(h) Write your notes in a way that sparks your memory most. You might underline or circle thoughts and words, draw arrows or stars by specific concepts, indent major ideas or details, change the style of your writing from cursive to print within each page of notes, etc.
(i) Make use of note taking and study tools
• 3 x 5 note cards that have short ideas written on them that might include mathematical and scientific formulas, definitions of terms, and general concepts
• an audio tape recorder to tape lectures
• a separate notebook for each class that allows you to keep all your notes, hand-outs, and homework assignments in one place
• a variety of differently colored pens and pencils that will enable you to prepare visually appealing and effective notes.
Help dealing with typical college stress
1. Practice stress reduction programs, which might include yoga or other similar physical exercises, deep breathing, bio-rhythm feedback or meditating. If you do not already have a program you regularly rely on, ask your counselor to help you find a program that matches your needs and your interests.
2. Turn to your favorite hobby or interest when you feel yourself getting overwhelmed.
3. Listen to the type of music that will calm your nerves.
4. Keep a journal or written record of your thoughts, including your dreams and ambitions, your day-to-day routines, things that make you happy and sad, anything that confuses or frustrates you, and anything that causes you stress or over-stimulates you. Keep in mind there is no right or wrong way to journal. Anything goes. I usually purchase a composition notebook or some other kind of book filled with blank paper and literally put a pen or pencil to the paper until my thoughts flow, even if this means I simply doodle and draw. Words often come after such simple exercises. In a journal, you can write whatever you feel like writing, not stopping to worry about spelling or grammatical correctness, focusing instead on your thoughts, ideas and emotions. If all is going well, your journal will be a great reference for you to enjoy just as you might enjoy a scrap book or photo album. But, if all is not going well, then your journal can serve as a record of when and possibly why things began to get difficult for you. If this happens, share as much of your journal as you can with a counselor, advisor or other support person so they can help you decide how to deal with the issues that plague or annoy you. This would be especially important if you ever come to conclude the stress is beginning to interfere with your ability to stay awake, sleep, eat, take care of your personal hygiene, study, make conversations or simply enjoy life. Stress can be crippling. Do what you can to control it before it controls you.
Appendix III
Employment Options and Responsibilities
I remember my first adult job interview. I had just finished my masters degree program and was interviewing for a job as a career consultant. During the interview, the owner of the firm asked me if I had much interest in the multi-media wave that was on the brink of bringing us hand-held camcorders, video recorders and compact discs. I shared my enthusiasm for the technology, certain I was making great progress with the boss. All went well until the man told me his favorite multi-media company. Rather than telling him I disagreed with his conclusion, or better yet, keeping my mouth shut, I literally put my index finger in my mouth, made a choking sound and screeched, «Gag me!». Suffice to say the interview ground to a halt.
Surprisingly enough, I was offered a job, but not as the high powered career manager my resume said I was over qualified for. I ended up working in a tightly cramped room with a dozen other women who spent their nine to five day sitting around a community desk working to assign otherwise unemployed people to temporary jobs. I lasted less than three months. How ironic that I would have thought I could be a career counselor when, in fact, it was I who needed career counseling. In fact, if there is one piece of career advice I would strongly recommend AS people follow, it would be that they find a professional, or at least a very knowledgeable friend, to help them chart their career future as soon as they are mature enough to give credible thought to the matter. To get everyone started along those lines, I have put together the following set of ideas that should serve to stimulate some creative thoughts and viable options.
Career choices: Self awareness and understanding
Before you can begin to decide which career path to follow, it is essential you discover the areas you are most interested, competent and comfortable in. Use the following list to help you make that discovery.
1. Make a list of all the things you enjoy studying, talking about and actually doing.
2. Make a list of your skills and abilities.
3. Explore the possibility of turning one of those interests in to a career. For instance, let’s say you enjoy sports. Brainstorm all the jobs that have anything to do with athletics. For starters, you might think about working as a team physical fitness trainer; a sports equipment manager; a journalist who covers games and players, or the history and philosophy of the sport; a sports memorabilia collector and trader; a ticket salesperson; a team’s physical therapist; a coach’s assistant; a grounds keeper; a sporting arena or field designer; or even an athlete.
4. Research your career options as fully as possible and determine if your skills and abilities are compatible with those mandated by the job. Among the factors to consider:
(a) The sensory elements of the job’s physical environment that involve issues such as the noise level; the lights and overall design of the building, office and/or outdoor grounds you will have to visit; and even the smells that you might encounter. In other words, is the area too loud, busy, crowded, confusing, overwhelming or visually disturbing to you? If so, will this interfere with your ability to do your best work?
(b) The interpersonal expectations. For example, will you be expected to interact with other employees on group assignments and attend frequent group meetings or will you be allowed to work virtually on your own? Will you need to talk before large groups of people? Will you be expected to write many reports and/or participate in peer reviews and evaluations? Will you need to attend social functions with the employees? In short, will you be allowed much anonymity or will you need to work with others frequently? If you do have to work with others on a regular basis, will you be able to do so effectively?
(c) The schedule and expectations of the job that might include abrupt changes in routine, changes in the times and days you are expected to be at work, rearranged or even canceled vacations and break times, the reassigning of supervisors and co-workers, new job skill requirements, moving to new offices, traveling to other offices, etc. In short, can you handle a flexible job or would you prefer a more consistent and predictable work environment?
(d) The schooling and on the job training necessary for advancement. Ask yourself if you are prepared, able and willing to attend continuing education classes and seminars that might be required of you.
Finding your dream job
This is a tricky skill no matter how you look at it. Two keys to success, however, are advanced preparation and practice. If you take time to do both, you should find the interview process less intimidating and far more productive.