Got Straight A's this semester thanks to Steve's Blog.

[JohnPlace]

Originally Posted by seeker5

I'm curious, what was it that made you very determined to sit down and study 6-9 hours per exam and graduate as the number 1 student? What was it that made you determined to prove the teacher wrong that you can't get a 100 on the exam?

I'm asking because even though I got straight A's, I'm still focused on doing better in school so I can add more classes per semester and still get straight A's.

Keep in mind, 6-9 hours per test isn't really that much if you space it out over a handful of days. And it's especially not that much if you don't do hardly any other work in the class throughout the entire semester!

In some classes, 90% of the effort was bundled up in a mid-term or final. Heck, sometimes just a final! And in these classes, I might dedicate only 18 total hours to the entire class.

While it is true that my focus was always on the growth and not the grade, it is also true that the grade mattered. One reason the grade mattered is because I was going to school on a variety of scholarships, some of which required a fairly high GPA. I believe one of my "honors" scholarships required a GPA of 3.75; so that kept me motivated to do well.

Also, I have always loved learning. It's just something that clicks with me. I've never met a subject I didn't like! So while other people were out partying, I stayed home to study.

[JonathanBrowne]

Angelwing:

Drop out of pharmacy, take a break from school, lick your wounds and rethink your motivations. The longer you come up with excuses for not purseing your real dream the more chance you have of never achieving it. If you want to become a music teacher, BECOME A MUSIC TEACHER. Make a dvd that teaches people how to make music and sell it online or something if you want to make that big pharmacy money. Pharm pays decent, but its boring to pretty much everyone, and mainly tests your ability to delude yourself that the material your learning is important.

GET YOURSELF IN A MUSIC PROGRAM!

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by JohnPlace

Keep in mind, 6-9 hours per test isn't really that much if you space it out over a handful of days. And it's especially not that much if you don't do hardly any other work in the class throughout the entire semester!

In some classes, 90% of the effort was bundled up in a mid-term or final. Heck, sometimes just a final! And in these classes, I might dedicate only 18 total hours to the entire class.

Ah ok. Thanks for the explanation. Seems like a stressful way to approach doing well in class, but whatever works

[JohnPlace]

Originally Posted by seeker5

Ah ok. Thanks for the explanation. Seems like a stressful way to approach doing well in class, but whatever works

It was never stressful for me, personally. I really loved school -- I always have. Sometimes I devoted my full attention to a class. Other times, I needed to prioritize my time more carefully, like Steve did when he was carrying that monster class load. It is helpful to be able to juggle when you need to.

While there are some time-tested techniques for doing well in school, the journey of college is a highly individual experience. I always advise students to approach school in the way that feels most comfortable to them.

[keithlore]

You really, really are motivated for success don't you seeker5?

This is a very good example how to get straight A's. Thanks for sharing this.

[Liara Covert]

seeker5: Congratulations on your latest achievements. If you feel you're obtaining the grades to keep your scholarships, that's great, but are you ultimately making the effort for a deeper cause?What are you seking at the other end of the rainbow?

Angelwings: Don't despair. Each experience offers opportunities for learning. I tend to agree with Jonathan Browne. If you aren't doing what your heart and soul want, its extremely difficult to succeed. Consider the 2006 Australian Idol is a pharmacist who always wanted to sing. He suffered through school to get a job but his heart led him back to where he belongs. I also recentlt met a pharmacist who has given up his job to help his son run a flower business. He's happiest when he follows his heart yet admits taking risks makes him uncomfortable. He's doing the flower thing-to overcome fear.

JohnPlace: I agree with you that what we get out of school is a highly- subjective experience. Whether we choose to learn and grow is personal.

[veranadine]

Wow! You've been working hard.

You've really been putting the effort behind your intents.

Great job!

And congratulations on the straight A's!

Blessings,

Vera Nadine

[seeker5]

Thanks keithlore, veranadine, and Liara Covert

Liara: It wasn't about a scholarship, because I don't have one. It was about doing so well that I wouldn't have a chance to screw up. I started out the semester very fearful of messing up. I also wanted to do very well because I know high grades gives you more freedom of getting your job of choice. What I want is to get into the type of career I desire very much, the type of career I should have gone for when I was 18, but instead went and got a degree in something much "safer".