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Available: November 2014
Go Boldly
Victoria Pilate, Ph.D.
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Go Boldly
The book helps students compete in various arenas.
The book covers topics like relationships, study skills,
internships, financial management and self-
development.
Head Check
Students have low self-esteem for a variety of
reasons. Some are carrying around the negative
voices from their childhoods. These voices cripple
their ability to perform and even to enjoy life.
In undergrad, I came across two people who, in
retrospect, I came to understand had low self-esteem
or, at least, self-esteem issues. For Madelyn, she
had been raised by her grandparents. Her mother
had had her out of wedlock while the mother was a
college student. Her mother had gone on to graduate
and have a career but Madelyn was raised by her
grandparents from infancy to high school. In talking
with Madelyn, it became clear she had a first-class
chip on her shoulders. When talking about her father
and her early years, a hint of resentment was clear. I
tried to be understanding that her upbringing may
have been painful and it influenced her behavior.
Although I considered her a friend, she would
periodically make verbal jabs at me and others. I
usually would ignore the comments but did confront
her sometimes about them.
At one job, my office nemesis, LizBeth, would take
verbal potshots at me quite often to my face and to
my office friends. It would range from a giggle about
what I was wearing to a negative comment about an
idea I had raised in a meeting. In dealing with
LizBeth, at first I couldn’t figure out the source of all
her negativity. Then, during a business trip, LizBeth,
another coworker and I were eating dinner together.
LizBeth started talking about her father and quoting
something he used to say to her and her siblings.
Suffice to say, her dad apparently wasn’t the kindest
person. Her constant criticism was just what she had
learned at home and she never shed that conditioned
behavior to ridicule someone else.
After that, her periodic critical volleys took on a
different meaning. Her goal, no doubt, was to make
me feel inferior or angry. Instead, I felt sorry for her.
Study Skills
Research has found that studying in long
uninterrupted blocks is more effective thank studying
in short bursts of time. However, short burst of time
can augment those long study sessions. Treat study
and learning as a continuous process. Look over
notes at end of day even if you’ll study a few days
hence. It helps to refresh the day’s lecture and also
with retention.
Your body posture is important for learning. I hesitate
to say never, but never study lying down. Although
you should be in a comfortable, relaxed position to
study, lying down is too relaxed and too conducive for
falling asleep. The consistent advice of cognitive
scientist is to be seated comfortably, preferably at a
desk. Give yourself periodic breaks to stand and
stretch; this also is associated with better learning. I
admire multitasking people who can read while they
exercise on a stationary bike or treadmill. It’s never
worked for me.
Distractions should be at a minimum. Libraries are
preferable to the distractions of dorm rooms. I find
empty classes rooms too barren for study; I need the
background buzz of libraries and the availability of
learning tools (computers, periodicals, books) to
study. Periodically when working at home, I will use a
foot roller to massage my feet while reading or writing.
Higher levels of alertness lead to better learning. I’m
a morning person so I am at my best and do my best
work in the mornings. If you’re an afternoon person,
e.g., at your best alertness in the afternoon. Try to
study in the afternoon and not at night. No amount of
caffeine at the end of the day can replace the
alertness and retention that comes with studying while
you’re fresh.
Research has shown that moderate exercise before
study helps with concentration; in fact, having a daily
exercise regimen helps with concentration. I keep a
hand-held weights near my desk to pump periodically
during the work day. It helps to get my daily quota of
exercise and also helps me focus.
Memory and Recall
Some people learn better when music is played.
Before you turn on your hard rock radio station; know
that this research is usually based on instrumental
classical music. And not all classical music is
associated with better learning. Not long ago,
research suggested that environmental sounds like
ocean waves or the call of whales would help with
learning and relaxation.
Tutoring
Tutoring is a good idea to augment the learning
process of classes. It should not be a substitute for
attending classes or interacting with professors.
Though rare, some students use tutoring as a
substitute for dealing directly with professors.
The success of a tutoring session depends largely on
you. Just as you would prepare for a class or an
exam, you should prepare for a tutoring session.
Read the material first. In undergrad, a friend asked
me for tutoring on economics, about five minutes into
the session I had to ask her if she had read the
chapter. She hadn’t. Her expectation, apparently,
was for me to explain the material from beginning to
end. It doesn’t work that way.
Tutoring is not osmosis. You’re not going to learn just
by talking with a tutor. Go into the tutoring session
prepared with questions on problem areas. If it’s a
session on a mathematics problem, try the problems
yourself before going in. The tutor needs to know
where things aren’t clicking for you. (S)he can’t figure
that out readily without something to go on.
Internship Tip
Too often students will not pursue internships
because of housing costs concerns. Though some
companies do provide housing, more often housing
arrangements and costs are the responsibility of
students. If you don't have relatives that can help, the
best low cost housing options for interning students
are hostels or college dorms. Many universities will
rent dorm rooms to traveling young people for their
summer semesters when college campuses become
ghost towns.
The book helps students compete in various arenas.
The book covers topics like relationships, study skills,
internships, financial management and self-
development.
Head Check
Students have low self-esteem for a variety of
reasons. Some are carrying around the negative
voices from their childhoods. These voices cripple
their ability to perform and even to enjoy life.
In undergrad, I came across two people who, in
retrospect, I came to understand had low self-esteem
or, at least, self-esteem issues. For Madelyn, she
had been raised by her grandparents. Her mother
had had her out of wedlock while the mother was a
college student. Her mother had gone on to graduate
and have a career but Madelyn was raised by her
grandparents from infancy to high school. In talking
with Madelyn, it became clear she had a first-class
chip on her shoulders. When talking about her father
and her early years, a hint of resentment was clear. I
tried to be understanding that her upbringing may
have been painful and it influenced her behavior.
Although I considered her a friend, she would
periodically make verbal jabs at me and others. I
usually would ignore the comments but did confront
her sometimes about them.
At one job, my office nemesis, LizBeth, would take
verbal potshots at me quite often to my face and to
my office friends. It would range from a giggle about
what I was wearing to a negative comment about an
idea I had raised in a meeting. In dealing with
LizBeth, at first I couldn’t figure out the source of all
her negativity. Then, during a business trip, LizBeth,
another coworker and I were eating dinner together.
LizBeth started talking about her father and quoting
something he used to say to her and her siblings.
Suffice to say, her dad apparently wasn’t the kindest
person. Her constant criticism was just what she had
learned at home and she never shed that conditioned
behavior to ridicule someone else.
After that, her periodic critical volleys took on a
different meaning. Her goal, no doubt, was to make
me feel inferior or angry. Instead, I felt sorry for her.
Study Skills
Research has found that studying in long
uninterrupted blocks is more effective thank studying
in short bursts of time. However, short burst of time
can augment those long study sessions. Treat study
and learning as a continuous process. Look over
notes at end of day even if you’ll study a few days
hence. It helps to refresh the day’s lecture and also
with retention.
Your body posture is important for learning. I hesitate
to say never, but never study lying down. Although
you should be in a comfortable, relaxed position to
study, lying down is too relaxed and too conducive for
falling asleep. The consistent advice of cognitive
scientist is to be seated comfortably, preferably at a
desk. Give yourself periodic breaks to stand and
stretch; this also is associated with better learning. I
admire multitasking people who can read while they
exercise on a stationary bike or treadmill. It’s never
worked for me.
Distractions should be at a minimum. Libraries are
preferable to the distractions of dorm rooms. I find
empty classes rooms too barren for study; I need the
background buzz of libraries and the availability of
learning tools (computers, periodicals, books) to
study. Periodically when working at home, I will use a
foot roller to massage my feet while reading or writing.
Higher levels of alertness lead to better learning. I’m
a morning person so I am at my best and do my best
work in the mornings. If you’re an afternoon person,
e.g., at your best alertness in the afternoon. Try to
study in the afternoon and not at night. No amount of
caffeine at the end of the day can replace the
alertness and retention that comes with studying while
you’re fresh.
Research has shown that moderate exercise before
study helps with concentration; in fact, having a daily
exercise regimen helps with concentration. I keep a
hand-held weights near my desk to pump periodically
during the work day. It helps to get my daily quota of
exercise and also helps me focus.
Memory and Recall
Some people learn better when music is played.
Before you turn on your hard rock radio station; know
that this research is usually based on instrumental
classical music. And not all classical music is
associated with better learning. Not long ago,
research suggested that environmental sounds like
ocean waves or the call of whales would help with
learning and relaxation.
Tutoring
Tutoring is a good idea to augment the learning
process of classes. It should not be a substitute for
attending classes or interacting with professors.
Though rare, some students use tutoring as a
substitute for dealing directly with professors.
The success of a tutoring session depends largely on
you. Just as you would prepare for a class or an
exam, you should prepare for a tutoring session.
Read the material first. In undergrad, a friend asked
me for tutoring on economics, about five minutes into
the session I had to ask her if she had read the
chapter. She hadn’t. Her expectation, apparently,
was for me to explain the material from beginning to
end. It doesn’t work that way.
Tutoring is not osmosis. You’re not going to learn just
by talking with a tutor. Go into the tutoring session
prepared with questions on problem areas. If it’s a
session on a mathematics problem, try the problems
yourself before going in. The tutor needs to know
where things aren’t clicking for you. (S)he can’t figure
that out readily without something to go on.
Internship Tip
Too often students will not pursue internships
because of housing costs concerns. Though some
companies do provide housing, more often housing
arrangements and costs are the responsibility of
students. If you don't have relatives that can help, the
best low cost housing options for interning students
are hostels or college dorms. Many universities will
rent dorm rooms to traveling young people for their
summer semesters when college campuses become
ghost towns.