test prep.

Its finals week at MC.

In preparation for finals I have: drank A LOT of coffee, stayed up waaaaayy too late, watched far too many episodes of "The Office", not spent enough time playing with friends (mainly Mr. Luke), had to have a few changes of Study Scenery, and not enough time to make things.

The main places I like to study are my recliner in my dorm room, the quiet study room on the first floor of the library, CUPS, and the Quisenberry Library.

The quiet study room is awful. Its always hot and if you make even the tiniest bit of noise, you feel like everyone else in the room is looking at you and judging you because you have just been a distraction to their studies. I would say a good majority of the students on campus at MC are serious about their studies. Well this room is a reflection of the seriousness at seriousnesses best. I should be intimidated by that room because I am not a quiet person. Just the simple action of taking my backpack on and off causes an earthquakes worth of noise in the QSR (quiet study room). I think why I go in there is to challenge myself. Challenge myself to be quiet. Im actually surprised that I haven't been kicked out yet. But even though the room is stuffy and intimidating, I am productive there. I get things done.

I also like CUPS because its the trendy coffee shop and if I bring my own cup I get a 25% discount. Score. Last time I went to the caf and put caf coffee in my cup so I could atleast get one cup of coffee free so it would look like I was drinking CUPS coffee. This coffee was harder to get than I thought it would be. Instead of getting the Styrofoam cup I filled up my own. All of the caf employees were on their break so I had to strategically hide my cup, fill it up, and casually walk all the way around the caf to avoid anyone seeing me.

Mr. Luke graciously carried my cup of coffee to CUPS because it was sloshing all over my hands. Mr. Luke has large, steady hands. He only sloshed once.

I have been to the Clinton Public Library, the Quisenberry a.k.a. the Quiz, twice now. I went one time in the evening so I really couldn't see the huge windows that ran along the whole side of the building. I went there to study yesterday. I can only hang in the QSR for so long... and I actually think that you study better when you change location every few hours. Call me crazy.

The Quiz looks like it belongs... eh... not in MS. It looks like it could be in the mountains. I love it there. The huge windows (when its day time... duh) expose some rockin' scenery with a lake. It provided a nice study session. I was also productive there.

Basically I have been on a quest to find places where I am most productive.

I think I've found them.

I find it difficult to study in my room because that where all of my craft stuff is. I would much rather practice my knitting than read about the Constitution. Its been hard to deny my crafts and only read and write. But I'm sure that it'll pay off after my finals are over on Monday.

Then, I will only have one semester left of college.

When I went to junior college (JCJC go bobcats), I always referred to it as "little girl college" and I called MC "big girl school".

The plan after I graduate is to be in summer school to work on the Alternate Route program to be a teacher. I will now be in school for the rest of my life.

So I'm not sure what I will call graduate school... any suggestions. "Old lady school" ?

Anyway... I know some schools are already out of school... but I have a few JJ Approved Tips for Studying.

1. find a place you can be productive

2. put your phone away

3. allow yourself breaks (I study for about 2 hours then I take a 30 minute break)

4. make a list of what you want to do during your breaks.

my list for breaks last night was:

shower

laundry

sweep the floor -- the dorm gets so messy

5. make a list of what you want to accomplish while you study

6. eat candy

7. talk out your notes. if you talk about it, you apply it, you'll know it.

my first test is tomorrow.

I'll let you know how it goes.

I hope you're enjoying this weather.