09.30.06
How to be a student
Those of you who are or who have students will find this article of interest. It begins:
Introduction
The typical college campus is a friendly place; but it is also a competitive environment. The education you receive there, and the attitudes you develop, will guide you for the rest of your life. Your grades will be especially important in landing your first job, or when applying to graduate school. To be a successful student requires certain skills; but, these are skills that can be learned.
The Basics of Being a Student
- Prioritize your life: Doing well in school should be your top priority.
- Study: There is no substitute.
- Always attend class.
- Do all of the homework and assigned reading.
- Develop self-discipline.
- Manage your time.
Self-Discipline Made Easy
Human beings are creatures of habit. Therefore, form a habit of doing what you reason you should do. Is it not foolish for your behavior to contradict your own reasoning? And what could be more harmonious than finding yourself wanting to do what you know you should?Train yourself so there is an immediate reaction-mechanism within you:
You reason that you should do something, and thus you do it.
Other people who seem to have less difficulty with self-discipline probably have simply had more practice at it, thereby making it less difficult; because, practice is what it takes.
The rest of it at the link.
Ethan said,
30 September 2006 at 10:01 am
I think the first point, “Doing well in school should be your top priority,” is overly simplistic. Perhaps that’s something that can be asked/demanded of a CalPoly student, but many of my students at City College of New York are holding down full-time jobs and have children (when they are little more than children themselves). I would be very uncomfortable telling them that school should take priority over their children or holding down the job that allows them to afford to go to school and feed their family.
I’d rather say to them that not squandering the opportunity and getting value for what they are spending is a priority…
LeisureGuy said,
30 September 2006 at 10:14 am
Good point. The article should clearly be rewritten for any particular group of students to take into account the specific characteristics of those students who will receive the information. And, indeed, for some groups of students it may be that none of the points raised are appropriate. But I thought it might offer a good starting point for something that might be helpful to a new group of students.