College Course Frustration

College courses can have a certain amount of frustration. It’s inevitable that there are going to be concepts that you don’t understand fully. There are also going to be subjects you don’t like or even concepts you don’t like within your chosen major. College is a time for you to learn as much as you can and have fun while learning. The point is – give those concepts and subjects a chance. Don’t give up on any of your classes, whether you’re struggling in them or don’t think you like the subject. All too often, college students find themselves enjoying a subject or author after college that they never enjoyed while in college learning about it. What happens then is regret. You may wish that you took more classes in the subject or that you paid more attention while learning about the author or concept. You don’t want to spend your time after you graduate wishing you took a certain class or wishing that you gave a certain author or concept a chance. Absorb what you can while in college because sadly, you won’t be able to go back and take the classes after. You can read the author or look up things on the subject online but it won’t be like learning in the class environment.

If there’s a class you’re somewhat interested in, take it. You have a certain number of electives to use for a reason. You may think that you want all of your electives to be in your chosen major, but avoid that trap. It’s a safe zone and while you may really enjoy your chosen major, you won’t be expanding much when you stick with those safe classes. Be adventuresome and add a creative writing class or a class in sociology or psychology. You may find that you really enjoy them to the point of taking on a minor in the subject. You may even find that those classes changed your perspective on what you want to do for a career and broadened your options. Most importantly, don’t wish away your time in college because it goes by too fast. When you’re in college you’re going to be thinking of deadlines, exams, and essays. When you’re constantly thinking of when something is due it can be hard to enjoy a certain aspect of your classes. Don’t forget to slow down and enjoy your college classes. You’re there to earn a degree and pursue a career path, but don’t forget to slow down and have fun while learning and give all of your classes and concepts a chance.

Procrastination – Is It Your Friend Or Enemy?

Procrastination is something everyone may do at some point. This is especially true in college. Between having a full course load and a part or full time job on top of that, it will be much too easy to put things off and do them later. The problem is when you’re in college, assignments tend to build up. Before you know it, you’ve put things off for so long that you run into the deadline and may end up not doing the work at all. Your college professors will not be as lenient as your high school teachers may have been when you turned work in late. In fact, your professors may not accept late work at all. How do you get through procrastination in college? It may sound weird, but the key is to do that homework first. If you aren’t very good at a subject or you just really dislike the subject, you’re going to want to make that homework your first priority. The concepts taught in the class will be fresh in your head so you don’t have to search through your notes as much once you sit down to work on the homework. 

The other key point about doing the homework you dread first is that you don’t have a few days or weeks of dreading. We’ve all done it and said it – “I’m dreading writing that English essay or Math homework.” You know what happens when you don’t do it right away? It sits in your mind and then when you do have to work on the homework, you’re either angry, frustrated, or you no longer remember what it was you had to do or the concept behind it. Trust me – if you do the homework you dread first and get it done and over with, you’ll feel much better! Plus when you relax with friends and watch a movie or go shopping, the thought of the homework you have to do won’t be hanging over head and making you feel guilty for not working on it.

You may think the good part of procrastination is that it gives you focus. You know you have to get the work done, so you force yourself to work on it and shut out everything else around you. The problem is that this isn’t a guarantee. Once you’re creeping up on a deadline, you may have less focus on the work itself because you’re panicking in your head that you need to get it done. In other words, it’s going to be quite counter-productive. If you need more focus while working on homework, try things that can help you, such as going to a quiet coffee shop or bookstore to work on homework if your dorm room is distracting. Maybe you need to make a checklist and break down your homework in a To-Do List that you can cross things off as you finish them. The key is to figure out what works best for you early in college – you’re going to be in college for a while and you’ll need some good study habits. Of course you may end up adjusting or changing your study and homework habits as you go through college, that is normal as you adjust to college life. However, you won’t be able to get through college with no study and homework habits at all. Having routines down for studying and homework will help you be more efficient and even allow you more relaxing time with friends later!