3 Good Attitudes to Finishing College on Time
You might be too late in planning your own way of commemorating the Apollo 11 mission, but there's no way that you can't delay the completion of your undergraduate studies. This might be a challenge to literature students after reading the short stories of Mario Vargas Llosa. Literature creates more problems than solving it, he once said. It could affect their focus while writing essays. (It might happen that they are studying Llosa's works, and the Peruvian author's thought could make them forget about Ernest Hemingway's short stories. It may be coincidence or Hemingway's style inspired Llosa.) Studying literature, if not arts, could be more stressful than any incoming (college) student would think. Good attitude would help them. It could do the same thing to you.
A good attitude is important, as going to college is not a joke. Not a few students would see themselves paying (college) debt after graduation, which should make you wonder if it's really worth it. Yes. It's far from the feeling of some (inexperienced) mountaineers who would form a long line to the summit of Mount Everest. You may not be able to travel halfway around the world (to Nepal), but it's not hard to envision the effort that you put into the coursework. The (good) feeling should keep you from a sophomore slump (if you happen to be a freshman). Likewise, you would avoid the graduate slump (if you plan to pursue graduate studies). You're getting ahead, so let's take it one step at a time. Shall we say one term at a time?
There have been countless research studies that validate the importance of a good attitude as the key to success. And it's not too different from the attitude that you must show to finish high school.
How to Keep the High Expectations
You must develop a positive, if not strong, relationship with your tutor and professors. You might wonder about the student-teacher relationship, if asking too many questions would be good enough. Your inquisitiveness would reveal your interest in the subject, which is expected from you. On the other hand, the members of the faculty won't have time to listen (and sympathize) with your issues (if you have any). You simply do your homework, reading anything related to the upcoming topic that would be discussed next week or the week after next. It would be different for Literature students, who might read some selected poems and novels before the beginning of the term. The hectic month of December could be a different case. The same thing goes to spring semester. They would get to it (and learn from it) later. The same thing goes to you.
You must not miss your lectures. It should be easier said than done especially the first month. It won't be the case to the weeks leading to the month of December (or spring semester). Your commitment would put to a test, also your comprehension and analytical skills under the most challenging circumstances. You can write down certain concepts that you don't understand at all. (In the case of Literature students, they need to read an assigned text in its entirety. It means spending more time on reading and less on other things.) You can ask the questions after the lecture. You can seek clarification from your coursemates, if not your tutor. And don't get too worried about being perceived as annoying. If you approach it in a polite manner, then you won't overstep your bounds.
You must have a good attitude towards paper writing. It's similar to positive homework behavior, which you've learned in high school. You must be able to do your assignment right after you've been assigned to it. (In the case of Literature students, reading a book ahead of schedule.) Writing an essay of a few thousand words could be achieved in a few hours, when there are many deadlines and examinations. Your resolve to pass the requirements would matter most. There are days when you won't stick to this routine, as a little unpredictability would suit you. It would be fine if your commitment to other courses won't be neglected at all.
Do You Turn to Aristotle to Boost Your Wellbeing?
Some universities recommend Aristotle’s teachings, which can be equivalent to yoga (or meditation). You won’t need it unless you’re studying Jostein Gaarder’s novels. You can learn a few things from the Greek philosopher, though. It’s important to spend half an hour on your own, visualizing how your day would turn out. In this regard, you must do this exercise every morning. Silence won’t solve anything, and it would mean failure. On the other hand, your professors won’t be impressed at long sentences especially if you’re making a habit of it. (The same thing applies to frequent use of certain words and phrases.) If you’re studying Latin American literature, then it would be best to read Llosa’s short tales again. Lastly, you must think big. This means a can-do attitude in essay writing.
All of the above takes practice, which can be achieved in a few months or less. Your attitude would play a part, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself.
