Things I Wish I'd Known...Homework

You know what that old Chinese proverb is, that really smart one that makes you go "hmmm..." and tap your finger on your chin? Yeah, that one. Well, that's kind of like the reaction you are going to have at the end of this blog post. I am going to make you think, college students. No more Ms Funny, Ms Nice Girl. Nuh-uh. Time to put that brain to work. If mine is being used (and it is - I'm learning about media in the politics) then yours should be used to.

Today's topic is homework. I'm almost at Fall Break and, oh boy, I was gunning for Friday, when I could peace out and slide into my break. And then I made a mistake. The fatal, life-altering mistake that forever skewed my outlook on Fall Break and basically life in general. I looked at my planner.

And fainted.

Almost.

Actually, I think my heart skipped a few beats and maybe failed for a split second. Where did all this homework come from? Yes, people who believe the "H-word" is no longer part of your vocabulary after K-12 school is over. Homework exists in college. You better get used to it.

Professors in college don't always remind you when something is due. Some will. If you've got a paper due on Monday, some of the nicer professors will remind you the Friday before. Some won't. They'll expect you to refer to the syllabus to remember when things are due.

I had this happen to me already this semester. I forgot some articles were due, my professor didn't remind us (perfectly within his rights) and thus, I didn't turn it in. Had I checked my syllabus (or my planner), I'd have known it was due and I'd have turned it in.

So here's some good advice to remember when it comes to homework:

• Don't delude yourself. Homework is just as big (perhaps bigger) a part of your life in college as it was in high school
• Do your homework within the week that it is assigned. This applies mainly to reading assignments, math problems or homework like that, not long-range homework such as papers.
• Never wait until the night before. Something's always gonna come up
• KEEP YOUR SYLLABUSES. These will become your lifeline.
• Take it upon yourself to note when things are due - don't rely on your professors to baby you. They're not your mommy or daddy.

So put on your big-boy pants and get a start on that homework your professor assigned you this morning. Yes, I know you want to eat ice cream and lie on the bed and watch Pretty Little Liars but trust me - get your homework done first.

I know I've gotta get mine done before I can watch Terra Nova tonight...so now to take my own advice!!! Peace out!

Things I Wish I'd Known...Senioritis

I'm a senior now. Put on the bells and get out the party favors! Graduation is in sight! Woot-woot! Of course, I'm a semester behind so I actually have a year and a half to go but I still call myself a senior - 'cause that's what I am. I'm a senior, I'm a senior, I'm a senior and I can so totally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Either it's the end of my college career or it's a train but it sure is coming fast.

That being said, today's blog post is on senioritis. It is an actual disease that you can have. Let me fill you in on the symptoms.

1. You don't want to do any work
2. Your desire to skip class is overwhelming
3. Homework can always wait until later
4. Studying is never something that is in the forefront of your mind.
5. Procrastination becomes second-nature.

I have senioritis. I'm doing papers the night before they're due, putting off research as long as I possibly can and skimping on assignments - doing the bare minimum to get by. This is not good. Case in point: I have 2 midterms next week and a book review due and 4 lesson plans and I haven't gotten any of it done except for the lesson plans.

I'm skipping class and chapel for no good reason other than I'm tired. I think I have had senioritis for a while but I've gotta get a handle on it or I'm gonna be spending all of Fall Break and Thanksgiving Break doing work (which I will probably be doing anyway, come to think of it.)

So here is some practical advice for conquering senioritis. Follow these simple steps and maybe you can avoid the plague.

• Plan out what is due and when - then plan to have everything done at least three days prior to the due date.
• Allow at least thirty minutes each day the week before a major test to study
• Go to class - even though you might be tired, skipping class is a mega-bad idea.
• Book reviews? Read the book at least a week before it's due so that you have time to write the review.
• Keep your eye on the prize - graduation!!

So now I think I'll take my own advice and get back to my work. Take my advice as well, as something I wish I'd known.

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

Things I Wish I'd Known...

Today, I start a new blog series. It's called "Things I Wish I'd Known." I hope one day to turn it into a magazine column or something but for now, I'll keep it on the blog. Each post will relate to something I've learned in my college years, things I wish I'd known...So enjoy!

Things I Wish I'd Known...

Freshman 15

I've been in college for two and a half years as I enter my Spring semester of my Junior year. And there is one thing that sticks out in my mind as something I wish I'd known. Going into college, I heard horror stories about the freshman 15. Everyone I knew told me stories about people who gained gazillions of pounds their freshman year. Girls who ballooned out in just the first few weeks. Went from a size 8 to a size 12 in days.

I blew it off. Freshman 15, yeah right. That's just an old wives's tale, meant to scare incoming freshman into eating their fruits and veggies, even once Mom isn't around to force-feed them. It's supposed to scare you into exercising or doing gross sit-ups. That is all. Freshman 15 is a myth, that's what I resolutely told myself.

Boy, was I wrong. About a lot. The freshman 15 exists. It is SO easy once you hit college to leave the fruits, veggies and water at home. Trust me. School food is not always the best eatin' and it's super convenient to just avoid the "meat and three" line and go straight for the pizza and burgers. Ice cream is served at every meal, along with chocolate syrup and sprinkles - my personal weakness. And, thank you college, for putting nutritional facts at every food line, so I can ignore exactly how many calories I'm consuming. No matter how much I told myself I'd eat green beans tomorrow, tomorrow never came. Pizza and hamburgers, waffles and pancakes pretty much rounded out every single meal.

That's not the only issue either. When I lived at home, my parents were very ant-food-in-your-room. They were big on not snacking between meals. (Boy, I wish I'd have listened to them then and learned a valuable life lesson.) Not so at college. At college, they have conveniently placed drawers that are perfect to store food. And the store is always just a car ride away. Goldfish, Oreos, peanut butter crackers, fruit loops, all are food items that are exceptionally good for snacking. And for gaining weight.

So, using the pizza & hamburger, snack in the dorm room method, the Freshman 15 can be a very real terror. I know it was for me. And (let me let you in on a secret), it doesn't stop at Freshman. Pretty soon, the Freshman 15 becomes the Sophomore 25 which then turns into the Junior 30. I don't know what the Senior Blank is but I know I don't want to find out.

In order to help others avoid the trap I've fallen into, below are some simple guidelines that can help you avoid looking like a blimp. Trust me - takes one to know one! And don't worry - you can do it! I'm doing it right along with you.

• Eat healthy. Sounds hard. It is. Avoid the hamburger and pizza line as much as you can. Even a turkey sandwich is better than a grease-filled burger. Go for a salad sometimes. And nix the ice cream habit. A small bowl once a week is okay but not ideal.
• Don't go cold turkey. Start small. Eat one healthy meal a day. A bowl of ice cream a week. Eventually, you can become all healthy but as they say "Rome wasn't built in a day." Neither is a completely new diet.
• If you're a soft drink junkie, like I am, try not to be. Go for a month without soft drinks, then reward yourself with ONE soft drink. Or just go two months. But make it your mission to drink more water - this really helps.
• Try exercising. Everyone exercises differently. Some enjoy Pilates with a DVD, others running. Find what works for you. Then do it. Consistently.
• Get a friend to work on this with you. Doing it alone is no fun.

Trust me, this isn't easy. To get off soft drinks, I had to pledge to pay my friend $5 every time I drank a soft drink. Even just a sip. It worked 'cause I don't have the spare money. Just get in the habit. It takes 21 days to form a habit. Can you do it?

Yea. You can. So come on and learn something I wish I'd have known...