3 Ways a Failed Exam Helps You

New Semester Series Part Two.

Failure by Saudi Julia at http://www.flickr.com/photos/31078766

One of the hardest things about getting back to university or college is having to deal with failed exams. How on earth can they help you? Fortunately, they can, and if you attack them with the right attitude, they will help you. I'm going to show you three ways that you can use failed exams to help you improve your grades.

Old Man with his Head in his Hands (At Eternity's Gate) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It forces you to be honest with yourself

I know, this one sucks and you are going to hate me for saying it! Sorry to hurt your feelings, but, a failed exam does force you to start asking questions of yourself. And this is a good thing! Don't view this as a bad thing! The only way you can improve is by learning from errors and correcting them. You will need to start asking yourself questions like "Were my study techniques for that particular exam and subject-type correct?" For example, I wouldn't be using pictures to memorize information when you are preparing for a practical Accounting exam where there are going to be doing a lot of calculations and formulae-application. So, ask yourself questions about your preparation for that exam. This includes an excellent revision timetable correctly formulated right from the start!

Take advantage of your professors

Contrary to what you may believe, your professors and lecturers (with a few exceptions) actually want you to pass and do well. And when a student shows up at their door genuinely asking for help, and showing diligence, they will be more than willing to help. You will be amazed at how few students do this, and you will also be amazed at how willing your professors are to help you out. Remember, they were once students just like you. They DO remember the stresses involved in studying and taking exams. Approach them. I can almost guarantee you they will be very glad to help you. BUT, don't expect them to just give you quick solutions - you are still going to need to work hard - but their help will be invaluable

English: German-born theoretical physicist Albert Einstein. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Take advantage of the "boffins" in your class

This has to be done very diplomatically. Identify those in your class who have done very well. Depending on how well you know them, see if you can glean any information from them about how they were able to do well in their exam. Some of the really clever student tend to down-play their marks, others deliberately hide their techniques because of their own insecurities and desire to be top of the class, so you need to "walk on egg-shells"! But try make head-way and see if any of them can help you. You never know! These are also the people that often don't think in the normal pattern of thinking. They truly do think "outside the box" and their approach will stretch you beyond what you thought possible. Go with the flow! It is well worth it! I hope these help you.I've got some more coming up in the next post. Any more suggestions?

Turning adversity into positivity

Deutsch: Brigg Mentor aus Greifswald, Kapitän H. Möller (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you are serious about your studies, then adversity becomes your almost-constant companion. This takes many forms.

Financial. If you have taken out a student loan, your budget is extremely limited, and you are put under immense pressure to pass each semester. You are also expected to manage your finances well enough to be able to live. The end-of-the-month Salticrax (South Africans will know the saying) becomes very real! You find yourself inviting yourself around to friends with money for meals frequently!
Peer pressure. Dorm life, or Rez life can be very difficult. Either it can be a huge culture shock - especially here in South Africa, or it can be a huge temptation to a debauched lifestyle.
Academics. This is a no-brainer.

So, how in the world do you turn these adversities into positivity? I'm going to suggest five steps you can start implementing today that can help you accomplish that.

Money Bags Portrait (Photo credit: I M A U-M-N-B-N!)

1. Get financial advice. Speak to your parents. If you know they are not good with money, then speak to somebody that you know is good with theirs. Getting creative with your money now will not only help you in the present, but will also help you after you have graduated. It's amazing how quickly we forget good habits, so when you do develop good financial habits, keep them for life. 2. Find a mentor.This can take a number of different forms.

My suggestion is to find an academic mentor and a life-coaching mentor. Some of the good colleges with help you with that. Otherwise you may need to get creative and start asking around. The value of a mentor cannot be overstated. I hope to go into the qualities of a good mentor at a later stage - perhaps as a post or two next week.

3. Journal. But not just your "thoughts for the day". Write down the difficulties you have had in your past, and how God has brought you through those difficulties. Another list to journal regularly is a list of things to be grateful for. It will absolutely astound you how much you really have when you actually write them down. I find using pen and paper is much better than computer. Somehow, actual ink seems to settle in the mind deeper than typing does. 4. Spend two hours a week at an AIDS orphanage. There is nothing more humbling than this. Your problems will suddenly start to fade away when you see the types of problems and adversity faced by AIDS orphans and victims. You will not leave that place the same person that you went in as.

AIDS Orphans in the Biwi/Mchesi area of Lilongwe, Malawi (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

5. Exercise. Even if this means running up and down the flights of stairs at your residence, get yourself into an exercise routine. The endorphins that your body releases are natural morphines that get your mind buzzing. There really is such a condition as exercise-addiction! And that's why!

REZ_010 (Photo credit: Fiona Saiman)

Do you guys have any other suggestions? Has anything worked for you to help you through adversity during your studies? Please share.

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30 Second Strategies: Leading your team during times of adversity.(corepositive.wordpress.com)
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So who are these lecturers anyway? Seven ways to get to know them better

If you thought your high school teachers were weird, just wait until you meet your college lecturers! I remember when my wife was in first year of her Occupational Therapy degree, I used to sit with her sometimes during her lectures. I remember her Biology 101 lecturer. He reminded us of a tortoise. And even though he used a microphone, most of the time we couldn't hear what he was saying. When they asked him to adjust the microphone, he would hold it up to his face and say loudly "Can you hear me?". Then he would let it drop and he would carry on mumbling just as before. He became The Tortoise. I had a eccentric Anatomy lecture Dr Daly. He was very good, and his antics in the lecture room were hilarious. Sometimes he would jump onto the front desk and try and make himself into the shape of the particular cell or receptor we were studying.

English: Swarthmore Lecture at Britain Yearly ...

Image via Wikipedia

So, how do you get to know your lecturers better in order to improve your grades? Here are seven that I found useful.

Read their online bios. Find out what their field of expertise is. Sometimes you will get a lecturer that will be taking classes in one topic because they have to, but their real area of interest is elsewhere. This will help you to get extra help from other sources if the lecturer is not willing to get to know you and help you.
Make an appointment to see them one-to-one early. This serves a number of purposes. It shows them that you are eager and keen to learn. It also establishes a professional relationship that may last long after you finish university. You get to know what they want and what they don't want.
Ask them lots of questions. These are the questions that I would ask them : What is it that you want me to learn most in your course? What type of tests do you set? Do you expect a certain type of answer? Is your course knowledge-intensive? Is it application-driven? Is it calculation-driven? Is it regurgitation-expectant? Is it hands-on? Is it deductive/analytical-intensive? Is it creative-driven? Is it in-the-box or out-the-box? Is it stepping-stone material?
Don't try to be too clever with them. They have seen hundreds, even thousands of students, and they can see the arrogant know-it-alls straight away. Don't put across an impression of someone who isn't really you. Respect them. They have way more experience than you. And you can learn a lot from them.
Follow up your tests/assignments. After a test or assignment, follow up with them to find out what was good about it, what was bad about it. Ask them how you can improve. And then actually apply what they tell you!
Always be respectful towards them and be honest with them. If you establish yourself as untrustworthy early on in your university/college pathway, it will stay with you all the way through. If you consistently miss pracs and other types of tutorials, you will develop a reputation as a loafer. This will haunt you all the way through your years in college. Respect your lecturers, be honest with them.
Seek other help. Sometimes lecturers are not helpful at all, and when that is the case, then find senior students or other lecturers who will be able to help you through the year.
Ask them about a mentoring program. I remember when I was struggling with some of the concepts in Internal Medicine, the Dean of Students assigned to me a senior medical student who met with me once or twice a week, helping me with concepts and practical advice.