Well, it's obvious that I have let this fall behind and have put it on the back burner for quite some time now. The reason(s) for this happening: I have let my home life overshadow my school life and haven't been focusing on my school work quite like I should and it has shown. My GPA has taken a serious hit. I have noticed a pattern where I start a semester with all of the hope in the world, thinking it's going to be great and I'm going to remain focused and get an A. But that mindset quickly changes as the challenges of taking care of the home and my family begin to take over.
So, what's a girl to do? I'll tell you: take the bull by the horns and make some serious changes! I've realized that I'm never going to make it into my desired program with lackluster grades and poor study habits. I have to admit that I have let other things take priority in my life and it is time to end that vicious cycle here and now. With my future hanging in the balance, I realize that it's time to get down and dirty, roll up my sleeves, and really get to work. I find myself talking about studying and reading about studying without actually studying. Sheesh!
I have a confession. In the last year and a half I have failed two classes. Yes, straight-up failed. It was shocking, jarring, and felt like a punch in the stomach. But I'm learning from the mistakes I made and I am retaking the classes in question. Minor setback, I keep telling myself. After much soul-searching and a few tears, I know that failures really are just minor setbacks. The reality is, I can always retake the class, even if I have to get permission. However, when I retake those classes, I have to do well. I am embarrassed, of course, but lying to myself and everyone else is not getting me anywhere. It is hard to be a nontraditional student. But I can do it and so can anyone else out there.
With that said, happy studying and I'll be sure to check back in a little more frequently.
Queen E
Saturday, December 26, 2015
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Back in the Swing of Things
Wow, so I didn't realize how long it has been since I last posted something! The new semester is off and running, albeit a bit slowly. I'm currently enjoying a semester with no math classes of any kind. This is the first time in 4 years that I can say that. I'm looking forward to an easier semester and I'm not at all sorry about that!
So, I think I mentioned previously that I'm working toward a degree this upcoming December. That is still happening but, since the university says that I'm "graduating," I have to reapply to the school for the spring semester. That seems a bit odd, given that I'm here right now and not really GRADUATING until I get through the professional program and receive my doctorate:).
On another note, I must say that this semester is much different from this time last year. Even the first-year students are behaving differently. Also, the university just earned a nod from Time magazine as the #2 school. Woot woot!
Anyway, more to come in the following days, including tips and pics!
Until next time,
Queen E
So, I think I mentioned previously that I'm working toward a degree this upcoming December. That is still happening but, since the university says that I'm "graduating," I have to reapply to the school for the spring semester. That seems a bit odd, given that I'm here right now and not really GRADUATING until I get through the professional program and receive my doctorate:).
On another note, I must say that this semester is much different from this time last year. Even the first-year students are behaving differently. Also, the university just earned a nod from Time magazine as the #2 school. Woot woot!
Anyway, more to come in the following days, including tips and pics!
Until next time,
Queen E
Friday, July 24, 2015
One Month Away
I'm happy to report that I survived the first of my two summer sessions. Calculus is finally done and out of the way and now I'm chipping away at the chemistry block. Although I'm understanding things much better, I still have a hard time translating my knowledge to a test:(. In any case, it is a busy time of year at Queen E's castle! I'm about to register my son for his first year of middle school. Yeah, I don't know when the heck that happened! He's getting so old and now he's taller than I am... it's just almost too much to handle.
I've been trying to work some over this summer "vacation," but my school schedule hasn't allowed for as much work as I had originally hoped. So, I remain a broke college student.
Unfortunately, I don't have much to add as far as tips, tricks, etc. for the summer. Nothing has changed much other than the amount of time I have to devote to studying each subject at a time-which is nice! So, that's all for today:/. I'll be back, though!
Until next time,
Queen E
I've been trying to work some over this summer "vacation," but my school schedule hasn't allowed for as much work as I had originally hoped. So, I remain a broke college student.
Unfortunately, I don't have much to add as far as tips, tricks, etc. for the summer. Nothing has changed much other than the amount of time I have to devote to studying each subject at a time-which is nice! So, that's all for today:/. I'll be back, though!
Until next time,
Queen E
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
What happened to this semester?
Holy cow! What happened to this semester? It seems like just a few days ago I was posting all kinds of fun tips on studying and note-taking, etc. for a good start to the semester. *sigh* Well, I know I've been MIA, but things have been incredibly busy. It may be the end of this semester, but I'll be starting "summer" courses in just a few short weeks. I have to admit to myself and to the world that I didn't do as well as I would have liked in a couple of classes, so I'm retaking them. I definitely struggled with that when I realized my grades weren't going to be so hot. Admitting to failure was tough but I'm ready to move forward and do what I can to make the most of the summer sessions and pass these darn classes! So, as I dive in to my summer classes, I'm going to try to post some helpful tips for anyone else who may be in the same boat. All these summery puns are getting to be a bit too much... LOL! Until then, stay tuned!
Queen E
Queen E
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Good Start
I'm off to a good start this semester! I got 100% on my first calculus quiz so I'll take that as a sign of things to come:) My organization systems are up and running and my life is so much easier now that I have everything in order. I have my planner color-coded, as previously discussed, I utilize daily to-do lists and studying to-do lists, and my notes are so much easier to read and follow. Something else that I'm implementing is a grade tracker, since my calculus professor doesn't post grades online. I am recording each assignment, quiz, test, etc. with the points I earned, the total points possible, and what grade I currently have in the class based off that information. I'm pleased with that so far. I like to know exactly where I am. If I should start to fall behind, I'll be able to recognize it quicker since it will be brought to my attention immediately. This is the semester where I get the grades I want!
I feel like last semester was a learning experience. It was my first semester at a new school and I took on a LOT. I really thought I could handle it all, and maybe I can, but not my first semester in an unfamiliar environment. Now that I'm acclimated to the university, I know what to expect and can manage my time much more efficiently. There were a lot of things that I told myself I couldn't do last semester, only to find out that I could. So, this time I'm not allowing myself to have any preconceived notions. Having a negative or potentially negative feeling about a course, professor, activity, or whatever is one of the worst things a person can do to themselves. Keeping an open mind has made a big difference in how I approach things. I can feel myself making more of an effort and it's paying off already.
So, with that final thought, I'm off to work on some more chemistry notes. Until next time!
Queen E
I feel like last semester was a learning experience. It was my first semester at a new school and I took on a LOT. I really thought I could handle it all, and maybe I can, but not my first semester in an unfamiliar environment. Now that I'm acclimated to the university, I know what to expect and can manage my time much more efficiently. There were a lot of things that I told myself I couldn't do last semester, only to find out that I could. So, this time I'm not allowing myself to have any preconceived notions. Having a negative or potentially negative feeling about a course, professor, activity, or whatever is one of the worst things a person can do to themselves. Keeping an open mind has made a big difference in how I approach things. I can feel myself making more of an effort and it's paying off already.
So, with that final thought, I'm off to work on some more chemistry notes. Until next time!
Queen E
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
New Semester, New Attitude
Well, it's finally here: the start of the new/Spring semester. I must say that I'm excited! So far I've managed to incorporate some new time management or organization tactics that are working quite well. Of course, this is only Wednesday. I want to share things that are working for me and I will update as the semester goes along.
1) Nix the spiral-bound notebook and go with loose leaf paper. Holy cow, this is a big one for me! It has been so incredibly helpful thus far. I either keep the paper in a binder or a folder, depending on the class. For chemistry the textbook is unbound so I had to buy a binder anyway. What I did then was separate the chapters we'll be covering and only included those in the binder. That leaves all kinds of room for my notes. Calculus (pictured above) has it's own binder, but a separate book. The notebook gets graded along with the final at the end of the semester so I keep a 3-hole plastic folder in the middle for worksheets, tests, and quizzes (not shown because I haven't had any homework yet). This way, when it's time to hand in for grading, everything is already all together. I haven't been to my other class yet as today will be my first day, but I have loose paper in a pocket folder ready to go along with the text book. This saves so much space in my bag!
2) Use tabs for each lab session in a chemistry lab manual. That keeps me from flipping through multiple pages and each tab is numbered so I'm never unsure of which lab we're doing. The numbers correspond with the info from my syllabus-which is just the week-and have also been written in my planner to keep me on track. This is easy to do with regular sticky notes or the special tab kind like I used from Post-It.
3) Use daily to-do lists on a sticky note or white board. Eventually I will be busy with school work and will need sticky notes for each class, but right now I only need one. I sit down at my desk and write a short list of all the things I need to accomplish at that time-whether I have a few minutes or a few hours. I cross things off as I go and that keeps my planner and my brain uncluttered.
4) Use a project folder. I actually started this last semester and it made a HUGE impact! I had to write several papers for various classes so I would gather all of my references, articles, etc. and put them in a folder together, one folder for each paper. I would also include the grading rubric when provided. That way, when it came time to do the writing, all of my information was right in front of me and not scattered. I also use a lined, large sticky note to make a to-do list for the paper. For example, I would include things like: type outline, create reference page, get 3 sources from text, etc. I can't tell you how much more organized this system made me. I also found that I was able to stay on task and turn it in on time. *I didn't think it was necessary for a pic, but if I have a project coming up I'll add one:).
5) Take notes before every going to class! I know, easier said than done for some people, but I love taking notes and I'm good at it;). So, I sat down with my chemistry book (pictured above) and started taking notes for the first chapter we're covering. I only used one side of the paper so I could use a variety of pen types and colors and not be distracted with bleed-though. Before I knew it, I was done with the whole chapter. When I got to class, I understood everything the professor was talking about because I actually read it and absorbed some info. I still take notes in class, but I add them to the notes I already took. That way, when it come times to study for the exam, I'll have more than enough info.
6) Use color-coding in a planner. I actually got this from a board on Pinterest and it's been very helpful thus far. The pic above is just a small sample of a week-only partly complete. The smiley face stickers are my way of tracking my water intake throughout the day as I'm also trying to stay healthy and hydrated while in school.
I hope that helps someone out there! I will continue to share any tidbits that have been useful for me and, as previously stated, I will update with my results:) Happy studying!
Queen E
1) Nix the spiral-bound notebook and go with loose leaf paper. Holy cow, this is a big one for me! It has been so incredibly helpful thus far. I either keep the paper in a binder or a folder, depending on the class. For chemistry the textbook is unbound so I had to buy a binder anyway. What I did then was separate the chapters we'll be covering and only included those in the binder. That leaves all kinds of room for my notes. Calculus (pictured above) has it's own binder, but a separate book. The notebook gets graded along with the final at the end of the semester so I keep a 3-hole plastic folder in the middle for worksheets, tests, and quizzes (not shown because I haven't had any homework yet). This way, when it's time to hand in for grading, everything is already all together. I haven't been to my other class yet as today will be my first day, but I have loose paper in a pocket folder ready to go along with the text book. This saves so much space in my bag!
2) Use tabs for each lab session in a chemistry lab manual. That keeps me from flipping through multiple pages and each tab is numbered so I'm never unsure of which lab we're doing. The numbers correspond with the info from my syllabus-which is just the week-and have also been written in my planner to keep me on track. This is easy to do with regular sticky notes or the special tab kind like I used from Post-It.
3) Use daily to-do lists on a sticky note or white board. Eventually I will be busy with school work and will need sticky notes for each class, but right now I only need one. I sit down at my desk and write a short list of all the things I need to accomplish at that time-whether I have a few minutes or a few hours. I cross things off as I go and that keeps my planner and my brain uncluttered.
4) Use a project folder. I actually started this last semester and it made a HUGE impact! I had to write several papers for various classes so I would gather all of my references, articles, etc. and put them in a folder together, one folder for each paper. I would also include the grading rubric when provided. That way, when it came time to do the writing, all of my information was right in front of me and not scattered. I also use a lined, large sticky note to make a to-do list for the paper. For example, I would include things like: type outline, create reference page, get 3 sources from text, etc. I can't tell you how much more organized this system made me. I also found that I was able to stay on task and turn it in on time. *I didn't think it was necessary for a pic, but if I have a project coming up I'll add one:).
5) Take notes before every going to class! I know, easier said than done for some people, but I love taking notes and I'm good at it;). So, I sat down with my chemistry book (pictured above) and started taking notes for the first chapter we're covering. I only used one side of the paper so I could use a variety of pen types and colors and not be distracted with bleed-though. Before I knew it, I was done with the whole chapter. When I got to class, I understood everything the professor was talking about because I actually read it and absorbed some info. I still take notes in class, but I add them to the notes I already took. That way, when it come times to study for the exam, I'll have more than enough info.
6) Use color-coding in a planner. I actually got this from a board on Pinterest and it's been very helpful thus far. The pic above is just a small sample of a week-only partly complete. The smiley face stickers are my way of tracking my water intake throughout the day as I'm also trying to stay healthy and hydrated while in school.
I hope that helps someone out there! I will continue to share any tidbits that have been useful for me and, as previously stated, I will update with my results:) Happy studying!
Queen E
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Pre-Semester Updating
With the dawning of the New Year and the upcoming semester, I've been thinking a lot about reinvention and resolutions. Like most people, I have a lot of resolutions and ideas for how I'm going to conquer the world...I mean, my classes. The first thing everyone will notice is that I am adding pages to the blog so it's like one of those real blogs I've heard about. Hey, I'm an amateur to the max and this is my first attempt so, any slack anyone is willing to give is much appreciated!
I am going to figure out how to show everyone pictures and other cool things as I go throughout the year. I have a lot of cool information on Pinterest so I'm working on links, etc. My goal is to help others while giving a little bit of commentary about my own observations. Any input is hugely appreciated! While this is a work-in-progress, I'll be making little updates like this periodically.
Okay, so that's all for now while I try to fish up some great content for everyone. Please feel free to share my blog and I will work hard to provide meaningful and humorous content.
Until next time,
Queen E
I am going to figure out how to show everyone pictures and other cool things as I go throughout the year. I have a lot of cool information on Pinterest so I'm working on links, etc. My goal is to help others while giving a little bit of commentary about my own observations. Any input is hugely appreciated! While this is a work-in-progress, I'll be making little updates like this periodically.
Okay, so that's all for now while I try to fish up some great content for everyone. Please feel free to share my blog and I will work hard to provide meaningful and humorous content.
Until next time,
Queen E
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)