Question #7: Am I studying or am I struggling?
Sometimes we want to retreat because the opposition is difficult. You know what I mean: you begin studying for a test two days before the test when the difficulty of the class requires for you to begin studying a week before the test. If that is the case, then you are not struggling–you simply need to work on your studying. However, if no amount of help is helping you in that class and it is the only class that seems to be posing a problem then baling out might be an option. However, before baling out you will want to speak with the instructor about what you could have done to have been able to stay in the game. Why? Because if this is a required class then you will have to re-visit it again anyway…you might as well have the 411. BE HONEST with this one. Evaluate what you are doing versus what is required for the class CLOSELY. You could very well be one study group session a week from passing the class.
Question #8: Where is my schedule? Do I have one?
College has a dark, sinister secret: if you cannot manage a schedule AND make that schedule work for you then you are in for a frustrating ride. I have watched people manage a schedule, but they were unable to get it to work for them. When I mean a schedule, I don’t mean a class schedule–I’m talking life schedule. I will never forget the day that I forgot that there was an exam. I walked into class, sat down, and began pulling out my notes and noticed that everyone else was putting everything away. I cried the entire exam. Tears flowed as I prayed for a miracle. Well, I failed that exam, and I received a lesson for my miracle. That lesson was that I needed to schedule my life and tell my hours where to go. “Your hours are employees–so put them to work” (Dr. Mike Murdock). If you do not know the plan for tomorrow then tomorrow will create a plan for you. More than likely, you will not like that plan, and it will take you in the opposite direction in which you wanted to go. When you do not plan to pass, you plan to fail…