Friday, February 25, 2011

Things I Wish I'd Known...Paying Attention in Class

It is super duper hard to pay attention in class sometimes. Don't you agree? Especially if you're taking notes on the computer, with Facebook, email and Twitter at your fingertips. Maybe you are just going to check your Facebook for a second and, next thing you know, you've missed three bullet points of the teacher's lecture.

I wish I'd known how important it is to pay attention in class. I'm a writer. That's what I do - write. So lots of times, I am working on a novel or a fanfiction or a short story in class instead of taking notes. Or I'm reading random articles about LOST or Harry Potter instead of paying attention. Main point is: I'm not paying attention. It happens in a lot of my classes (or it did) but one example stands out the most.

Last semester, I took Microeconomics. Not the highlight of my school career, lemme tell you what. It was boring, dull and I didn't really give a rip about firms and markets. So I'd zone out, check Facebook, update my blog or work on my latest novel. I would tune in every now and then and get down the major points but I wasn't hearing what my Professor was saying. When it came time for the test, it showed. No amount of studying could help me because I had no idea what the concepts meant. I could memorize the terms and spit 'em back out at you but I didn't know what they were. So the first test was a major bust.

And yet I still didn't learn my lesson. I continued to goof off and not pay attention and bombed the second test as well. Then, finally, I learned my lesson and started paying attention in class. On the final test, I actually did well.

So now I'm trying to do better. Trying to pay attention in class, not doing the Internet during class...I still slip up sometimes (especially when said class is particularly boring) but I'm doing a lot better.

I only wish I'd known this sooner...

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Things You Should Know...Procrastination

Did you know that later will never come? It's true. I really don't care how many times you say "Oh, I'll do it later," or "Well, I'll do it tonight." Do you want me to let you in on a secret? Get ready. Are you listening?

Tomorrow is never going to come either. Because, as soon as you reach tomorrow, then you're in today and tomorrow is simply another word you can use to put something off. "I'll do my homework tomorrow." Well, sooner or later, tomorrow is going to become today and that homework will be due - but will it be done?

Trust me. I speak from experience. You're looking at probably the biggest procrastinator in the world. There's always something I'd rather be doing. Reading a book (like The Hunger Games), watching TV on my computer or writing one of my books. Or sleeping. So I put off my homework. Then, I'm either doing a very haphazard job at 11 at night because I'm so tired I want to go to bed or I just give up and don't study for that Anthropology test. It's one or the other. Then I stress out all morning because I didn't study and life's so unfair when, you know what? IT WAS ALL MY FAULT IN THE FIRST PLACE!!

Procrastination will get you nothing but a headache from all the stress. It's way easier to just study beforehand, do the homework on the same day it's assigned. Write the paper weeks in advance.

Want an example? Here's my day today: I had two classes. Between those classes, I made 8 cross necklaces for my basketball party tonight - which I should have made when I got them on Saturday. Procrastination One. Then I went straight to work and now I'm getting ready for said party. When I get back to school tonight, I have to do probably about 1 hour's worth of work for Curriculum Development. I have to read a chapter for Classroom Management. And I have to read a chapter for Anthropology. See what I mean about procrastination being bad? Also, I am out of clean professional clothes so I have to do the laundry I've been putting off for 2 weeks. And I'm going to watch a basketball game at 9:30 because I promised a friend.

So take it from me. Don't procrastinate. And now I'm gonna try and take my own advice...until next time!!

Michelle