The Peer Academic Leader (PAL) Program and UMKC Fraternity and Sorority Affairs (FSA) held their first joint academic success workshop on Wednesday afternoon in the Student Union.

Workshop leaders titled the event “Your GPA Sucks But You Don’t,” which focused on giving study tips and suggestions for prioritizing tasks while also reminding students that GPA does not equate to self-worth.

“You are so much more than what your grades are and your GPA,” said Riley Jamieson, one of the workshop leaders and the president of the Collegiate Panhellenic Council. “One exam, one class, one semester does not define you in any way.”

While Jamieson and her crew geared the workshop towards students who participated in Greek life, anyone was welcome to attend.

“This is the first time we have had a workshop of this kind based off some conversations about what would best benefit the Greek community,” said Susi Krulewich, director of the PAL Program.

Also a member of the Delta Zeta sorority, Jamieson said that past issues with academics in the organization is why the workshop was important to her.

“Our overall sorority GPA dropped from last semester,” Jamieson said. “We want to prioritize [academics] in our community because that is something we really stand for.”

The leaders of last week’s workshop also discussed how to make the most out of a study session, how to determine the priority of tasks and tips on time management.

Calvin Flemons, a first-year pharmacy student and a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, also attended the workshop.

“I learned that I should write out everything,” Flemons said. “I can do a brain dump so that I don’t have to keep everything up there. And I learned study tips and time management tips that I can apply to the chapter and myself.”

Workshop leaders also provided handouts about self-care practices and continuously reminded students that their GPA does not define them.

“Once I got to college I realized it was tough,” Jamieson said. “When I failed my first exam I thought the world was ending when it actually wasn’t.”

The PAL Program and Fraternity and Sorority Affairs plan to continue their partnership and host more academic workshops throughout the semester.

For more information on upcoming workshops and events, visit the PAL Program and the Panhellenic Council’s Instagrams @umkcpalprogram and @umkcpanhellenic.

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