Student Voices: Fitria on the importance of schedule, momentum & motivation

This story, shared by Fitria Hardono, a student at Arizona State University, is part of a series of informal interviews (conversations and/or survey responses) with online students in various stages of their academic journey.

Question: Are you currently an online student?
Answer: Yes, all of my classes are fully online (no in-person work).

Q: What are the biggest challenges that you have faced (or are facing) as an online student?
A: To put it simply, time management and self-discipline. This is especially true as an overseas online learner.

Q: What strategies do you use to address these challenges? What has worked for you?
A: It only worked one time (as in, in one semester), but I implemented a somewhat rigid schedule to follow everyday. Exercise, meals, study times, deadlines, everything was scheduled. I doubt it was burn-out that led to its downfall. Instead, it was taking a day off. If my streak breaks, I struggle to start it again. I can’t see it as “continuing”.

Q; Were you an online student prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020)?
A: Yes, I took classes entirely online prior to the pandemic.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to share?
A: I think online classes work best when you have something else on the side, i.e. a job, to keep you motivated.

Thank you, Fitria, for sharing your experiences and strategies!