/ACT scores. Since Embry-Riddle is a private university you will only recieve a percentage of this money but trust me when I say every little bit helps out. Alongside this there is the Florida EASE scholarship. You should be automatically put into this one depending upon residence and scores but all specific details can be found on the website.

Now for all the Riddle eagles out there please, and I cannot stress this enough, apply for the Donor Scholarship from the school when you see the email pop-up in your inbox. It takes less than an hour to fill out and gives you the opportunity to be considered for so many different donor scholarships. I have recieved a few each semester from this application and it has saved me time and time again. You only have to answer a few questions and write a personalized essay about how scholarships would help you and who you are.

Another great funding opportunity out there is FASFA. This is a government scholarship that has no interest and doesn’t require any payback. The application for this can be a little tricky and confusing but the program was recently updated allowing the process to go much smoother and quicker.

At Embry-Riddle having good grades helps a lot in the process of obtaining scholarships. The school offers a Presidential Scholarship to students with high GPA’s and performance. This is a great opportunity to obtain an easy scholarship and motivation to do well in your courses. For all the ladies out there Embry-Riddle offers a Women of Excellence Award under similar circumstances. Most recieve this every year without any extra work needed. So while some people say grades aren’t important they most defiently are! Having good grades and a decent GPA gives you a higher chance of recieving higher scholarships amount and more awards.

Overview of all scholarships mentioned:

  • Florida Bright Futures
  • Florida EASE
  • Embry-Riddle Donor Scholarship
  • FAFSA
  • Presidential Scholarship
  • Women of Excellence Award

I hope that this helps inspire some of you all to take the time and opportunity to apply for as many scholarships as you can. Scholarships have helped me pursue my educaticational goals and future career without all the financial stress and student debt. They can help you too! Please reach out to your financial advisor for any specific questions regarding your specific path.