SDL Tips from Gr. 12s
Struggling with SDl? The seniors have your back!
By Fynley Clarete
Mary Ward students hard at work
Photo by Sarah Emery
Most people can agree that Self-Directed Learning isn’t the easiest to keep up with, so our Grade 12s have a couple of tips to make it just a bit easier.
For juniors who are just getting used to SDL, it’s more than common to feel the weight of expectations. A new environment, a new work system - who wouldn’t? Looking at the grade 12s on their way to university, it’s easy to feel intimidated. Though, most seniors will tell you they felt the exact same way. “Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Grade 9-10 isn’t as important as you think” says Alston. While it's important to keep up with good grades, your junior years should be focused on navigating the new environment you’re in, especially if it’s anything like Mary Ward. These years are filled with new experiences, friends, and learning styles. The most important thing to focus on is building a foundation, getting to know yourself, and the way you learn and work.
Different people work better in different environments. Some in more organized and quiet places, while others in more communicative and loud environments. Lianne suggests that you “find a space that you are most comfortable/proactive in.” Finding an area you work best in early on could help you for all four years of high school, whether it be for calming stress, studying for an upcoming test, or catching up on outstanding units. However, it’s important not to spend all your time there. “Don’t work in a department just because it’s comfortable. Get used to working in different departments even if you don’t like the teacher/course” says Jocelyn. Even if you don’t like a course, it’s best to spend some time in its department to talk to teachers and remember to do the work you may or may not be putting off.
When going through your work, it’s easy to give it a glance and decide it’s too much. Too much text, too hard to do. So it gets put off, and slowly trickles down to the pile of forgotten units. “Personally, when faced with a difficult unit or assignment, I believe it’s better to divide up the work and start small,” says Shauri, “complete the parts you understand first, then spend more time on the difficult portions.” Dividing up your work is a large component of tackling your units, and other seniors can agree: “Remember to divide work into feasible chunks over an appropriate amount of time” says Sheryl. Even when you have your work all planned out, it’s more than likely that you’ll run into a problem or two. That’s when your time in different departments and getting comfortable with different teachers kicks in. It is your responsibility to remain resilient in this system!
Consulting with teachers can seem almost like a nightmare at first: they look so intimidating, and your go-to support friend is too busy to come with you! In reality, it isn’t at all like being chased by zombies. “Talk to your teachers right away if you have a problem about work” suggests Jocelyn, “they’ll be more understanding than you think most of the time.” Regular communication with your teachers can help in many different areas. Having conversations with them can give them a better feel of what you may struggle with in future units, and how they can help you. Although teachers can be intimidating, everything you do all comes back to helping you as a student. Besides, in the words of Ms. Albert, “We get bored if you don’t ask us questions!” Who would’ve thought you could get on a teacher's bad side by leaving them alone?
Navigation in a whole new world is hard, and the Grade 12s know that better than anyone else. It’s important to stay on track, but you can’t do that all on your own. The grade 12s may not have it all figured out, but if their advice got them through four years of SDL, they must seem like pretty reliable sources. Just remember not to put too much pressure on yourself. Despite how intimidating Mary Ward can be, there’s no expectation to be perfect.