Higher Learning

TDG: Don’t forget to eat

brianpeterson — Thu, 05 May 2011 13:42:01 +0000

Seriously. During your end of semester grind, it’s very easy to lose track of reality. Eating, as it turns out, is kind of important to sound studying, so please factor in food and drink a few times per day. Your body and mind thanks you.

TDG: Never more true

brianpeterson — Wed, 04 May 2011 17:24:26 +0000

I ran into a student a couple of days ago who I see around campus from time to time. I asked him how final exams prep was going, and he said that he was focused, taking one thing at a time so that it doesn’t all pile up. I couldn’t put it any better myself.

TDG: Don’t get it twisted

brianpeterson — Tue, 03 May 2011 15:28:02 +0000

No one said it was going to be easy. That’s what makes it worth it.

TDG: Celebrate

brianpeterson — Mon, 02 May 2011 16:25:46 +0000

Every day is a chance to celebrate success. Even days when you’re in the middle of studying for finals and there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel. The light will be there; your determination will help you reach it.

TDG: Excellence

brianpeterson — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 14:43:19 +0000

This is possibly the most important thing to keep in mind during final exams season: It’s not about simply finishing. It’s about finishing well. This is your playoffs, these are your championship games. Rise to the challenge.

TDG: Bring it back, selector!

brianpeterson — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 13:48:40 +0000

One of the true downfalls in final exams studying is the infamous “study break.” It could be an organized study break in the study lounge with wings, pizza, and soda, or it could be your own study break, simply flipping on the TV or computer after a focused 45-minutes of studying. You can get lost in YouTube or socializing, and simply not want to return to the task at hand. You need to wrap your mind around the fact that you are still on the study clock, and you don’t have time to waste. Before you take your break, remind yourself that it’s not an indefinite break, and be mindful of holding yourself to that.

TDG: Be There!

brianpeterson — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 13:44:20 +0000

When you are studying, you have to be studying. You have to be in the academic moment. You can be texting, Facebooking, watching TV, daydreaming, etc. This is counter-productive and only ends up hurting you. Thirty quality, focused minutes is real. Try it and see. (It sure beats having to stretch it to 45 or 60 because you were messing around, or not really retaining anything but not having any more time to study and then doing poorly on your exam). Do a focused 30-45, pause for a bit (5-10 minutes), then do it again.

TDG: Incentives

brianpeterson — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 13:39:51 +0000

How do you stay focused? Especially on a summer-like day at the close of April, near the end of a long, draining semester? You’ve got to make a plan based on incentives. Tell yourself that if you wake up early and get some quality study time in, you can take a longer lunch outside with some friends. Finish a section of your paper and then go get a smoothie. Do a close reading of a couple of chapters and then get on Facebook for fifteen minutes. You can’t simply do what you want when you want, not with final exams around the corner. A little bit of incentives-based self-discipline goes a long way!

TDG: Now is the time

brianpeterson — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 14:21:50 +0000

With finals quickly approaching, everything you’ve done this semester rides on how you finish the race. Stay focused! Tips and motivators coming daily for the next two weeks…

TDG: The Party’s Over

brianpeterson — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 14:38:15 +0000

The title says it all. Now go study for finals!

Belonging

brianpeterson — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:24:59 +0000

Yesterday I posed a question… “what does it mean to be a student of color on an American college campus in 2011.” This query was prompted by recent events at my alma mater and current place of employment, the University of Pennsylvania. Over the weekend, a student was verbally assaulted by a small group of his peers. This student decided to write an article about the incident, and how, after approaching him in a disturbing manner, speaking in a mock slang, the students he encountered then asked if he belonged at this school. These students, acting foolish, taking on caricatures that they’d seen on TV as a way to make themselves feel empowered in their drunken moment, at the expense of another human who was simply walking home, asked whether he belonged at Penn. What a funny world we live in.

I’ve studied and written at length about race. I’ve often wondered why others have not, because for me, in many ways, its been therapeutic. My awareness serves as a constant reminder that we can not claim to be post-racial or colorblind without first coming to terms with our racialized history. Questioning whether a student belongs has nothing to do with SAT scores, income level, country of origin, ability, or anything else. These students knew nothing about this man, other than he had brown skin.

If I leave you with nothing else, please understand that if you are a student of color on a college campus, you belong. Never question that. Never doubt yourself. If you run into academic issues, financial issues, etc., you can overcome them. If you begin to feel like you are less than someone else, simply because of your ethnicity, that’s a much heavier burden to bear. And quite frankly, it’s simply not fair for you to carry this. So don’t. As the elders say, “keep your eyes on the prize.” In my view, people only attack others when they themselves are insecure. Our 2011 America is much different than that of 1965. America in 2042 is predicted to be majority minority. If we are to ever become a true democracy perhaps, rather than having previously marginalized minority populations question themselves, we should be asking students who hurl such irresponsible, racist attacks whether they belong.

TDG: Colorblind society?

brianpeterson — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 17:01:40 +0000

What does it mean to be a student of color on an American college campus in 2011? I’ll tell you why I’m asking this question tomorrow, but for now, just think about your answers…

TDG: It’s Never Too Late

brianpeterson — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 14:08:01 +0000

Today’s entry is going to be a little longer, because I have to tell you this story. Yesterday I sat in on my third or fourth session of a doctoral class taught by advisor. She had invited me to unofficially join the class after she and I had a meeting about halfway through the semester. I thought… “it’s too late for me to do this class,” for two reasons. First, as I said, it was the middle of the semester. Second, I’m done with coursework for my program (so why would I want to go to another class… lol!). But I trust my advisor (she’s been extremely supportive of my work from day one), so I started going to the class a few weeks ago.

It was my turn to present on my dissertation proposal yesterday, to get feedback from the group. What I left the room with was a ton of helpful criticism, additional resources to check, ideas to explore, and suggestions to help frame my approach. This came through my advisor and about a half dozen of the other students. I’d been working on my topic for some time now and thought that I had a firm hold on what I’m trying to do. In some ways, I do, but this experience helped me take on new perspectives, which is what the process of learning is all about. So, as another lesson, know that it’s never too late to get help… whether you think you need it or not. (But, as you really start preparing for your final exams and you clearly see things that you need to improve, don’t just sit there and hope for a miracle. GET HELP!)

TDG: Money Time

brianpeterson — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 14:32:29 +0000

For many college students, finals are quickly approaching. You can’t wait for them to arrive to start your serious preparation. It should have already begun.

TDG: Quotable

brianpeterson — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 13:47:29 +0000

I’m really tryna make it more than what it is, cuz everybody dies but not everybody lives. Words for the weekend from Drake and Nicki.

TDG: Keeping it real(alistic)

brianpeterson — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 17:56:41 +0000

Who’s to say what should be the limit to your goals? Someone has the next big thing, whether it be in the music industry or the neuroscience lab. Maybe it will be you. But as any of the current big things will tell you, nothing happens overnight. Working toward your goals is a steady process. Plan accordingly and pay attention as you go. Before you know it, your labor will pay off; you’ll be on another level, doing it bigger and better.

TDG: Step by step

brianpeterson — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:25:45 +0000

Goals are great. They help you figure out where you want to go. But the more important thing that you must ask yourself (and answer!) is how will you get there. Otherwise, your goals will simply remain goals… potential energy rather than kinetic change.

TDG: Timing, Part 2

brianpeterson — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 21:05:54 +0000

If you’re always early you won’t be late. This is a strategy I adopted a few years ago after constantly finding myself arriving to events shortly after they had started. My goal is to now get there 5-10 minutes early. But it can’t simply be a goal… it also has to have a plan. More on that tomorrow.

TDG: Timing

brianpeterson — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:23:11 +0000

Better late than never. (That’s today’s lesson + an apology for it being delivered at 8:30pm).

TDG: Wisdom for the weekend

brianpeterson — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:04:44 +0000

You know the old story about “slow and steady winning the race.” Well, it’s true. But it also requires persistence. So persist… and progress!

TDG: Day by day

brianpeterson — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 14:30:31 +0000

Every day is an opportunity to be better than yesterday.

TDG: Eyes on the Prize

brianpeterson — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 17:06:20 +0000

Over here on the East Coast, we’ve already had a few nice April days. With the wacky weather worldwide, I’m not sure how other people are fairing, but the point is, Spring is coming. You’re going to want to put your books away and get a jump on summer. You’re not going to want to study. But you have to. You’ve come too far to throw it all away. Stay focused, handle your business, and schedule in appropriate downtime to enjoy yourself. Don’t just let the sunshine lead you off on all sorts of tangents…

Huffington Post Feature

brianpeterson — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 16:41:55 +0000

Higher Learning got a shout-out in a recent Huffington Post feature by my friend and colleague, Rev. Dr. Chaz Howard. In covering Ase Academy, the Saturday school I co-founded at Penn in 1999, Chaz echoes the message that I’ve been trying to deliver here on this site and is central to Higher Learning – we all have a contribution to make in inspiring and empowering those around us. I encourage you all to read and share this excellent piece.

TDG: Happy New Year!?

brianpeterson — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 15:24:29 +0000

2011 is 25% done. Can you believe it? Seemed like just yesterday (or three months ago) that we were ringing in the New Year. Do we want to bring up those resolutions? Maybe, maybe not. The bigger question is, what are you going to do with the remaining 75% of the year? What can you do today to get moving in the right direction?

TDG: The critical nature of critical reading

brianpeterson — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:30:44 +0000

Reading is Studying. If you read closely, strive for comprehension, and ask questions about the reading as you go, you’ll be using your study time much more effectively. Reading isn’t about getting through the required number of pages; it’s about grabbing hold of the material and making it work for you. See Strategy 3 in Higher Learning for more.