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How to Thrive in a Night Class

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Campus Life

Night classes can be intimidating. An extended class time, trying to focus, and knowing many of your friends are hanging out or not in class can often be barriers to students thinking about taking a night class. A lot of students, even those who love staying up late, dread having night classes. As someone who has taken five night classes three of them in the same semester, I have learned that night classes also have many benefits and there are ways to enjoy them.  

Night classes can be easier if you remember some of the benefits of taking a night class. Students in night classes typically only have one day that their homework needs to be due by. This makes it simpler to do homework, since you don’t have constant waves of assignments. There is also only one class time, which means that you don’t have it broken up into smaller bits throughout the week. This can allow for deeper discussion of the topics.  

One of the difficult parts of night classes is persevering through the three hours. Take heart! Not every professor wants to be there for three hours straight either. Most professors give their students a break halfway through the class. Often the breaks are ten to fifteen minutes, and I’ve even had a professor give half an hour. Three hours may seem like a long time, but often the time allows you, your classmates, and your professor to deeply engage in the material in a unique way that an hour doesn’t always allow for, so take advantage of this as you can really dig in and understand your class content.

There are also techniques you can employ inside of class to make night classes less of a dread.

  • Be engaged in the material, as with any class. Take notes, ask questions, offer ideas. Participating will make night class go by quicker and you will get more out of it.
  • Bring a drink or a snack that could keep you awake. Nibbling on cheese or sipping tea can help boost your energy when it lags.
  • Stand if you need to! Most professors are very willing to let you do what it takes to stay awake, as long as you aren’t being disruptive. Standing helps the blood to flow through your veins, which makes it easier to stay awake.
  • Take a small activity to do during night class, especially if it’s more discussion-based. I would often bring in knitting to one of my discussion-based night classes and while we would discuss the topic, I would knit. If the activity you bring in isn’t going to distract you or other students from the class or upset your professor, go ahead and bring it. This activity can even be doodling on the margins of your notes.
  • Make sure you’re well-rested and have moved around that day. If you have been properly taking care of your body, then it will be easier to stay functional during the long hours of night class.

Night classes can still be difficult, but these ideas may help you thrive in your night class. Pack up your snacks and your best doodling pen and get ready to be alert! It might seem difficult now, but you’ll make it through.

 

Anna Eshelman '24

Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.

Oct 12, 2023

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