The Torch gives suggestions on how to be successful students
School is hard. It is not for the faint of heart, nor the type of person who doesn’t want to try. The ability to go to school and do well is a gift that only a small portion of the world gets to experience. In America we take this for granted.
Another thing we take for granted is time. If we know our deadlines, we can wait until the last minute. I mean, why not, right? It’s been working for all these years already anyway. Why not now?
Well let me tell you, that’s not the best way to go about it. That’s not to say the narrator is perfect, but he tries his best. The draw to watch Star Trek is strong, and after all we are but weak humans. He does have some tricks and balances that he uses to keep on track. They are simply:
Do not eat a whole bag of candy instead of going to the gym. You would think this one is easy, but hear me out. It’s 3 p.m., you’ve been in class since 11 a.m. with very few breaks. You’re hungry, so you get a Subway sandwich—buffalo chicken, banana peppers, spinach. It’s delicious. This is where things can get tricky. At this point it’s easy to take a nap, and it honestly seems like the logical choice.
But that is where you’re wrong. Exercise is a key component to success and high brain function. According to a New York Times article, after four months of exercise parts of the brain become less active during semantic-memory tests, which is good. That means your brain is more focused on the task, like remembering what it is you are reading. The takeaway from all of this, hit the gym. It’s good for you.
Next pro tip, read everything thoroughly. Don’t rush through anything. Wake up early, take breaks, and intake the information in a way that works. The narrator has a trick that he has employed that is old as time. He uses an hourglass. When the sand has drained from the top, he takes a break.
Oftentimes when we are studying and working we don’t take breaks to eat or use the restroom. The thought is just go go go till we crash, but if you spread your work out and focus on mental health, you will actually get more accomplished. According to the National Library of Medicine, taking small breaks can improve your ability to concentrate, change the way you see the task and avoid the typical injuries people get sitting at a desk all day.
Are you a gamer? Set up an hourglass every two or three hours. XCom 2 will always be there, but you have a quiz due at midnight.
Finally, try to have fun with it. While yes, being around a lot of new people can be intimidating, it can also be hilarious. You may find yourself having a lot of good laughs with complete strangers unexpectedly. While in class, participate. Talk to your neighbors. Talk to your professors and TA’s. Make yourself accessible. You may discover a life-long friendship in that weird kid with the fish shoes.
Life is too short to let anything hold you back. Too many powerful forces have held too many people back for too long. Fight back by educating yourself, and having fun while you do it. Might as well also get in super good shape while you’re at it.
As a matter of fact, send us your workout routine, we want to try it. Let’s hit the gym together. Reach out to us as editor@lcctorch.com.
