Avionics News August 2018 - 55

clothing, pens, paper and the myriad of other small things
picture and how you fit into it. Read campus newsletters,
you need to live. Mother may have made sure you had soap
announcements and email blasts. The unaware students can
in the shower, clean clothes and dinner on the table. But once
miss a variety of opportunities. Perhaps it's free food or a
in college, these things are your responsibility.
chance to meet a famous expert in your field. Whatever it
3. Lack of teamwork. You often will be asked to work
may be, those aware of things going on around them won't
as part of a team. To be successful in this case, you need to
miss out.
pull your share of the load. Riding on the work of other team
7. Distraction. There are plenty of things to distract stumembers may seem like an attractive strategy, but it won't
dents. In fact, it's a major industry. Keep your eyes on the
pay off for long. Be a doer, not a watcher, because the doers
prize - that job after graduation. Activities that interfere with
learn. Eventually, noncontributing team members will be froschool aren't worth your time. Some things can wait until
zen out by the others in the group.
you are working, have paid vacation,
You can use teamwork in the form
and have the money to enjoy yourself
of study groups or companions to
properly. Stay focused.
KEEP YOUR EYES ON
help learn the material and understand
8. Fatigue. The majority of students
the reading assignments. You don't
in my human factors class identify faTHE PRIZE - THAT JOB
have to go it alone.
tigue as a major issue for them. Dorm
AFTER GRADUATION.
4. Lack of assertiveness. If you
or apartment life isn't necessarily a
have a question, ask it. If you have
quiet life. Furthermore, most of the
a problem, say so. Students often
distractions take place rather late, and
will remain silent because they think
students pay a price in lack of sleep.
they are the only ones in the room
It's hard to pay attention in class
not understanding the material. They
when it takes all your mental effort to
aren't. Raise your hand and ask. It's
just stay awake. Sleep is important,
the teacher's job to answer questions.
every night.
Except for "will this be on the test?"
9. Pressure. A certain amount of
all questions will be well received.
pressure is a good thing. It helps a
Asking questions will liven up a borperson get out of bed in the morning lecture. If you are bored, then it's
ing. Too much pressure, and a person
likely your teacher is, too, so speak up and ask a question.
won't perform well. Be careful to avoid putting too much
5. Lack of knowledge. Of course, you are in school to
pressure on yourself. Earning straight-A grades is a great
gain knowledge, but there is important knowledge you must
thing, but not if it messes up your life. A year out of school,
acquire on your own so you can be successful. I have seen
no one will ever ask about your GPA.
students show up in the wrong room or the wrong day. This
You can also find yourself in a high-pressure situation by
is related to lack of communication. Learn where you should
allowing distraction, lack of teamwork or other factors to
be, when you should be there, where the bathrooms are,
disrupt your education. Find the right amount of pressure to
where the cafeteria is, and all those other things related to
motivate yourself and avoid situations that will cause probyour matriculation. Read the syllabus for each class. I've oflems leading to excessive pressure.
ten heard students say, "I didn't know that," when the infor10. Stress. Stress is pressure's roommate. Like pressure,
mation was in their notebook in an unread syllabus.
you need a certain amount of stress just to be motivated;
Lack of academic knowledge will merely slow you down,
however, too much, and things start going badly. Stress bebut it won't cause you to fail. Colleges have remediation
comes a major factor when the other factors start building
plans so you can acquire any prerequisite knowledge you
up. For example, you may not have been aware of the quiz
need. Colleges assign students to advisors who will help
next week. You get distracted by a party at a friend's place.
guide them through their college experience. School presents
You party into the early morning hours, and now you are fastudents with many choices, and an advisor can help detertigued. At the last minute, a friend tells you the pressure is on
mine which choices are best to help you navigate your way
regarding the quiz. Now you get stressed because you should
to success in the shortest amount of time.
have studied instead of attending the party.
6. Lack of awareness. This is closely related to lack of
knowledge, but it is more situational. Be aware of the big
Continued on following page

ACTIVITIES
THAT INTERFERE
WITH SCHOOL
AREN'T WORTH
YOUR TIME.

avionics news

august

2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News August 2018