Peking University, June 10, 2022:Alas, finals season have begun for Pekingers. For those overseas, this means staying ever motivated and driven under limited circumstances. While one might find it challenging at first, no one is alone in their journey! Read on to find out what two seasoned Pekingers overseas do to survive finals while enjoying university life.

Key: Staying detailed and disciplined

1. Can you give your top 3 study tips? Who/what inspired to study this way?

1 I first suggest everyone to arrange their own time and revision plans. I suggest everyone to have a small book with them wherever they go and note down the to-dos of each day on the notebook.

2 Next, settle yourself down into "study mode" and make sure you have sufficient rest. Take in the fact that you are a human, take things slowly and don't self-destruct. Never compare yourself with others, but compare against yourself instead. Always push your boundaries and limits.

3 Lastly, when it comes to revising, I do think that there is a solidifying phase in between learning and the day of the exams…One to two months prior the exam, start arranging your notes, and try to understand and grasp the key points. Half a month before, start memorizing – you can do that via applying what you’ve learnt into practice. You will find that on top of the existing foundation, you would have layered your own understanding and better grasped the knowledge.

And one small tip for you: The biggest mistake is thinking you still have time. Remember to never think you have enough time left to waste and procrastinate, because there's a ton to do before the exam – revise, understand, memorize, take notes, and consolidate. So never wait for tomorrow and begin right now – start hustling for your goals!

2. Where do you like studying when you’re not on campus?

I'm more accustomed to studying at home. This is because I have all my study materials at home – books, my laptop, and resources. Eating and drinking also becomes a lot more convenient. But that said, going outdoors to study – such as a trip to the library, is very beneficial for our progress and it's easier to start studying as well. Not to mention that being in school radiates "competition" vibes that will further spur you on to study.

3. How is your revision coming along?

I think my revision for this term is much better than in the previous term. I will always try to wake up at 6am every morning and spend the first two hours understanding and memorizing what the teacher has said and the notes I've gotten from my seniors. The next one hour will be spent on recording the key points into my phone then spend the remaining hours of the day listening to the recordings to revise. This mode of revision is something I'm experimenting on and have only started this semester. I look forward to the results in these upcoming finals.

4. Any complications?

When I first started revising, everything was fine – no disturbances, free time to allocate etc. This great condition wanes quickly and you will find that tiredness starts to grow on you. In the last few phases of revision, you will start to doubt yourself and think your revision progress is really slow.

If you're encountering this, I would suggest pausing to take a stroll outside or listen to your favorite music, or even take a nap. What you've got to do now is to settle those emotions, de-stress and compose yourself. Once you are settled, you will then have the mood to study. It will be much more efficient. This period is uneasy for everyone. In face of these difficulties, it is most vital to learn how to interact with yourself harmoniously and learn to relax.

5. Any unexpected gains or rewards?

I learnt to cherish time, my family, and my friends. The pandemic also let me understand myself better. In this period, I permit myself to laze, to be annoyed, to do as I wish and to take it slow. I learn to accept my own pace of growth. Understanding myself better is my greatest takeaway in this time.

6. Any advice for freshmen/juniors?

Never be afraid to grind and don't ever feel that you're lonely. Rather, believe that there are a lot of things worth anticipating in this world; believe that you will shine; believe you are forsaking your "happiness" for the grand plan beyond – your future. The happiness you currently forsake will return in another way and will return a hundred times better. We must always trust that beautiful things will happen in time and the only thing to do now is to persist till then!

Key: Developing a confident, healthy mindset

1. Can you give your top 3 study tips? Who/what inspired to study this way?

1 Get it done today – don't trust future you

2 Give yourself some buffer time to rest

3 Divide work up into smaller steps so it's easier for you to handle

(I've gotten my study method) honestly from experience! I believe that we all know ourselves best. I know that I snooze my alarms, so I can't trust myself to wake up earlier to complete work I should've done the day before; I know burnout is a pain, so I take steps to prevent it; I know I feel like running away when I see a huge piece of work.

2. Where do you like studying when you’re not on campus?

As someone who's been doing online lessons for close to a year now, I like studying at Singapore National Library (Lee Kong Chian Reference Library). The space forces me to do work and has beautiful full-length windows.

3. How is your revision coming along?

Not so great but I'm surviving, I'll get it down (or at least give it my best shot haha).

4. Any complications?

The transition to online classes for everyone were a complication – I'd previously planned my schedule around my lecture recordings, so I needed to completely relook at my timings and replan.

5. Any unexpected gains or rewards?

Finally, being able to see my teachers after close to a year in university! Lecture recordings often made me feel like an imposter – like I wasn't truly in university.

6. Any advice for freshmen/juniors?

Let yourself live with mistakes and not getting it all right. We often say PKU is very 卷 (i.e. Almost overly competitive). Live with the fact that people are going to do better than you and there are smarter people out there. For me, that looks like avoiding other people's marks. I normally don't ask about my friend's grades and I avoid 树洞's (PKU's anonymous discussion forum) 统分洞 (where marks are compiled unofficially).

Writted by:Vissly Chan, Larry Ng

Edited by:Li Wanqi, Chan Ziqing

Photo credited to:Shernazarova Ruxsora, Glenda Ho

Designed by:Lean Zhi Xuan