Wow, thanks for all the advice and stories! It feels good to know I'm not completely alone. I'm taking a break from studying and I tried to respond to as many people as possible but even if you're not quoted here, I am reading each and every post.
Then, know your strengths. I may not be the sharpest pencil in the drawer when it comes to quantum mechanics, but I swim in general relativity like a barracuda in a river. And even when my programming mojo fails me and I have to ask for help on that, I have people coming to me to translate a particularly idiomatic passage in English, or to read their report and help them to word it better and more clearly. So, find the parts of your job you do best, and latch onto them.
This totally made me smile.
I think I probably take my strengths for granted and tend to focus on my weaknesses, but you've given me a good reminder, thanks.
Kestra, if you're anything like me and you're studying something quite different from what you studied or worked at before, you'll be in the process of changing the way you need to read and analyse your coursework.
I think a big part of it is just being out of school for so long. I went from running a business to being back in undergrad and it's been a total shift in the way I think. Now that classes are getting more challenging it's probably highlighting that difference even more. Thanks for the words of encouragement, and I hope things go well for you too!
I empathize, Kestra. In my case, though, it was the exact opposite. It was frustrating because I felt like there was nothing to challenge me
Heh, half of my classes have been like that so I know where you're coming from. I'm always polite but I think one of my profs actually picked up on my boredom and I still feel badly about that. Honestly I think I'd rather a class be too hard rather than too easy.
What subjects are you having difficulty with?
It's a History of Psychology type class so it's designed to be difficult. I think it's particularly difficult for me because it draws on knowledge from all my psych classes, some of which I took almost a decade ago! That's a good tip about lectures though; I'll look into it for help with reviewing.
But through it all I found someone I trusted and loved to talk to and share with. A burden shared is not as heavy as one carried alone.
So true! In my most desperate moments I tend to ask my husband, "It's not really the end of the world if I get a B, right? ... Right?" He always answers the question correctly.
I see it as kind of like dating: if you never get any rejections, you're not trying as hard as you should be. So if you never feel stupid, or realize what you don't know, you're not learning enough.
Does that make any sense?
Makes perfect sense. One of the reasons I've gone back to school is to challenge myself so I suppose I shouldn't complain too much!
Give yourself time, and BREATHE.
Great advice, thanks. I will remind myself of this while I'm struggling to understand my reading tonight!
And, if you still don't get it, don't be afraid to ask for help.
I lost the illusion that I was good at everything when I was in elementary school! The problem with asking for help is that the professor for this particular class is ... not so nice. He's incredibly intelligent but also a bit arrogant. Sometimes I daydream during lecture about the things I want to throw at him.
People devote too much time to material they find easy, and tending to ignore and put off the material they find difficult. Which is the opposite to my approach.
I've noticed a tendency to do this on occasion and I'm trying to break myself of the habit. It's just simple fear of tackling something challenging, and avoiding that uncomfortable feeling when I feel stupid. Thanks for your insights.
If you're anything like me, one day you'll just have an epiphany and everything will fall into place.
You know very well that we're nothing alike.
It's hard to try new things - particularly as you get older - I am sorry to say. I've been thinking about doing new things to keep my mind stretchy - Karate or guitar lessons I'm thinking. I expect to be awful at either but recognize the importance of trying new things and taking risks. Good luck; although I suspect your work ethic will make luck a very small part of it and you'll deserve all the success you earn.
You've got a great attitude and I'd do well to remember it. Thanks for the words of encouragement!
Somehow, I did survive those years and so will the OP.
I always like stories with a happy ending.
What did help, was when I took a closer look at the brilliance and realized they were all working harder than me.
So you're saying I should be studying instead of posting on the BBS?
