Grad Orientation Week:

Creating a Plan for a Successful Year

Taryn McPherson

May 9, 2023

May 12. 2022 / Grad Orientation Week

Creating a Plan …

Tips for Success:

• Get to Know Yourself
• Identify Your Goals
• Create Balance
• Check Your Productivity Meter
• Be Willing to Adapt
• Ask for Help
• Show Yourself Grace
• Celebrate Your Wins
• Plan Ahead

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Know Yourself

• How do you learn best?
• Your strengths and weaknesses
• Highest productivity - am, pm
• Attention span
• Your distractions ** Work station **
• Goals and priorities
• Commitments outside of school
• How much time do you have to devote to school each day or week?

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May 9, 2023 / Grad Orientation Week

Identify Your Goals

• Start with BIG and branch down to small/short-term goals
• Absolutely essential → All linked!
• The weekly schedule should focus on reaching short-term goals, which get you closer to mid-term goals, which get you closer to BIG goals
• Priorities link to Goals
• Reach out for help to create SMART goals
• Be prepared for hard work!

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May 9, 2023/ Grad Orientation Week

May 9, 2023/ Grad Orientation Week

May 9, 2023/ Grad Orientation Week

May 9, 2023/ Grad Orientation Week

May 9, 2023/ Grad Orientation Week

Create Balance

• What other commitments do you have?
• Life is more than just school!
• Self-care is SO important (healthy eating, activity, sleep, friends & family)
• Find opportunities to refuel
• Don’t feel guilty for taking ME time!
• Healthy You = More Productive You!

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May 9, 2023/ Grad Orientation Week

Check Your Productivity Meter

• Productivity will go up and down
• Goal: Max productivity for min time input
• In the Red: Can you pinpoint why ….?
• Are you in a good routine?
• Did you divert from your schedule/plan?
• Are you still working towards your goals?
• Did you break down your work?
• Did you get stuck?
• When is the last time you took a break?

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May 9, 2023/ Grad Orientation Week

Be Willing to Adapt

• Life often isn’t a straight path …. Twists, turns
• You may need short-term or long-term adaptations
• Try new things when something is no longer/ isn’t working
• Revamp your plan as many times as it takes until you get one that works
• Try varying block lengths, location of course slots in the schedule, number and length of breaks

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May 9, 2023/ Grad Orientation Week

Ask for Help

• Stuck = wasted time
• Stuck = negative self-talk and thoughts
• Don’t stay stuck … reach out!
• You were never meant to go at it alone!
• You have a team to support you - family, teachers, peers, grad advisors, the Student Support Centre
• Recommendation: Establish connections early on so that you have others to work through problems with

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May 9, 2023/ Grad Orientation Week

Show Yourself Grace

• Life throws us curveballs
• There are times when we fall short
• Don’t get stuck on goals not met
• Be kind to yourself … replace negative self thoughts and talk with positive ones
• Look forward, not back to create a new plan ….
• Tomorrow is a new day!

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May 9, 2023/ Grad Orientation Week

Celebrate Your Wins

• Keep track of your progress
• Cross things off a To-Do List
• Visual displays
• It doesn’t matter how big or small → Celebrate!
• Share your Wins with others!
• Create incentives & reward yourself for your hard work

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May 9, 2023/ Grad Orientation Week

Plan Ahead for 2023-2024:

• Get the ball rolling now!
• Self-discovery = Success
• Preview Courses = No Sudden Surprises
• Connect with and get to know HCOS staff
• End of June or Early September → Reach out to the Student Support Centre for executive functioning support (goal-setting, scheduling, planning) + course selection and activation

https://grad.onlineschool.ca/resources/student-support-centre

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Questions? taryn.mcpherson@ea.onlineschool.ca

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Grad Orientation Week:

Creating a Plan for a Successful Year

May 9, 2023

Thanks for attending! s