Name:     nate
IP:       129.118.172.59
Subject:  Re: Ignore this, part 2
Email:    nptimmons@yahoo.com
Website:  http://
Hey bud, sorry things didn't go well for you today. I'm sure that tomorrow will be better. And
the snow will melt very soon...it's baseball season - nature would not be that nice to the Cubs
to postpone their misery much longer  (I love the Cubs, by the way).
Well, I don't know exactly under what circumstances your talking about focusing, but I'll gladly
divulge my studying secrets. I'm sure one of them you've already guessed, and that's a cup of
coffee and some jazz.  When I'm really bugged out about a test, I'll go up to daybreak about 8
or 9 and just drink coffee and study. That really calms me down and helps me to focus on what
I'm doing.
For tests, I have developed a semi-elaborate ritual. When I study, I have started mumbling
everything to myself when I read over it. Studies prove that the more senses that are in
involved in learning something, the better retention rate you have. So not only am I reading my
notes, I am also saying them and hearing them spoken at the same time. Also when I look over
material, I will try to guess as to what the professor might put on the test - "If I'm Dr.
Lloyd, I like Rembrandt much better than Rubens, so I will put more emphasis on Rembrandt."
Things kinda like that.
Then as I'm walking to test, I'll just mentally start preparing myself for the test, going over
possible questions in my mind, thinking about the way the test might look, breathing deeply and
just letting myself relax. I do that until I get to the floor of the building where my class is.
Then all the way down the hallway, I prepare myself for success - picturing correct answers, and
imagining the joy I will feel after turning in a good test.
Anyway, I know that sounds kinda wierd, but I'm going to continue doing it because it seems to
really work. Since I have started doing this, I have recieved a high A on every test I've
"ritualized" in this way - obviously there are some tests I don't worry this much about (ie
Algebra).
So I dunno. I hope that helps some. But don't lose hope. You'll always be a number one in my
book, Cheese Weasel.~nate