Ever wonder if it’s too late? Too late to make a change? To start something new? To save something old? To pass that class you’re taking?

Depends on who you ask.

Selena made it clear to Justin that it was definitely “too late now to say sorry” because she’d “heard it all before, at least a million times.”

Swifties aren’t too sure if it is or isn’t too late because Taylor tells Dorothea that “It’s never too late / To come back to my side,” but then she sings to an ex that “it’s just too late.” It could’ve been easy, earlier, if they’d, well, you know…all they had to do was stay.

C.S. Lewis, best-selling author of The Chronicles of Narnia, once said, “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” And Coach Ted Lasso wants us to believe that it’s never too late to do the right thing, famously telling AFC Richmond, “Doin’ the right thing is never the wrong thing.”

What’s the right thing? Depends on who you ask.

When it comes to college, passing your classes and getting that degree is the right thing. (Without cheating, of course.) And it’s never too late to get help.

Calendar Check! Mid-term Progress Reports!

It’s about time for mid-term progress reports. This is your chance to reflect on your academic performance so far, and to either keep doing what you’re doing—or to make some changes. If you’re struggling in a class, get help now.

Pro Tip: Ask your teacher for help. Seriously. Helping students learn the material or providing access to instructional supports is part of their paycheck. Schedule an appointment or stop by during office hours. It can be intimidating, especially for first-year students, to sit in a small office one-on-one with a professor, so give your mind a task to focus on. Like this one: Arrive ready with 3 specific questions about a specific topic or assignment.

For example, if you’re struggling to write a paper, have a thesis statement prepared and talk about that. After all, a thesis is the road map your paper follows, so if you can get the thesis clearly written to address the rubric requirements and set you up with lots to write about the topic/main points, the rest of the essay will be easier to write.

Most teachers are eager to help motivated students, even if it’s only to help you access campus resources like tutoring services. The key, and we do mean key, is to ask your teacher for help before the due date. Giving yourself enough time to get the help you need and still get the work done usually goes a long way with instructors. (It makes you feel less stressed too!)

Speaking of giving yourself enough time to get help, don’t wait until you’re overwhelmed to reach out. Sure, you can still get academic and mental/emotional help after failing a course, but the best time to seek support is while there’s still a path to passing.

It’s true what they say: C’s get degrees, y’all! But if you have a 15% in a class, and the math ain’t mathing that you could even possibly be passing, talk to your teacher right away.

 

Santa Fe Has the Resources Students Need to Succeed

Additionally, talk to your advisor about available options and deadlines, such as withdrawing from a course without penalty. The “W” goes on your transcript, but the reason why you withdrew from the class does not.

Also, with a “W,” there’s no hit to your overall GPA. If it’s a course you need for your degree, can you take it another time, when you’re more likely to pass it? If so, that’s the grade that will ultimately contribute to your college GPA when applying to future programs or jobs.

Remember, SF Learning Commons has resources to help you prepare for exams, papers, and projects. Support is available, free of charge for SF students.

Getting Help Beyond the Classroom

Maybe what you’re feeling right now has nothing to do with academics. Or, maybe you are passing your classes just fine but you’re still stressed out about school all the time. The same advice applies—don’t wait until you’re overwhelmed to get help.

Some people are fiercely independent, making it difficult for them to ask for help even when they desperately need it. Others are influenced by peer pressure or too embarrassed to admit they need help. And some folks simply don’t want to feel like they’re a burden on someone else.

The truth is: We ALL need mental health as much as we need physical health. So let’s end the stigma, together. 💚

As SF college students, we see our academic advisor for advice on classes. We visit the Learning Commons for tutoring services or to talk to a success coach. And we call Financial Aid about money matters.

How about using SF’s Counseling and Wellness Center the same way we’d use any other student resource? They provide free solution-focused counseling and crisis intervention to SF students. Virtual or in-person appointments assist students with a wide range of personal, academic, or career issues.

We don’t have to wait until we’re in a crisis. We can strengthen our mental health like going to the gym to get fit—and boost every area of our life.

If you’re already too overwhelmed to know where to start or what to do, please talk to a professional at the campus Counseling and Wellness Center—sessions are free and confidential. We’re here to help.