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After more than 10 years it's finally happening. I'm graduating. I was 17-years-old when I first set foot on a (junior) college campus. It was 1987 and I didn't know what I was doing. As they say - the more things change ...
Seriously though, I was not a dedicated student way back then. I found my classes grueling at best. I simply didn't appreciate the skill of learning. And yes, I have come to believe that learning is a skill. It's even a talent for some.
For me, it was a skill I had to develop. It started with the small things - showing up for class and staying awake. I found taking notes is a great way to keep your mind occupied. Would you believe that good notes can make studying for a test much easier? Who would've known?
The next step was forcing myself to get interested in the subject matter. Reading the chapters before hand helps, and you get to look like a genius in front of the entire class.
I won't lie to you. Like someone trying to overcome an addiction, I occasionally stumbled along my path. There were many term papers written the night before they were due. Half-hearted efforts have been put forth on many projects. And sometimes I daydreamed in class.
I daydreamed of a time when all of this would be over and I would be free to pursue my occupational and recreational interests. Well, that day is here and I am not quite so eager to be giving up the security of college life for the dog-eat-dog world of business enterprise as I thought I'd be.
In college, last-minute cramming, occasional class skipping and back-of-the-class snoozing are the norm. They aren't encouraged, but they are forgiven.
Something tells me mistakes like these won't be so easily forgiven on the "outside."
Hopefully, everyone who is graduating has been able to learn enough to help them succeed in their pursuits.
If you're like me, most of what you've learned is about yourself.
NOW GO GET A JOB!