Study Strategies that Actually Work

As I'm sure you know by now, I'm an education major.  I think since I've started classes in my major I've learned more about how to be a student than anything else.  So far, I've learned so much valuable information about studying that I feel like I have a responsibility to share it.

1. DO read carefully and make notes when you feel necessary.

2. DON'T highlight and underline mindlessly.  If you're going to use this technique, use it in conjunction with notes or a set of questions that you're studying with.  Just highlighting arbitrarily as you read is essentially useless.

3. DO take practice tests.  This is one of the most effective techniques.  Even if you make up your own questions from the study guide it will make a huge difference.

4.  DON'T test yourself too often.  Give your brain time to breathe and process.  Testing yourself too often can cause information crossing and confusion.  You have to let it settle.

5.  DO use mnemonics devices, keywords, and acronyms to remember a series of facts or list.

6. DON'T mindlessly memorize those things.  Try to attach meaning to those facts and lists so that they store in your long term memory and stay there!

7. DO use flash cards.  For me, the very best way to study and remember information is to make up a bunch of my own questions on the lecture and reading material and I use those.  Using that technique I've been able to achieve nothing lower than a B on any exam in college...So I say that's a pretty good method.

8. DON'T only focus on one half of the chapter or one chunk of info.  This can happen very easily! Make sure you spread things out and make questions about a variety of information to study and test yourself on all topics covered.

Do these things and you will be amazed at how easy it is to get the grade you want.  Trust me, I've been there and it is a damn good feeling. 

 

 

From Critical Thinking to Critical Injury

Hello world.  Happy Monday.  You know how the past couple of weeks I've been in a complete funk? Well I think I'm out of it.  At least for now, I'm feeling much better  I had a great weekend and I'm feeling a little less overwhelmed by my circumstance and life is good.  
I do however want to remind you about my new sponsorship program.  It's a "pay as you like" system where all you have to do is contribute to my college fund to get an awesome sponsorship package. Click on "Advertise" to learn more. 
As you most likely know, for the past few weeks I have been focusing on academic achievement.  As it's about half way through the month I figured it's time to check in. 

It's going great.  Seriously.  It's a miracle...I have basically spent every minute of the past two weeks working on homework, studying, and being completely immersed in school and it is paying off like you would not believe.  I wrote a six page paper like it was nothing.  It was like I couldn't stop the my brain from creating sentences.  I had done that much research on the topic and I was so ready. 
Here is a little PSA for everyone out there who is struggling like I was:   Take a deep breath and get to work.  It's gonna be okay. 
-I got a 26/30 on my Philosophy test...If you follow me on Twitter, you know that I have a serious dislike for philosophy. It's a critical thinking course and I want to critically injure my professor every week.  So getting a 26/30 is, again, a miracle.  -I'm two chapters ahead in one of my books -I finished this coming Thursday's homework last Tuesday.  -I'm on top of all my assignments for all my classes and I officially do not feel overwhelmed by the amount of work and reading I have. 
I hoping that my midterm grades look amazing and I will tear up with joy when I look at them.  I have never worked so hard for my grades in my life and I'm so happy that I did. When I started working on these monthly goals I didn't know it would work so well but  it's really working.  It has shown me exactly what I'm capable of in a lot of different areas.  It has shown me that I can be a great blogger, I can be frugal (okay so I sort of have to be frugal...) and that I can really do well in school and work hard.  It has been a tough month so far if I'm being completely honest but it's worth it and I know that. :) 
How are your new years resolutions going?  Did you make goals for this month?  Are you sticking to em? 


PS--Don't forget about my weekly link up "What's Up Wednesday"  This weeks questions are the same as last weeks.  You can start adding your links at midnight every Wednesday! Check out the guidelines here!

Keys to Conquring College

A little while back, I started writing a lot about college. I wrote about things I wish I'd known before I started college a few years ago. I've also shared a few things like time management and how to survive the first day.  I've decided it's about time I continued on with the College Chronicles.

 

 

Today I want to talk strategy.  A lot of people think that college is going to be the hardest time of their life.  You're broke, up to your eyeballs in student loans, and trying not to fail out so you don't lose that financial aid.  When I started school, I was honestly kind of worried about how successful I would be.  High school was hard for me.  I had a hard time focusing, I constantly procrastinated, and I blew off a ton of my work.  Honestly, looking back, I don't even know why. It wasn't hard.  I was just a lazy bum.

 

So I was afriad I'd fall into the same patterns and fail when it came to college, but I was able to learn a few lessons and figure out how to succeed in college.

 

1)  Take notes in your lectures.  I know it's hard, but it is so important.  When it comes time to study for tests and midterms, you will be so happy that you took notes.  One of the best ways I learned to take notes was to follow along with the lecture in my book and makes notes in the margin as the teacher talks. I usually keep some paer near by or sticky notes incase I write too much, but it helps connect your notes to the reading and the lectures

 

2) Go to class. Some days you will just think "Well I don't really feel like it today" and you'll want to skip class. By missing class you could not only be missing some important information, but you could be losing participation points I missed two classes of one of my classes and I got behind really fast! Don't skip...

 

3) Try your best not to procrastinate. This might be the hardest one. When you have a syllabus, you can see your assignments weeks in advance.  It's tempting to think "That's not due for weeks!" But before you know it, the due date is tomorrow and you're preparing to pull an all nighter with some Red Bull and text books. If you do a little bit of the work at a time it feels less overwhelming and it's easier to complete. Even if you wait to write the paper the night before, at least to the work leading up to it earlier!

 

4) Understand what your teachers want from you. Some of your teachers want you to participate more and don't care as much about assignments. Other teachers won't bother to learn  your name and will only judge you on the quality of your papers.  Understand which classes need attention in different areas.

 

5) Do the required reading.  For one, text books are expensive.  If you don't use them, you're wasting your money.  And two, when you do the reading and then go to class, it's amazing how much more you'll remember after class.  It will make it so you have to study for tests less because you read on your own then you get a supplemental explanation from your professor. It is so worth the time to read.

 

6) Pace yourself.  This one might be the most important.  I learned the hard way that you can't sit down and barrel through 100 pages of reading in one sitting.  Designate times to do different class work/reading and don't overwhelm youself.  This will keep you from procrastinating and give you a little free time to enjoy the un-school parts of college.

 

So far, I've been able to acheive all As and Bs in college.  It isn't always easy, but if you pay attention to these tips and really apply them it will be difficult to fail.  College is an investiment in your future. It's worth it to apply yourself and really do well.  I just remind myself that I've paid a lot of money for my education, so I better make the most of it!

Because I Suck at Staying on Task

Because my goal for this month is to focus on academics, I've figured out a few ways to increase my productivity to make staying on task a little bit easier
1. Task timers I have heard a lot about people using apps that kick them off of Facebook if they use it for too long, so I looked into those types of apps and I found a task timer.  It's amazing. *All I did to find this was search the Google Chrome Apps for time management*

You choose how long you want to spend on each thing and it will start a timer for you.  When I started editing that screen cap, I started the timer.  I'm now on the clock! I have to finish all my blog work with in the designated amount of time now which leaves time for other things.  Like many other things though, you have to allow it to work.  Once the time is up, it's up!  I'm also looking into apps on my phone that will do the same thing. 
2.  No Netflix

Like none.  Seriously. Netflix eats up all of my productivity.  If i just don't open it up, I'm fine! I get lots of stuff done, but the second that Netflix window pops up I may as well throw in the towel.  My work for the day is over... I've put up reminders to keep me from even going there! 

3.  Minimal Travis Time...

This is the saddest part.  We are both so busy with school, it's important for both of us to be really focused.  It is really not fun to be so close and have to spend so much time apart, but we have responsibilities that we can't just forget. So I just look at that picture a lot instead of being sad about it. 

How do you keep yourself from getting distracted? Is it hard to stay productive? It can be quite a challenge for me, but I'm sure that these things will help. 

P.S- Don't forget about What's Up Wednesday! It's tomorrow. All you have to do is follow the prompt and add your link. We would loove to have you! This week we have a few new questions and a new guest host, so be sure to stop by and check it out. 

Zoe and the College Chronicles

Hey there everyone! Today I have another awesome guest to share with you.  Zoe is another one of those awesome new blogs I've been reading.  She blogs over at What Zoe Says.  She'll tell you a bit more about it and show you how to follow her. She's a student just like me!  Today she is sharing what she has learned since she started school.  It's definitely some valuable advice! Hang in for more from the College Chronicles 

Hello to Katie’s lovely readers!

My name is Zoe and I’ll be taking over Katie’s blog today to give you a little insight to my life! Before we start with my story about the things that I have learnt since starting university I’ll tell you a little bit about myself. I blog about all things fashion, beauty and lifestyle and I’m from England! I blog over at What Zoe Says and would love it if you checked it out! I hope you like my little internet slice and if you’d like, you can keep up to date with my ramblings on Twitter or Instagram! 

First of all, we’ll jump into the big one and no matter how much you’re going to deny it, deep down you know it’s true: you will miss your mum. Everything she ever told you that you disregarded as unnecessary and unimportant was actually true. She told you to save your money but did you? Do you regret that now? She knows best and now you wish you’d listened to her.

Your meal times will all get a bit muddled up. It’s okay to eat breakfast at 3pm and dinner at midnight. It’s also okay to live off noodles and beans – you don’t have anybody telling you not too, so why shouldn’t you?

The rules of drinking games will be imprinted in your mind! Is there much else to say about this one? As student, we like to bond with a beverage, perhaps (read: always) alcoholic so why not make it into a game? Whether its beer pong, ring of fire or never have I ever, you can guarantee that a drinking game is the best way to break the ice and get everyone chatting.

Never do your food shop during the day! If you head out to the supermarket during the evening you’ll be there just in time for all the reductions! If you think of it this way: cheap food = more drink money. There, have I persuaded you enough?

Fit? What's That?

Well, yesterday was my first day of the fall semester, of course, I've been thinking about getting serious about my work out.  Again.   It was hard to work out while I was in Kentucky because it was so humid, and lets face it, I was being a lazy bum.  But here, the gym is way too close and way too nice not to be working out as often as possible.  On top of that, ROTC is going to be pretty demanding as far as physical fitness is concerned, and I'm not about to come in last.
I've decided to plan my work outs every week in addition to PT with ROTC and watching my diet.  I'm not trying to lose weight, but rather get into the best shape of my life.  I won't be eating less.  Just eating better. Every week, I'll feature some work out that I did that worked well for me.  Everything I do is working towards my fitness goals and my Army Physical Fitness standards. 
This was yesterday's work out. 

This morning I woke up with abs so sore it hurt to raise my arms to fix my bun.  I took it easy on the legs because I have an PT test this week, but even still, I could hardly walk up or down the stairs when it came time to get to class.  Now that is what I call a good work out. 

If you feel like doing these work outs I'm posting, please let me know! I'll share everything that I do and not just one day's worth of exercises. I'm always willing to help some out who is interested in making themselves better!

iPhone Photography and Classic Vegas

How do I even begin to describe this weekend?  My mom came into town for the first time since I've lived here.  So of course, we had to do the "Vegas Thing"  I've had a few opportunities to do it with my friends but with my mom I had a lot more freedom and we could do a lot more stuff that I wanted to do.  After we ran a million errands and made room extra cute, we decided to go to the Mob Museum.  I know it's not the first thing you think of when you imagine Vegas, but it was so neat! a must-see if you're going to be in Vegas for a few days.  

While we were downtown, we decided to do another thing I hadn't ever had the chance to explore:  The Fremont St. Experience.  Of course, I take all my pictures with my iPhone camera, and I didn't really charge my phone before we went out, so my pictures were taken quickly without regards to quality, so please excuse the fact that they might not be the most amazing.  Anyway! Fremont street is the place to go.  Seriously, if you're looking to get that classic Vegas feel, there is no other place.  I think that a lot of people know that Fremont street is there, but they don't tend to go over there.  Well, I have some news for you:  It's time. 
The thing behind me is the zip line.  It's only $20! It runs the length of the street and I simply must try it.  They also have little bars, clubs, casinos, and restaurants all up and down the street.  There is a restaurant called the Heart Attack Grill. If you weigh over 350 lbs, you eat there for free...Once you get towards the end of Fremont, there is this brand new place called Container Park.   Container Park is a small area on a corner of Fremont Street.  It is basically a small district of boutiques, restaurants and sweet shops.  They have a big stage at one end with grass and giant Legos.  They also have a play area in the middle with misters for when it's hot.  It's seriously the coolest place I have been in Vegas. 

You're probably wondering why it's called "Container" Park.  Well every restaurant and shop is in a little connex.  They are tiny! I don't know how they shoved so much stuff into little train-car-sized shops, but they did and it's awesome.
Our next stop, while it wasn't necessarily on the list, was probably my favorite part of our whole night.  We stopped at Atomic Liquors.  It has the oldest liquor license in the city, making it technically the oldest bar.  Until last June, they were closed down.  The reason it was called "Atomic Liquors" is because it opened in 1956 when the Nevada Test Site was still testing atomic bombs.  You could see the mushroom clouds from the bar stools on the patio.  That might be a silly reason to love it, but it felt like I was a part of its history while I was sitting there sipping on my hand-crafted cocktail... By the way, someone remind me to give my mom iPhone Photographer lessons...Who knew taking a picture in front of a neon sign could be so hard...

"Just tap where right next to me!"

"Ugh...screw it..." Cue funny face.

In all this craziness, we also hit the strip, but it was our last stop and we were so exhausted.  We walked all the way to the Bellagio from MGM Grand and wanted to die.  But we had a very delicious dinner at the Rain forest Cafe.

All in all, an amazing night spent with my momma. I wouldn't have had it any other way. 

Settled In

Why hello!  
I hope you enjoyed my awesome guest poster yesterday! Jill has been a wonderful new addition to my reading-list.  I was also so excited that she contributed to the "Chalk It Up" series in the spirit of my blog's namesake.  This is a busy time of year for her as she is a teacher, but I recommend stopping by her blog.  It's one of my new favorites
I have a bunch of good excuses as to why I haven't really posted all week, but I'll spare you them.
Instead I'll tell you this, I'm all moved into the dorms at UNLV.  I'm amazed at myself to be completely honest.  Last year, I was so stressed out about it and had no clue where to go.  This time I was completely cool and collected.  I had a lot to do, but amazingly, I figured everything out really quick and had time to get cleaned up and go out on a date when I was all finished.
Don't get me wrong.  My room was not neat and tidy.  I only just finished putting away all my clothes and organizing things how I wanted them.  There's quite a few things that I still need to get, but I think it's going to be a pretty alright set up.  It's pretty small and there isn't a closet, but I'm trying to make it work.  Please excuse how bare everything is.  I'm working on making it a bit more homey, but I'm just not quite there yet.  Today I had to spend way too much money on some books, (one of them is just paper.  Not even bound) so...who needs decorations?

So far today I've purchased a parking permit, finished some paper work at the ROTC building, bought my "books", organized my room, and put off going out to my car for any reason...My parking permit is for a lot a good distance from where I live.  Dumb. 

I also graduated to the wireless mouse today.  About time...

My roommate is cool, the A/C works and I'm feeling pretty dang relaxed, so I guess that means things are good!  I hope everyone had an amazing week and has a fabulous weekend!

This Time Will Be Different

Well, I did it again. I made a huge life changing decision. It's one I've made before, but then, the timing wasn't right. I was overly excited for something that was very difficult to accomplish in a short amount of time.
I've been spending some time around the colleg campus in Louisville and I just felt homesick for that life. I felt, all of a sudden, like I needed to make a change.  Since I left school, although I've been working very hard and saving money, I have felt so very...stationary.  It was like I still new what I wanted but didn't really have any true plans to pursue it.  Being here and working with Cadets has simply changed my mind.  
I'm going back to UNLV.

 

Yep.  Real life. I'm doing it.  All I have to do is submit my immunization proof and I'm in.  It was so easy. I called the registrar's office and there was nothing to it.  A sign that I have to do it.

 

While I'm at it, I'm going to attend ROTC courses to later (hopefully) become a Commissioned officer.  Just thinking about it, I have butterflies. That alone tells me that I have to do it.  It was like I woke up this morning and just knew what I had to do. 

 

At first, I thought I was being ridiculous thinking that I could get home from Kentucky and start school right away, but now, it just feels right.  I know that I've said that before, but I feel so much more confident this time. On top of that, I'll have a little bit more money in my pocket. If you'll remember last fall semester I was ridiculously broke. Like so terribly broke I couldn't eat out. Like ever.

 

This time...it will be different.  And I cannot wait!

 

I have a checklist a mile long of the things that I have to do before I can go, but it isn't phasing me at all. Before I felt overwhelmed and stressed out, as if there was no possible way to accomplish anything at all. This time...this time will be different.

I Won't Let Them

Well, it's Friday. You know what that means?  I means that I'm all done with my last final. It means that it's time for me to put myself in my car and drive the 400 and something miles back to my parents house where I will live for an indefinite amount of time. I'll admit, I can feel tear burning in the back of my eyeballs. They're threatening to fall, but I won't let them... Instead, I'm just going to fill up my little cooler with some Red Bull, and enjoy the ride. Well, I'll enjoy it as much as a person can enjoy a drive with pretty much zero scenery...It's a pretty boring stretch of road between here and home.  I suppose I'll just turn this awesome song on repeat and call it a party. I think that will work. 

Ima #backthatazzup with Whitney today and just pretend that this day isn't happening...

Buh-Bye College....Buh-Bye Las Vegas. I will miss you. 

Don't forget about the Giveaway!

There Was So Much Fun to be Had

The day that I go back home is getting so close.  There are a few things that I am really looking forward to. I have a few job prospects, which will be nice. I like to start new things. I have an interview at a clothing store in Park City on Monday. Now, in all honesty, folding shirts at the Abercrombie & Fitch Outlet is not my dream job, but I would be willing to bet that it would be a good experience. 

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I'm even willing to work two jobs to be able to do that. Crazy? Maybe. But I like to be busy, and do you know how many famous people are just wandering around Park City?! Tons. I could meet all sorts of famous people.  That sort of job, while not my dream, could really be worth it. I've been attempting to pack up my dorm room, but I'm not really doing the best job at that. It' most just an enormous mess (insert shocked face here). There is stuff everywhere. But hopefully I'll get my act together this afternoon and get nearly everything where it needs to go. But it makes me so sad to pack.  I am really going ot miss living in Las Vegas. I was running around the track at the gym the other day looking out the windows and seeing the awesome Las Vegas Skyline.  I think I might make it a goal to come back here.  Other than it being ridiculously expensive to attend school, I've really liked it here. 

I had so many adventures. I up and drove to Flagstaff Arizona for a bluegrass festival where I paid for almost nothing because so many people were around to take care of me.  I drove to California couple times on these scary desert roads just to pick someone up and drop them off. 

That windshield had so many bugs on it I could barely see through it by the time the weekend had come to an end.  I had friends come visit me and we had all kinds of fun pretending we had money and drinking too much on the strip. 

I made two really great friends that I can always count on to tell me the truth.  and I survived my first semester of college without coming out on the otherside filled with hatred for shool. In fact, I kind of did sort of well. That was a nice surprise. 

I got to go to the Marine Corps Ball where I got to wear a beautiful dress, hang out with a sweet guy and make some new friends. 

There was so much fun to be had here and I think I took advantage of it. Sure, there were a lot of things on my list that I didn't end up doing, but I'll get there. I'm really going to miss jumping on the free way and seeing the fake statue of liberty. It has really been quite the past couple of months, Las Vegas. I'll miss you and I hope I get to return. 

Don't forget about the awesome giveaway I have going with this month's Headlining Sponsor Krafts for Kuties a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Few Ways You Can Tell You're A Little Bit Too Cheap

Yesterday, I was taking shower and making a solid attempt to shave my legs.  It wasn't really working because I think I've had the razor I was using for months. I literally can't remember the last time I went out and bought a new razor. Cheap or otherwise. I guess there are few ways that you can tell you're a little bit too cheap. The razors are just the beginning.  I have made two packages of toilet paper last me the entire semester.  I am still on my first bottles of Suave Shampoo that my aunt bought for me when I moved in in August.  Cafe Rio is literally the only thing I will splurge on and only because of the promise of an eventual free meal. 

Before I would buy more deodorant, I found the little crumbly pieces that fall down to the bottom and mashed those onto what was left and used that all. 
I do not drive if I can help it so that I don't have to pay for gas.  I eat a lot of ramen noodles. And I only eat free ramen noodles. These particular ones were provided courtesy of my ex-work breakroom  I take pictures of things that I want in stores to show to someone else who might want to buy it for me instead of buying it for myself.  When I got my nails done for the Marine Corps Ball, I searched and search for the cheapest possible place until I found a full set for $20. 

I do not laundry until I have exhausted every possible wardrobe option because I don't want to pay the 2 bucks to do it. On top of that, I still have the same laundry detergent my aunt bought me when I moved in August. 

I don't have money and I don't want to spend money...I'm a little bit cheap. Hopefully that will change when a little bit when I get home and my mom is feeding me again. That is something I am looking forward to about moving back home. A full fridge and cupboards of quick fixes...

Is there any shame in being cheap? I don't really think so, but I wish I didn't have to be!

Make sure to check out Krafts for Kuties Deal of the Day on Facebook!

Due Tomorrow? Do Tomorrow...

This fall, I began my first semester of college. I moved away from home to a new state to start basically a whole new life. 
It truly has been a whole new life, too. It has been an experience in and of its self just to live on a college campus. Sometimes, I look around my dorm room and I feel surprised that I even ended up here at this moment in time. 
In all honesty, I've never been all that great at school. Although I've always been stereotyped as the girl that has a 4.0 and always turns her homework in on time, I'm not. In fact, I'm far from it. I'm a professional procrastinator. As I'm typing this, it's 10:46 PM and I'm supposed to be putting "finishing touches" on a paper that has been assigned all semester. Instead, I'm blogging about how I don't want to write it while I've only got a paragraph and a half, and I really hate it. 

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I have been working on it all day. I've been watching video footage (that was even relevant to my project) reading countless articles about my topic, and actually making an effort to get this thing cranked out. But here I am. Not writing my paper. Blogging. Pretending I want to just be up all night writing. I'm going to have to get it done eventually...
But as much as I am disliking this little homework part of college I am so so bummed to be leaving. 

I haven't made a million friends, but I made a couple of them that I really like. I've had some really great experiences here that have been 100% worth coming the move.  Why does it have to cost a small fortune to get an education?! And by get an education I mean go to class, half-ass assignments, and get a piece of paper saying your qualified for underwater basket-weaving. 

I know that this is just a temporary situation. I'm not going to be an non-college student forever. I'm going to work hard, save some money, utilize my resources, and go back to school next fall. When I get there, I can continue to procrastinate, stress myself out and be an introverted young lady who can only really make friends with Soldiers...

No but seriously, I gotta get off here and write my dang paper. Hope you all have a fantastic Wednesday. I will once this paper is turned it. And written....Writing it is probably going to come before turning it in.