Goals and Motivation

Earlier in the semester, I enacted five goals for myself to better my academic success this semester at the University of Virginia. So far, these goals have been perfect for my growth and success. I can keep up with them and I am interested in maintaining the answers to my goals. I continue to report on my status every week for each of the five goals. I can clearly remember and recount my goals, which is also a sign that these specifics are helping me throughout this current semester. For example, one of my goals was to try and get 8 hours of sleep every night. Not only do I record how many hours of sleep I get each night, but also I now sleep more because I am trying to meet this goal. I always think of it when I am about to go to sleep.

            My academic success is largely a part of motivation, as well. I have struggled with this aspect as I usually have little motivation to complete what I need to academically. However, after creating these five goals I am more motivated to finish my work and stay on track with the five records. Currently, my motivation is dropping because I have reached the middle of the semester, but I plan to change this immediately. I need to keep motivated and finish this semester to my best ability.

Reading Habits

            I usually tend to read slowly, and I dislike this very much. I easily fall behind in my readings for classes because it takes so long for me to complete the assignments. I try my best to begin my reading as early as possible, ensuring that I complete what is due on time, but this is rarely the case. When reading, I also very easily get off task as my mind wanders. I think about something else and end up having to go back and re-read over what I just read, in order to actually understand it. I plan on working to improve my reading habits and to increase my speed especially. With motivation, I will be more able to read faster and sooner than I normally do now. Because reading is such an important aspect to learning in college, it is crucial that I fix my bad habits now, so I can work on them and improve for the future. I need to look at reading as a fun assignment, and just realize how important it is to my success in academics.

            Currently, I am behind on my readings for my classes this semester. I have a test in the next couple of days and it would be much easier on myself if I had completed the reading when I was supposed to. I plan on doing this for the remainder of the semester, and in doing so, giving myself the best chance I can to do better than I did my first semester. 

To-Do List

            For this coming week before spring break, I want to get as much done as I can, and ensure a break with as little work as possible. The only in-class exam I had this week was this morning, but I do have a take home test to complete before Friday for EDIS 2890. Along with the take home test, I have homework to complete for math by Friday before I leave to go home. I plan to attend all of my classes this week, and it is necessary I attend my discussion section for Sociology Friday morning, as it was not cancelled because of break. I have some reading to also catch up on during the week, but I hope to get all caught up and be ready to continue working hard when I return from spring break the week after next.

Fixed Mindset Vs. Growth Mindset

Success in academics can be affected by many general factors as well as personal techniques. In Dweck’s book, she discusses the importance of one’s mindset in relation to their own personal success. There are two opposing mindsets: you can have either a fixed mindset or a growth mindset. A fixed mindset is the more limiting of the two, as it is not the encouraged mindset to have. Someone with a fixed mindset is focused on short-term successes and failures. They are not concerned with learning, but with showing they are already intelligent. A failure to someone with a fixed mindset can seem life lasting, and can even reflect an identity. On the other hand, one with a growth mindset is much better off in academics, and even life. This person is interested in not only succeeding, but in learning. Students with a growth mindset do better in school than students with a fixed mindset. The long-term benefits go to those with a growth mindset.

            Personally, I find myself as more of having a growth mindset. I was more of a fixed mindset student in the past, but have changed for the better. Working to learn and grow is better in the long run, and along the way I may still succeed. I will not be put down by failures, but be encouraged to try harder next time.

Mindset

In order to optimistically view academics, it is important to have the correct mindset. The new book assigned for my academic achievement class discusses this task. When thinking of intelligence and the type of person you are, many people believe these do not chance, or are unchangeable. I, on the other hand, believe that it is very possible and necessary to change your intelligence or who you are. Intelligence is constantly changing, as learning something new is adding on, and increasing intelligence. Also, you can better yourself as a person in many ways. Believing that you can change yourself as a person and your mind is an optimistic and beneficial way of thinking. This mindset is necessary for growth.

With the importance of mindset comes the way you approach obstacles. Depending on the obstacle, there are many things I can do to get my mind off of the problem or complete the obstacle. I usually, whenever faced with a problem, try to finish whatever the task may be as soon as possible. If I put off what I need to do, I can procrastinate for a long time. In coping with an obstacle that I cannot simply complete, there are a couple things I may do. I like to talk to friends or family, or really just anyone I can speak to about what I am feeling. Sometimes I turn to work or fun when faced with a problem; I can just find something to do to get it off my mind for the time being. I may go for a run, or work on homework, or play some kind of game, even. I like to keep optimistic when face with obstacles, and complete them with my best ability.

My Personal Action Plan

            After finishing my first book assigned for my academic achievement course I’m currently taking, I have learned many things in relation to academic success. By learning this material and writing personal action statements for each chapter, I am now ready to devise my personal action plan and a few semester goals.

            From Lipsky’s book, I learned how crucial time management can be to succeed in academics at a university. Managing my time is something that I have been working on, and now using weekly planners and to-do lists, I reduced procrastination greatly and get my work done much sooner now. Choosing a suitable study location is something I have just recently been changing. I have come to find that studying in my room is much more distracting than studying at the library. Listening in class is also very important, and I now know how to listen selectively and attentively and take the best notes that I can. When it comes to class readings, I understand the assignments much better now with many helpful reading and note-taking techniques. Using memory tools has recently helped greatly with my studying. I get more sleep at night and review notes immediately after class. Finally, test preparation for myself has changed the most. I begin studying for the test much sooner than I used too. I also make review guides and study with others more frequently. Hopefully all of this work and change will pay off, and help me succeed at my second semester.

Test Taking

Taking exams at the University of Virginia has proved to be a very difficult task for myself. Even if I have felt prepared for a test, when it comes to actually taking it I have a hard time. Starting my second semester, I want to try new techniques and better prepare for exams, and get the grades I want and deserve for my second semester.

            I have recently come to find there are many strategies you can use to improve your test taking abilities. To succeed in test taking, one step is to prepare well with the material. Teaching others is a great way to make sure you know the material, and also helps you see what you don’t know so well. Making practice tests and study guides is also very helpful. Test anxiety is a very common problem with test taking, and even though I feel I do not normal get anxious about upcoming tests, I can take away knowledge with ways to make testing more relaxed. Positive and optimistic thinking helps, not only in test performance, but life as a positive outlook enhances your success. Finally, when it comes to the actual exam and preparation, studying is the best thing o do. This semester I am studying much more frequently and spread out, hoping to improve my performance at UVa.