Inspiration
A seminar discussion today focused on the need for communication between the natural sciences and the social sciences, with an emphasis on environmental policy having to be an amalgamation of the two fields. I think that, more than any other discussion so far, struck a chord with me. Many things were very uncertain to me about the program and LSE when I arrived. Some still remain uncertain. Before arriving, I hoped to be able to use my degree to work in furthering scientific knowledge in nonscientific fields, or to be able to bring closer in some way two communities that rarely make themselves understood to the other. I guess I need to read up on Kuhn’s Paradigms now, and really start thinking of the philosophy of my field in addition to the masses of reading already on the table.
That brings me to another point. I’m horrible at timetabling myself. I know I’m not stupid, at least not to the point of being unable to comprehend material at university level. I just seem to have a problem with concentrating and getting stuff done. That’s what I think, anyway. Somehow everyone else seems to buckle but not break under the course load, and do well on essays in spite of heavy partying. I seem to get nothing done under the pressure.
Am I just really bad at concentrating, leading me to waste time in the library? I’m so used to doing well in school that getting papers back with mid-range grades is disappointing and even disheartening. On the other hand, I’m even more determined to do better now, but I’m afraid my time with these essays is running out. I’m just confused about how I should go about getting back on track. What needs to change, both in the way I work and about my surroundings, to force me to work harder and get into an analytical state of mind when the situation calls for it?
I’m glad the class essays have no bearing on my final grade. However, how I do on them determines what material I have to study from come exam time, and to improve on them will take time and resources I may not have in the spring. Also, in order to form a solid foundation for further work, I should grasp these first-semester topics pretty firmly. It’s the same thing with presentations: The presentations we make for our classmates are supposed to introduce them to the complexities of the issues, and a lacking presentation will not do that, making work harder for everyone else.
In the space of two weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of showing two friends from Finland around the fine city of London. They’ve both been very short visits, but it’s frankly all I could spare even though I would have loved to do more. Good thing then that both were just stopping by. In those few days last week and the week before, I’ve realized that I have learned and do know something about London, after all. I can’t say exactly what that something is, but somehow I feel comfortable here.
November 29th, 2006 at 13:41
Sounds to me you’re just stressed out, which wouldn’t be much of a stretch given your change of location and new studying culture. But it’s just a little further until the Christmas break, I’m sure you can get your head together before getting back to it.
Myself, I’m terrible at studying, unless I’m genuinely very interested in what I’m doing. Maybe you should concentrate more on a given task and not worry about everything else there is to do? Or split your time into reading days and writing days? But some sort of study plan may be required to get you on track.
Or maybe you just need to accept that you may not be very good with the methods your current school uses. No harm there, but if serious work just doesn’t cut it, why bang your head on the wall? I still remember giving up on reaching for straight As, and being much happier for it.
November 29th, 2006 at 16:15
Stressed out is right. I could write a lot on the pressure to do well that is present at the School, but that’s maybe for another post.
I decided to cut my losses and write an essay based on material I presented in class. That way I have some familiarity with the central literature and can finish that one reasonably quickly. I know it’s a cop-out but at least I’ll have something to hand in. Then I’ll have the Christmas break to get my system organized.
I’m not giving up on excellent grades quite yet. While I was pretty down while writing that post, and in some ways still am, I’m pretty sure that most of the issues now stem from a cultural shift and completely new styles of teaching. Or lack of teaching, as it may be. We’ll see what I end up with.
December 2nd, 2006 at 17:07
I have a solution to all your problems= Ritalin!