I don’t understand why i don’t have the motivation to sit my ass down and study for the looming midterms i have this week. How do kids actually sit down and study? What the hell is wrong with me?
Instead of studying for my tests im getting drunk and bitching about why i can’t study. The book is right in front of me yet i just can’t get myself to look at it for more then 5 minutes.
My family is depending on me to do well in school and im fucking everything up because im a useless piece of shit who doesn’t appreciate anything or anybody.
—Malkin>Crosby
This article appears in Feb 26 – Mar 4, 2009.
You got to University some fucking how, go see a guidence cousellor or something. I agree with your poster’s name but it should be
—Ovechkin>Crosby
Dude. you probably can’t study because you’re putting too much pressure on yourself to study.
And honestly? 90% of your fucking classmates are cramming the day before. While studying a week in advance is a good idea, it’s not the end of the world if you don’t. What I do is type my notes up (or bring my macbook and type them in the lecture), highlight the important parts and write basic notes in a different colored pen in the margins. Then I go over the notes three-four times and I usually have it down. I read a study somewhere once that you only need to go over something three times to remember it/learn it. And if your text book has chapter summaries/glossary/website with study info then you’re set. Screw reading the entire chapter. As long as you have good lecture notes and a chapter summary you’re golden.
Don’t be so hard on yourself. Shit, I went to Acadia and spent 80% of my time fucking around on ICQ (I’m so old)/MSN/socializing IRL and still managed to graduate with decent marks (decent enough to get me into grad school!). Hell if facebook had’ve existed the 20% school time would’ve gone down to 10% I’m sure. Most of my friends in rez were pretty much the same. I honestly don’t know how people get ANY work done when they live in rez.
BUT going to student services is always a good idea if you’re unhappy with your level of motivation. Their study skills counsellors can help with motivation and procrastination…but like I said 90% of uni students procrastinate. They’re dirty fucking liars if they deny it. They’re usually the first ones to deny it at 4am while finishing that 10 page paper they started at midnight that’s due at 10.
You are not meant to be a scholar. Finish school and find your real passion.
What were you doing in high-school? and I’m certain you’re in first year university… possibly second,but I doubt it.
high-school was meant for you to learn how to teach yourself. First year university is for incorporating that into your new independence. If you aren’t sure how you learn easiest than you are likely a little behind the curve… though you say you’re studying earlier than the night before so that’s a good first step. The subject matter early on is also usually broad and you aren’t getting into the good stuff yet because you need the basics. Once the fundamentals are there, you’re going to WANT to go to class and study up because 3rd and 4th year courses are more specialized and interesting (at least in my experience).
also, are the midterms worth much? 10% or 50%?
really, if it’s 10% than the difference between a C and an A on this thing is really only around 3 points in the long run…so don’t beat yourself up too much.
Lastly, stressful times are like clockwork.
midterm times and final times are always more tense on the campus and whether people admit it or not, they’re nervous too.
Get through the first year, then number two and then the sunshine’s coming your way.
I’m willing to bet the OP is fairly new to a secondary education. Even the sharpest of students tend to burn out half way through a second term.
OP, find out how you learn best/easiest. Are you a kinetic learner? Then you must do what Kitty said and make a study sheet. Only by writing it down will you retain it. Are you an auditory learner? You must say it out loud to retain it. Are you a visual learner? Fit the concepts into some kind of chart nice to look at, you’ll recall the placement of the information on the page if you found the page appealing to look at.
Knowing how you learn best is all well and fine but it doesn’t motivate you. It will, however, go a long way toward reducing required effort.
There’s also the break-it-into-chunks-you-can-actually-swallow concept too. Break up your study time by the concepts you need to master and master them only one at a time.
Realize, when taking on new information your brain gets tired and fast. Beef up on sugar then study in 15 minute chunks giving yourself 20 minute breaks in-between. I used to study while doing laundry. Study for 15 minutes (like, REALLY study) then go fold a load allowing your mind to clear. Start again when you return but STOP again after 15 minutes (beep… dryer’s done). Your brain doesn’t really like to work harder than that without the aid of some really hard drugs. (not recommended)
There’s also the aromatherapy approach to increase your chances of success on test day (useful especially if you tend to clam up during an exam). Your sense of smell is the most powerful sense you have. If you were to fill the study room with a distinctive (and pleasant) scent, say banana or lemon, your brain will associate the information you retain while studying to the scent so you can sometimes gain clarity / trigger memory on a concept just by introducing the scent again. If you get stuck during the exam chew some gum flavored to match that scent. (that’s why I recommended a pleasant scent)
Finally, classical music on test day. This might get you on the Dean’s list, it worked well for me… University students were broken into two groups. The first group was asked to write a general knowledge exam appropriate for their age. The second group was asked to do the same but first they were to listen to 20 minutes of chamber music. The classical music listeners consistently scored 20% (I think it was 20%, it was significant) higher than their no-tunes fellows. Scientists think the music, because of the repeating patterns, helps to prep and organize the brain making it more efficient. I tried it with my favorite music but I don’t think the constant 4/4 time of standard rock & roll or pop have the same affect… besides, your favorite music is distracting. Listen before you study. Listen again before the test.
Stick with it, OP. Nothing worth doing is easy.
that and avoid taco’s or bean burrito’s the day before and day of the test. It’s not worth it…. put down the taco.
Pretty Kitty and Kay have great advice. Don’t think the worst of yourself, because we’ve all been there. When I was in high school I was a terrible student- I thought I was stupid and so didn’t bother trying…if I was 10 minutes late ffor a biology exam I’d say to myself ‘Fuck it!’ and join my friends outside on the grass instead for a laugh. It was fun for awhile and after graduating I had no interest in university so I went to work and spent a few years doing that, until my brain started to crave excersize. The first semester in university was hell- I felt like a complete and total imposter and had major anxiety about my intelligence when I lay in bed at night. I bombed on a few early exams but then I found a method of studying that worked for me and started doing really well. I’ve tried it all and have discovered that as much of a pain as it is, I do my best work at the last minute when I’m under the crunch. It works for me though; after 2 year I got into a really difficult program. I was beyond freaked out at first and sort of went through the same panic I experienced in the very beginning, but I stuck it out, had an amazing experience and graduated with honors!
So listen here- You are NOT a useless peice of shit! Keep at it and you’ll be fine!
A friend of mine was in a similar situation, a smart enough person who couldn’t concentrate or get motivated in university… and he just went to his family Dr, explained the problem, and got an Rx for Dexedrine, it seriously changed his life. Turns out he’s add but was never diagnosed because he’d been able to cope w/ it up until that point…
yes, drug’s are the answer.
Please seek drugs.
These days I find my best study time is on the bus, honest to G-d. Listening to my ipod to drown out the noise, of course. I always review on my way to the test like that (since I have about an hour bus ride)
That and when I’m getting ready in the morning. I just take my study notes out that I’ve highlighted and written notes on and go over them a few times. I’ve been doing this since my third year of uni when things just clicked and I found a method that worked for me.
You just need to find what methods works for you. For me it took me two years before I found what works for me. My first year, honestly was a piece of shit. I barely made it out with a 2.0 (combination of working too much, not putting enough time in i.e.: an 18 year old with independence and liquor and just getting my ass kicked by the increased level of independence/material). So, don’t fret if you’re in first year and you’re having a tough time. I’d say it’s more common to have a shitty first year than you think. By the end of my third year I was pulling As and finished that year with a 3.98 sessional
Again, you’re not a loser, you just have to find what works for you 🙂 You’ll figure it out, eventually!