school

[Steel]

^ heh, I'll be 27 when i get my BA if it all works out. Fuck.

[eversio11]

I think I'm in the same boat as the lot of you. Not to be boastful, but I think I'm just naturally smart, must have been all the Legos growing up. K-12 was a breeze for me, but when it comes to actually studying and doing work I have zero motivation. Steel described it perfectly, like I actually fear the homework because it takes away from my free time.

Ah well, I have better things to do with my life right now then worry about going to school and getting a 'good job'. fuck that

[drunken monkey]

Originally Posted by eversio11

Not to be boastful, but I think I'm just naturally smart, must have been all the Legos growing up.

and I can assure you that you are not the only person to have this idea in their head.
being naturally smart (or at the very least, not a complete idiot) isn't even half of it. Those who work hard get what they work for, whether or not they are naturally gifted in that area/field.
Whenever you hear/read an interview with the enormously succesful, you don't hear them say "I'm just naturally smart and gifted". What you do hear is about how they worked their arses off.

Originally Posted by eversio11

Ah well, I have better things to do with my life right now then worry about going to school and getting a 'good job'. fuck that

maybe.
only time will tell.

[2.2 Straight six]

Originally Posted by eversio11

I think I'm just naturally smart, must have been all the Legos growing up

According to my IQ tests, i'm "naturally smart" too.

didn't get me good grades when i didn't work.

[Steel]

The funny part is, once i get started with my homework or studying, then i have no problem with it. I usually find it easier than i thought it would be, or if not, i enjoy a challenge. But getting started i just cannot do! I dont know what it is! It's very aggrivating.

[thrasher]

Originally Posted by Steel

The funny part is, once i get started with my homework or studying, then i have no problem with it. I usually find it easier than i thought it would be, or if not, i enjoy a challenge. But getting started i just cannot do! I dont know what it is! It's very aggrivating.

That's how it used to be for me, exact same anxiety when it came to getting started. Now I just sit my ass down and study and find that the anxiety is gone.

The whole trick to undergrad studies is really coming terms and accepting the fact that you have to jump through hoops to get your degree. Most of the work is pointless and boring, but that's just the way it is. Once you accept that, and understand that good grades are actually easy to come by as long as you're willing to put in the work, then it isn't so bad.

[beef_bourito]

Originally Posted by drunken monkey

being naturally smart (or at the very least, not a complete idiot) isn't even half of it.

that's why i'm having so much trouble, i never developed proper study habbits and it's catching up to me. I'm not being boastful when i say that i was smarter than the vast majority of my graduating class because it was true.

[alphalanos]

You pretty much just have to stop putting stuff off. Im the same way. Make it so that you CANT do something you like to do until you get the school work done. Thats the only way I can do it. Then once you get it done, do something rewarding.

[eversio11]

Originally Posted by drunken monkey

and I can assure you that you are not the only person to have this idea in their head.
being naturally smart (or at the very least, not a complete idiot) isn't even half of it. Those who work hard get what they work for, whether or not they are naturally gifted in that area/field.
Whenever you hear/read an interview with the enormously succesful, you don't hear them say "I'm just naturally smart and gifted". What you do hear is about how they worked their arses off.



maybe.
only time will tell.

I don't ever recall saying I wanted to be 'enormously successful'.

[beef_bourito]

Originally Posted by beef_bourito

that's why i'm having so much trouble, i never developed proper study habbits and it's catching up to me. I'm not being boastful when i say that i was smarter than the vast majority of my graduating class because it was true.

i meant to continue that but pretty much passed out.

what i meant to say was i'm not trying to be boastful when i say that i'm smarter than the vast majority of my graduating class, my math teacher even told me she thinks i have the most potential out of everyone, but it's the reason i never developed study habbits. oh well, i guess i've just got to bite the bullet and start working.

[Nicole8188]

High school was a piece of cake, college hit me hard in the head though. Not that I'm not smart, I just never really learned how to study and I hate taking time out of life to do homework and study...

[fredjacksonsan]

Originally Posted by drunken monkey

...Those who work hard get what they work for, whether or not they are naturally gifted in that area/field.
...

And right there is the crux of the discussion. You MUST work for it, no matter what IT is, and no matter how smart you are.

"Work before play". College is where you start getting a dose of real life; there are things you MUST do and things that you WANT to do. Learning the difference and prioritizing, and developing the willpower to do what needs to be done, first, is an important lesson that many never learn.

I had a 1.8 GPA my first year in college. I had a LOT of fun, and zero study habits. Nearly got thrown out, but they gave me one semester to straighten out. I did.

[Steel]

I guess it doesnt help that we are taught since kids that instant gratification is how it's supposed to be in this country, now now now! The thought of working hard for four or more years without something to really show for it until you're finished is really quite unfathomable for a lot of people.

Not that I'm the type of person who lays blame on someone else for my own faults... but I blame the media.

[davee99]

One trick that I use is to just trick yourself into doing the work. Like dangling a carrot in front of a horse. Then when you sit down you figure that you like it you'll continue till it is done. Also another trick it to open your mind with other subjects besides the one that you are studying!

Okay now for the nitty gritty...first thing first!

1 -- Read your books.
a. start by reading the title of the chapter.
b. then skim through and read all the first lines of the paragraphs.
c. lastly read the whole chapter. (this technique will get you focused)
2 -- Go over your notes the day after you take them so that you refresh your mind.
3 -- It is good to get psyched up for a test it means that you are prepared. Also has some physical effects in making the right choices.


Just some things that I was taught on good studing skills. Take a course in guidance and they will teach you. I too was a gifted student in the G.A.T.E. (Gifted And Talented Education) program in Elementary school and junior high. I forgot what I was in high school but it was some program for students with high grades. I graduated with a 4.3 GPA and then in college studying to be a doctor...boom .85 GPA. Sick and I am still trying to bring it up...now in liberal studies.

Good Luck

[drunken monkey]

Originally Posted by eversio11

I don't ever recall saying I wanted to be 'enormously successful'.

the point is, you don't hear anyone simply say "i'm naturally gifted".
which kind of suggests that being naturally gifted doesn't mean squat compared to working hard, or even that being naturally gifted doesn't mean you don't have to work.