To all my wonderful college students this one is for you:
Congratulation on taking control of your future. First I'll start by telling you guys about what subject I found difficult and all the things I did wrong that prevented me from rectifying my problem.
Math was my weakness subject in college, no matter how much I payed attention in class I was just not getting it. Just when I thought I understood a formula, as soon as I would get home and attempted to go over the exact math problem I learned in class, I drew a blank. It was unbelievable, I was just not getting it and it made it difficult for me to study. I tried college tutors, and once again I felt pretty confident with the tutor being there and teaching me the formula but once I got home I drew a blank again.
The first thing that I was doing wrong was not believing in myself, I would tell any and everyone who would listen including myself that I was terrible at math. I was not attending class like I should. I was not being vocal in class about not understanding a particular problem in fear of appearing stupid. I waited for the last minute prior to exams to ask for help resulting in me craming. And since I did not understand the math problems I was not able to study at home. Oh did I forget to mention that I still wanted to have a social life, what was I thinking? I finally had enough and I paid this tutor for one session; he told me to look at the math like it was a game; like a puzzle. That alone believe or not turned the light bulb on and clicked for me and I've been good in math ever since. That leads me to tell you that we all learn differently, pay attention to what works for you and apply it. Regardless of the subject(s) if you do these things that I'm about to list you will succeed in college. So here are the key points to succeeding in college.
- Believe in yourself, tell yourself that you are going to succeed and do it. There's no room for failure
- Find your way of learning, try not to follow everyone's learning pattern it might not work for you ( some are visual learners, some have to take notes, some have to just listen and pay attention, some have to physically reenact a situation etc.)
- Attend every lecture regardless of the subject, take good notes pay attention
- Ask questions when unsure of a particular topic or a formula
- For every one hour spent in class per subject study that particular subject for two hours at home
- Make sure you understand everything that you read, DO NOT MEMORIZE!!! read and understand what you read (there is no way in Gods green earth that you are going to be able to memorize a thick textbook while studying for other subjects, please do not waist your time and brain power)
- DO NOT CRAM!!!
- Get a good nights rest
- Eat a good healthy breakfast in the morning
- Breathe, Relax, your amazing You'll be fine God bless