1. CHAPTER SEVEN: MEMORY AND STUDYING- RETAINING WHAT YOU LEARN
I had took classes in high school they were a wasted of time, but when we are in college
we usually picked our classes wisely these classes are going to help us in the future. Sometimes
we take classes that required a lot of concentration, different skills or writing notes. But we all
agree with something that we have to remember chapters or subject for quizzes or tests and
used our memories. Our future requires concentration and a good memory. I usually try to use
some of the skills shown in chapter 7, but what happened when we can’t remember even
though we try. First I will take out everything that is not important off my head because if I
want to concentrate a hundred percent, I will never do it if I have a lot of stuff in mind. Find a
quiet place where I can recall out loud the information and I can hear myself. I will turn off my
phone and get comfortable in order to study. Every piece of information given by the professor,
books, handouts and labs are important. Our memory is the most fascinating video record,
WHY? Because we can remember everything we had done since we are kids we have memories
about our family, maybe a good situation, songs, people, names and more. So why can we used
our memories to remember material about a class that is required for our career? Did you know
that everything we covered in college is going to help us in our future? Don’t procrastinate and
leave aside when you can’t remember everything. Determine the times, places and company
that suit you, choose what is important to study, and set the rest aside and find the specific tips
and techniques that work best for you. When? Who? Where? Always ask these questions to
yourself before and after studying, show care even if you don’t like the class.
I resist using songs or rhymes this technique requires make up songs or poems that stick
in your mind help you memorized. I’m introverted person I think this technique is more used by
an extroverted person who loves to have energy and creativity so he/she can relate the
information with the class topic. We all have different mnemonic devices their objective is to
help you memorize. If you have your own technique used it but never let go by an exam or test,
we all have a memory so we can remember. I think I would never used this technique because
is too goofy for me; I’m a serious person when it comes to study for my future. I love to try to
visualize the topic and associate. For example, I took anatomy in high school and I had to
memorize the names of the bones so I try to visualize the human body only with bones, and
acronyms using the first letters of the words. Maybe my techniques are goofy for other people
but if I learn this way I will keep going it. I am willing to try “songs and rhymes” only if I don’t
remember the topics visualizing, associating or with acronyms. I will try everything to help me
with my future; I would try to come up with different mnemonic devices.
First of all I think he was really irresponsible withdrawing from school, he should be
having track of his process, and I’m not a big fan of failing classes I think that’s called
“irresponsibility”. If you don’t know what to do, what to study or you feel that the subject that
you are taking is not going to help you at all, before do a research about the classes read the
outlines about the classes. If you don’t feel comfortable with your career research different
careers there is a lot of website that can help you determined what career suited best for you.
If you are pushed by your family to study a career that you don’t want to, talk to them make
them realize that is your future not theirs. Stick to your dreams; never let anybody tell you what
to do. He wasted time and money making up failed classes, but he did good to return to school
and study a career that he wanted to study. He accomplished all his dreams, goals and he is still
2. an expert skier. When I watched the commercials about helping kids with cancer makes me feel
that I have to study and achieve all my goals to be part of this big organization. Not everything
is about me or you, there are a lot of people that needs help, and we can make the difference.
How we can make the difference? With only choosing our dream career we are going to do a
good job so we are going to be happy. It’s not only about money or to follow family paths, as I
said before we are our key to success. We can make a difference having a good attitude and
working in a job where you feel comfortable. For example: my mom got sick one year ago so I
take care of her while she was in the hospital. Some of the nurses had a really bad attitude so I
thought why to choose a career and work unhappy, why wasted your time and money paying
for a class that it’s not going to be part of your heart.
Not everybody has the same study strategies that’s why you have to have in mind these
five questions before begin to study When? Where? Who? What? and Why? Have a purpose,
intention and emotional connection with the material try to relate with the topic. Put your
notes to work highlight your notes, add recall, practice test questions, add relevant points write
down important material the professor covers aside of the book. Understand what you
memorize figure out logical connections with what you already know and the material. Study
during short, frequent sessions I think it depends, I would not try this possible way to study is
based in studying for 20 minutes then rest and then 20 minutes again and then rest. I know
myself very well and if I do that I would rest more than study. But not everybody is the same so
you can try this possible path. Get your body ready sleep and eat well so you don’t have to be
worry. Use analytical thinking skills recalling everything about the topic, explore the causes of
the event, and think about the similarities and the differences. Organize the items you are
processing divide your time, the material and practice. Recite, rehearse and write focus on the
main idea, key words recite again and again, one tip write down an outline about the topic then
after studying recall every material cover in every highlight subtitle on the outline so you can
mark your weakest point and concentrate in understanding and memorizing. Use flash cards
use them as a self test, reducing the stack as you learn and carry them with you all the time so
you can practice when you have time. Use audio strategies record the material so you can
heard the topic while cooking dinner or driving home. Use learning styles strategies I’m an
intrapersonal learner so I would work by my own first of all take a test to figure it out what type
of learner you are and finally use the information test your knowledge be sure to recall the
information.
You begin to analyze that is not the professors fault or the test is hard, because let’s be
clear when we fail most of the time we blame the professor and we said “ he/ she gave us a
hard quiz” or “he/she doesn’t want us to passed the class” guess what? When we take a test
we are proving how much we know about a subject so if you got an F in the last quiz practice
more so you will feel comfortable in the final exam. Creative thinking consist in thinking in
which study strategy you are best at, finding a place where to study, and using all your schema
to relate the topic. Finally practical thinking is going to be the result of your hard work and a
good grade. Norton chose a wise decision, he didn’t give up in his expectations he wanted to
prove himself his ability to accomplish his goals. He gave all his effort; he realized that spending
his time giving up in a course was going to be the result of FAIL. We all know why we are here
this is the only path to success. Stop and think why I am here? Am I going in the right direction?
If not, talk with an advisor but never stop studying. I read in an article that most of the students
3. who work after high school never went back to college to get a degree. Our memory will always
be our best friend; we have to try to remember everything since the most unimportant topic
we covered in college. Memorizing is not only to passing the test, we have to study and take
little by little everything in your head so when somebody ask you a question you can answer it
without even having to hesitate. You can make a topic interesting if you put your effort maybe
you composed a lyric with the topic or a poem. There are different ways to study understand
and memorize in order to passed that test. I am not the best, but I will try to be the best for me
for my future and for my happiness. Norton is happy now he has a career and he skies like he
did before. You can combined your hobbies with your career and convert your hobbies into
strategies to study. Don’t begin a class with a left foot because you are going to take all your
negativity and you will never pass the class.
Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm- Wiston Churchill