One, well, Two Misconceptions Which can Cost you a Semester of Work

I have many things to to blog about which haven't time at the moment. As it is, I'm just spending a few minutes blogging before I buckle down to a rather large load of homework. So before Socrates starts calling me, I thought I'd blog about a misconception my fellow collegians have which is truly pitiful.

Picture this: Understanding the Bible has just let out on a Wednesday afternoon and two friends, whom we shall call Michael and Jazmine, are walking behind me on the way back to mine and Jazmine's dorm. We three are in two classes, and so see each other every school day; we also have a very good idea of how much homework the others have done and, more often, what they still need to do. Now, I had learned yesterday that they both are several books behind in the Iliad - not such a good idea when there are reading quizzes. And as we're walking, I here them saying, "Yeah, let's turn on [a Disney film] and then go to dinner."

"Wait, what?" I think.

I know for a fact they both have work to do, and not just new homework - back work. Why, then, would they spend an hour and a half watching a film they've both seen many times?

At first, the answer appears easy. But it wasn't that these two just blow school off and don't care that they're here. I know they both worry about keeping up scholarships. And as for Michael, I think he does genuinely care about his work. He's really involved in class and is very faithful in making to class.

So why, then?

Well, the reason is a simple twofold misconception that most of my peers have - one which they have already paid for or they will soon pay for. They have been led to believe that they must divide their time between 1) schoolwork, 2) socialization, and 3) body needs (food and sleep, rest if sick). But there are two problems with this list.

The first is a misunderstanding of socialization. I could write for a while on this subject, but I will content myself with saying that socialization does not parties and events. Socialization occurs whenever you are in contact with other human beings. Thus, class time and dinner time ought to be included in the "socialization" aspect of college, though they do not exhaust it.

The other, deeper, part of the misconception is that there are not merely three categories - there are four. Time must be spread between body needs, socialization, class time, and homework. It is the lumping together of classes and homework into "schoolwork" which I think harms so many of my peers. After spending three hours in class and two hours on homework, they think, "I've just spent five hours of my time on schoolwork." The result: poorly written papers done the night before they're due and reading which doesn't happen.

So, if you're a student, or even a parent preparing a child for college, do not, not, NOT lump classes and homework together in your mind. The two must be thought about separately (at least, when thinking about time management). Don't let that bad thinking habit ruin your first semester at college.

And now back to my own homework. :-)