Finals Are Over- Lessons I Learned In Another Semester Of My Master's Degree

Annie Kroll
Dec 7, 2025
6 min read

A blue backpack with a flap cover and a front pocket, set against a plain white background. The mood is simple and focused on design.

I just had my last in-person class on Tuesday, and have turned in all of my assignments. This week, I want to share the lessons I have learned in my last semester with non-thesis classes.

1: Find a schedule that works for you

This semester, I had seven units, weekly medical appointments, PhD application preparations, research paper preparations, and a conference to prepare for. I had to find a way to balance all of my projects while still putting in the same level of effort into my classes. I wasn't used to scheduling my time each day, but I found it helpful for keeping me on track. Once I come back from winter break, I hopefully will have less school committments, but will still need to use the skills I have learned to independently work on my thesis before graduation.

2: Take advantage of feedback

I had one class that allowed me to turn in work early for feedback. This allowed me to make any changes I needed on assignments to ensure I could get the best possible grade while still having enough time to work on my other tasks. In order to make sure I had enough time to implement the feedback, I would work on assignments early and email the drafts to my professor. I would then schedule to make edits within the week the drafts came back. This system has allowed me to learn while also maintaining an A in the class.

3: Addressing perfectionism can take time

In one of my classes, I missed one point on the final, which left me with an A but not a perfect score. I had to sit with this and decide on the next steps. I could have gone back, spent multiple hours trying to fix my mistakes, and tried to keep a perfect score in the class. Or I could save that time for projects I am passionate about, such as my research and thesis. I chose the second option because I got to keep an A in the class either way and found a way to balance my time while still learning a lot.

4: Independent work is different than class structure

In my classes, I find that when I am given a due date, I have no problem finishing my work earlier than the due date. I am not sure if my motivation comes from anxiety, passion, spite, or a bit of all three, but I find that I am good at setting schedules for myself when classes give structured due dates. However, when I have completely independent work, I find it harder to get started. I have a few theories on why this is happening for me. First, I have been balancing a lot more this semester than in semesters past. Also, independent work feels more daunting and time-consuming than classwork, which is often faster to complete. Lastly, a lot of the work for my independent project is new, which is intimidating to start. To counter this, I have been trying to look at my calendar to find uninterrupted time to work and stick to that schedule when I can.

5: Take breaks

I had started feeling burnout towards the end of the semester, and wanted to finish strong. To balance my commitments and mental health, I have been trying to do more social things throughout the week to take breaks with the community. Staying social this semester has helped my mental health, and has proven to me that I don't need to pick between succeeding academically and maintaining friendships. Finding that balance can take time, but it is an important balance to find, especially during challenging academic times.

I have also had to take breaks due to flare-ups. Instead of pushing through the pain, I used my absence modifications and rested at home when I needed to. Taking care of my health allowed me to come back to class feeling refreshed and focused instead of panicked and in pain. Balancing flare-ups and academic success can be challenging, but health does need to come first, so you are able to show up in other aspects of life. There is only so much that can be done while in pain, and I try to remember that I need to take care of my body because I only have one.

6: Participate in class discussions

I have found that class discussions are a great place for me to share about my advocacy work as it relates to course topics. When other students do the same, we end up having great conversations that create space for multiple perspectives and lived experiences. As a disabled student, I have unique insight into topics relating to student accessibility and disability representation in academic spaces. I try to find ways to bring that lens in my academic spaces to share my passion and add new perspectives as it relates to weekly discussion topics. I encourage students not to be afraid to participate, because that is how we all learn.

7: Practice presentations

I am always happier when I practice for a presentation assignment, no matter how confident I feel about presenting. I try to make my slides in a way that lets me know what I am talking about, in case I forget everything I prepared to say. Most of my classes have given final presentations so we can share our final paper topics with our classmates. While I am comfortable speaking, I do have to manage my anxiety, which has resulted in me forgetting what I am about to say. I have learned to design my PowerPoint slides so they look interesting while also serving as an outline in case I need prompts to get back on track. Ultimately, the most important thing about presentations is to find a system that works for you that is also accessible to the audience.

8: Choose topics you like

As I have continued my master's program, I have started to find that I am passionate about the same topics. Sometimes, I have felt alone because I am the only one in my classes doing a topic in a certain field, or one that focuses on a specific population, such as disability or college students. However, the most important thing is that the things I am learning relate to what I want to do after I graduate from this program. I have been very grateful to find ways to bring my advocacy skills and passion into my program and use them to influence my work. For anyone in school, I encourage you all to find a way to bring the things you enjoy into your classes and projects when you can, because it makes the work more meaningful.

9: Attend networking events

I had the opportunity to speak at some events, which has led me to meet professors and professionals who exposed me to other projects. Sometimes I felt scared, tired, or overwhelmed about attending these networking events because I wasn't sure what people would think of me, my research interests, or the topics of my presentations. However, these opportunities have given me the most experience in my program. I am so glad I took chances on myself, and I really hope I continue to take risks on myself professionally. I can't always share professional updates right away, but I hope to update on the projects I am working on as they progress.

10: Ask questions

I have spent so much time in my life doubting whether I should ask questions in class, how to participate in class, and how to balance my desire to understand the content within the structure of a classroom setting. Ultimately, I have landed on being true to myself and letting others establish their own boundaries as needed. I have never regretted trying to participate, ask a question, or otherwise engage in my learning because it is the only way I know how to learn. I am here to learn, and I am proud of the progress I am making.

Thank you for reading about the lessons I have learned this semester as a disabled master's student. If you have any questions or comments, please comment on the blog, reach out at @Anniekrollblog on Instagram or Facebook, or email me at Anniekrollblog@gmail.com. I hope to see you next week!