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Never lend out your notes.
If you've agreed to share with a classmate who's been absent, Xerox your notes (or scan and text or email them) and it's recommended that you make the copies yourself.
There are plenty of horror stories about students who've lent out their notes, and they were either never returned or given back in shabby condition with missing pages and coffee stains.
Sharing notes with others is a kind and cooperative thing to do, and generates good Karma. Keeping your original notes in your possession at all times is a smart thing to do.
(c) 2011-2016. Robyn King. All Rights Reserved.
Get the names and phone numbers of at least two people in each of your classes.
You can agree to exchange notes and keep your notebooks complete and up-to-date if one of you is absent. An added bonus is you could form a study group with these people; more heads are better than one when it comes to preparing for an exam. Other students can sometimes explain concepts better than the professor.
(c) 2011-2016 Robyn King. All Rights Reserved.
The best places to sit in any classroom is called the "T:" Across the front row, and from the center front row seat to the back of the room. (If you can envision this, it looks like the letter T.)
Why sit there? These seats make it easy to see and hear your professor and everything that's going on. Sitting in the T keeps you focused and less likely to be distracted by other students around you.
You say you NEVER sit in the front row? How's that working for you? (To this point, who wants to sit in the nosebleed section at a concert?)
Why not increase your chances for success? Sitting in the "T" is the place to be.
(c) 2011-2016 Robyn King. All Rights Reserved.
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(c) 2011-16 Robyn King. All Rights Reserved.
1. Write down your goal.
Post it where you will see it every day, and refer to it regularly. The visual reminder will keep you on track.
2. The process of meeting a goal is not linear.
People have the erroneous belief that going from Point A (where you are now) to Point B (where the goal has been reached) will be like driving on a flat highway in the desert: smooth sailing all the way.
Not so. Life has a funny way of throwing us curve balls that throw us off course: loss of job, child care problems, illness, and so on. Sometimes you'll feel like you're driving up a very steep hill, other times it'll feel like free-falling, while some of the time things will feel effortless. There's also the possibility that you may have to pull over and take a break because other things in your life take priority. In this circumstance, you will pick up where you left off once the dust settles in your life.
3. Goals can be modified to meet your personal circumstances, talents, skills and abilities.
Let's say a woman who lives in Nome, Alaska wants to be an actress on Broadway. It's possible, right? However, she's never taken an acting course nor has she been in any theatrical productions, she's a single parent of three kids, scraping by to make ends meet, and has no support from family or friends. What are her chances? Close to zero, I'd guess.
Instead of abandoning this dream, though, she could tweak it by taking some acting lessons part-time at her local community college (using the on-campus child care center), honing her skills in campus plays, eventually becoming a sought-after actress in Nome's community theatre productions. She may not be dazzling audiences on the "Big White Way," but she will be an actress nonetheless. Perhaps when her children are grown and gone, she could still head to New York City and seek her fortune.
4. Abandoning a goal doesn't mean that it was a bad idea.
You've decided to give up the idea of becoming a math teacher when you've had to take Algebra 1 three times. You will no longer pursue a career in nursing because you can't pass A & P I.
You tried your best, but the skills, talents and abilities needed did not line up with your own. Time to modify the goal and tweak it to match with what you're truly good at (see #3).
5. You will reach your goals only when you make the time.
We get 168 hours every week, and we're busy. In fact, we often wonder how we manage to get it all done! If you are truly committed to the goal, however, then you will need to find the time to do what you have to do to get there. There's no shortcut around this.
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Images courtesy of Google Images, unless otherwise noted.
(c)2012 Robyn M. Posson
1. Re-write your lecture notes 30 minutes after class.
2. Re-read your notes 30 minutes before your class.
There have been many research projects that prove these WORK.
Both of these tips will help you to memorize and synthesize the gobs of information that will be thrown at you this semester.
(c) 2011-2016 Robyn King. All Rights Reserved.
STEP 2: Getting ready
Okay. You've assessed that your goal is the right one for you. Now let's make a packing list to fill your suitcase with everything you need to know before you take that first step.
Answer these questions honestly and accurately as they apply to you today.
1. Benefits
What will you gain when you reach the goal? (Examples: New career, more financial stability, higher social status, you'll be a role model for your kids?)
2. Obstacles
What roadblocks or barriers do you think could keep you from reaching the goal? (Examples: Lack of financial resources, unreliable child care, no one close to you supports you, not enough time, the kids need you at home?)
3. Sacrifices
What will you have to give up in your personal and professional lives to pursue the goal? (Examples: Time with family and friends, can't take on additional hours at work, need to quit your job, less time for yourself, money?)
4. Helpers
Who are the people that will support you while you work on the goal? (Examples: Spouse or significant other, family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, professors, advisor, pastor?)
5. Skills Needed
What skills do you need to complete the goal? (Examples: Time management, take a class, get certified or licensed, learn by shadowing an expert, go to a conference?)
6. 3 Primary Steps
What are the three most important steps that you will need to accomplish first? Prioritize them, and commit to completing them by a set date. For each step, break them down into specific tasks you will do in the timeframes you choose.
Schedule these tasks by writing in your planner and on your monthly calendar the steps you will take on the days you stated you will do them. When those primary steps are done, choose the next three, and so on, until you've achieved your goal. Baby steps will help keep you from feeling overwhelmed, and you'll be motivated to keep moving forward.
Now that your suitcase is filled with all of the tools you need to move forward, let's fire up your GPS.
All images courtesy of Google Images, unless otherwise noted.
(c)2012-15 Robyn Posson King
