Saturday, May 02, 2009

Of Tests, Exams and Assignments

It seemed like forever since I last updated my blog so I thought this would be a good opportunity to update since I'm still having my 'holidays'. Tomorrow marks the end of my 2-week long semester break and I'll be starting classes again next Monday.

If you have been wondering why I haven't updated in ages, it's because I had been really busy with tests, exams and assignments. Well, sort of. Actually it's more of the fact that nothing extraordinary has taken place hence the lack of updates. There wasn't much to talk about. My first semester in college was pretty much a mess and it ended on a really low note for me. Time management plays a large role in determining a student's success in his/her studies and I feel that I have failed in this area throughout the past 4 months. I couldn't even manage my time well and add in some procrastination and you get a whole lot of stress coming in.

Sometimes it's frustrating to think of the fact that I'm still doing my foundation year just when I thought that I could at least get exempted for a few subjects if not for the whole foundation year. I don't really see why we should be studying Additional Maths and a subject called 'General Studies' (more on that later). Sure it's understandable if we are required to study English, Management and IT but Additional Maths is really unnecessary if you asked me. I suggested in a class representative meeting some time ago that instead of studying Additional Maths, why not study Business Maths or at least Maths that are relevant to what we would be studying in degree level. Not to say that it's easier but at least we wouldn't be wasting time, effort and money studying for a subject which is rather unnecessary. Too bad my opinion fell on deaf ears and it makes you question whether they really think that tough maths can improve students' analytical skills as they claim or just an attempt to add another unnecessary subject to the foundation programme, make the semester longer and hence the increase of tuition fees. What's 'General Studies' about you ask? Well, the subject covers time management, stress management, achieving goals, taking important notes during lectures, etc. The subject pretty much sums up how to study in college. Now I don't mind studying for that subject for the sake of getting used to college life but to take it as an exam and pay a few hundred extra bucks for it just doesn't really make any sense to me.

Got my results recently and out of the six subjects which I took last semester, I failed two - Management and General Studies. Needless to say, I'm a bit disappointed in myself knowing that I didn't really try my best for the past few months. Procrastination and maybe a bit of overconfidence have taken a toll on my studies. I'm going to ask for a review on my Management paper since I got a C- and there's a possibility that I might have failed by only a mark or two. It's abit disheartening but nevertheless I am looking forward for the new semester to commence next Monday and I will have to push myself harder this time around. For now, the goal is still to finish my foundation programme by the end of this year and Daddy God, I need You to be at the center of my studies, knowing that my self-effort will only get me that far and though I know I'm not the brightest student, I will achieve success by Your grace.