Surviving College
Lowe, Steve Lowe, S 1
Mrs. McGhee
ENC1101
7 October 2014
Surviving College
College is like an unopened book with no title; you haven’t the slightest clue as to what’s to come, but you know you’re going to learn something new. I remember stepping into my first college class. I was filled with terror not knowing whom to expect in my class. As I walked in and looked around, I saw about twenty other people scattered about the room staring directly at me. I tried not to make eye contact with anybody, so I walked straight to an empty desk in the back and sat down. About twenty-five minutes after the professor began his lesson I had become drowsy and about to fall asleep. I tried to stay up but couldn’t resist. I awoke thirty minutes later to the ringing of the dismissal bell. The class was over, and I had felt horrible knowing nothing about what the class just learned. College can be a pretty tough place to get through, so know how to survive. Choosing the classes that seem interesting and fulfill your requirements is not always the best way to go. When I picked my classes for the first time I looked for the ones that peaked my interest. About a week into the semester, I knew that failure for most of those classes was inevitable and was I right. By the next semester I had learned to look for the best professors on campus. Talking to your adviser is a great way to do this. A great professor cannot only turn a neutral subject matter into something engaging but into something fun; while other professors may ruin the subject you enjoy most. College isn’t just about having the best grades and doing all the work. You have to live in the academic moment. Don’t get yourself caught up in any academic ennui. Instead, focus on the intrinsic learning value of each assignment, paper, and project you get assigned; the grades will come naturally. We all sometimes feel tired of getting up and going to class. I remember how I would skip a few of
Mrs. McGhee
ENC1101
7 October 2014
Surviving College
College is like an unopened book with no title; you haven’t the slightest clue as to what’s to come, but you know you’re going to learn something new. I remember stepping into my first college class. I was filled with terror not knowing whom to expect in my class. As I walked in and looked around, I saw about twenty other people scattered about the room staring directly at me. I tried not to make eye contact with anybody, so I walked straight to an empty desk in the back and sat down. About twenty-five minutes after the professor began his lesson I had become drowsy and about to fall asleep. I tried to stay up but couldn’t resist. I awoke thirty minutes later to the ringing of the dismissal bell. The class was over, and I had felt horrible knowing nothing about what the class just learned. College can be a pretty tough place to get through, so know how to survive. Choosing the classes that seem interesting and fulfill your requirements is not always the best way to go. When I picked my classes for the first time I looked for the ones that peaked my interest. About a week into the semester, I knew that failure for most of those classes was inevitable and was I right. By the next semester I had learned to look for the best professors on campus. Talking to your adviser is a great way to do this. A great professor cannot only turn a neutral subject matter into something engaging but into something fun; while other professors may ruin the subject you enjoy most. College isn’t just about having the best grades and doing all the work. You have to live in the academic moment. Don’t get yourself caught up in any academic ennui. Instead, focus on the intrinsic learning value of each assignment, paper, and project you get assigned; the grades will come naturally. We all sometimes feel tired of getting up and going to class. I remember how I would skip a few of