Self review.

For about a month now we have been doing the targets diary. Thanks to this exercise I have come to realize some basic flaws with the way I manage my time and some other inconsistencies in my study habits. As a whole, my study habits are nonexistent, I study in bed or lying in the couch, at the stupidest times possible, and I usually have the tv or my laptop right next to me, luring me away, and yes, I tendo to do the homework and other assignments jsut before the deadline. since we started doing the tragets diary I have been able to notice this and start working on some of these issues. I have (better or worse) set up a study area in which I actually go and do most of my studying. I have started to do my homework and assignents well ahead, the homework on theday it was assigned, if possible, or during the free periods that I have during the week, and even during work breaks. I have a new habit that I'm not sure if it is good, or not: whilst doing my assignments, if I get stuck somehow, rather than going away for a few minutes and get back to it (which usually meant watching some tv or reading a bit), I have actually started jumping to other homework or assignments and got to do them, or if not, going on the internet to browse some information related to the subject in hand.
So, all and all, I believe I am doing alright, my study habits have improved because of having to face regularly what I achieve during the week and not, and it has also helped me tackle some other issues such as my never making it on time.

Targets for the week startoing on the 6th o October

> Make it on time for all the classes!!
> Finish the Outcome 3 for maths to make up for Friday.
> Review the Italian vocabulary and grammar that we have covered so far.
> Learn the Kana and vocabulary.
> Organize my notes, if need be, get a new folder.

Targets 30/09

New targets:

>Finish the assignements due this week.
>Do all the homework.
>Organise my notes.

I know it doesn't sound like much, but after las weeks fiasco, I'd rather do the most important stuff, and if I can, tackle on some more, but not try to do more than I can handle.

Reviewing my last week's targets

Well, last week (week starting on the 15th) I didn't set up many targets for my own self, and i did do them Okish.
1) Coming back to class> Achieved! (I know it sounds silly, but experience tells me that once you start missing classes, inspite of how justified the absences were, it becomes harder and harder to go back to class)
2) Set up a study area> done, but could have done more. I just need to finish clearing everything up, and getting a comfy seat, everything else is in place now.
3) Memorising an italian poem> Done, got asked in class, and did fine.
4) French essay due on Tuesday the 16th> Done, I handed it in in advance.

So, all and all, I did alright. I could have done more, but at least I did what I set out to do (not much on the setting the Study Area though)

My study plans for the week

Well, my study plans for the week are simple.
1> Come to class.
2> Do whatever homework is required.
3> Do some french/spanish language exchange.
4> Decide what to do the Investigating Europe assesment about, and look a bit into it.

Pretty much, that's it!

There must be a better song to sing

Last week on IT Skills we got to see a movie called "Educating Rita". At a certain point in the movie Rita, a mature student trying to better herself by taking up higher education, sees her own dissatisfaction with her life put into words by her mother, when see said "there must be a better song to sing". Funny that.
A better song to sing. Once you've seen the movie, you realise that it is not so much a better song to sing, but a different one that Rita is looking for. For some, that particular life, that particular song was not just good enough, but all they wanted. Now, that problem is, when you come accross people sucha s rita and her mother. You have reflected there the two ways you can face this dissatisfaction, you can either try to move on, move away from that life, as Rita did, or you can go along with the motions, do what is expected of you and stick by it as Rita's mother did.
A better song to sing, or just a different one. I think it is all about finding the right one for you. It might take a while to find the right tune for you, but once you've found it, you just have to dare it, and try it, sing it, and see if it feels good, if it feels right. I believe that us, as mature students, same as rita, now a thing or two about this from our own personal experiences. We probably didn't like our song much, or we want to try a new one, and here, this is how we prepare and tune our instruments foe us to play along.
A better song to sing.