Padd Solutions

As a child, I heard three things from my mother while studying:

1.) “Hilly, don’t read with the light off. You’ll ruin your eyes.”

2.) “Now, Hilary, get your homework done first before you spend your time leisurely.”

3.) “I just don’t know how you listen to music while you study! Don’t you think you should turn it off?”

I can say, unabashedly, my mother was right about 1 and 2. After bragging about perfect eyesight for years, I am required to wear glasses while reading. The stint in my early teens in which I wanted to read every classic novel I could get my hands on (and only by a dimly lit window) “did me in”. And of course, I am queen procrastinator, so there’s another instance in which I should have listened to my mother. But, number 3 on the list still holds true to my study habits.

A corner desk, facing the wall, without music is absolutely boring and I get nothing done. I realize homework is meant to be taken seriously, but studying and writing at a desk facing the wall (sans music) reminds me of Lonely Lunch. Lonely Lunch required a naughty child to eat in isolation while their friends chat and share juice boxes 20 feet away. Back then, Lonely Lunch meant complete damnation and my two experiences with LL definitely served its purpose for punishment. (I was undeserving of Lonely Lunch, by the way, but that’s another story for another day.)

While I hear the rest of my house bustling with television and musical excitement, I cringe because I'm missing out (on the "fun" I usually find absolutely boring and mind numbing during the summer). In essence, the silence is deadly and my mind wanders without something accompanying school work.

In the comfort of my room, I crank up the tunes and study swimmingly alongside Elmer Bernstein’s scoring of To Kill a Mockingbird or Coldplay’s Parachutes. Oftentimes, I find a certain genre of music compliments a specific course. College algebra requires heavier thinking, but ... it’s my least favorite, so I’ll go with something cheerier like Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys to improve morale. English conjures moodier emotions, so I’ll visit the Judy Garland realm of my playlist. But, why am I able to multitask? Am I retaining the information?

Multiple studies show different results - some negative, others positive. But, I think it depends on the person. For instance, a Kanye West fan (do they still exist?) or a Metallica fan would find my iTunes library incredibly dull and boring and the music would (most likely) tally up bad results upon studying. Just as my study habits would suffer if I listened to their style of music. Let’s face it: what is pleasing to one person may be poison to another and displeasing sounds or sounds unfit to your taste are distracting. Construction workers jackhammering, clicking pens, tornado sirens - could you study with a constant stream of any of the above at a consistent rate? If you can, I applaud your patience! I also applaud those who study best in complete silence. I, for one, desire music in a studying situation and I think it shows through my grades.

Here’s my question to you, AC: do your study habits and grades suffer or excel due to music?

In fact, some of the reasons I am in Amarillo College are to learn, to improve, and to grow.

Procrastination isn’t something I just welcome into my life. I take its hat and coat, offer it a cup of coffee, prop its feet up, and humor it for hours on end. Procrastination is the friend who influences a person to do the wrong thing for pleasure over hard work. As much as I love procrastination, I’ve learned quickly - it isn’t something to mess around with while attending college.

Why do people procrastinate?

Today, I discovered a very informative - yet, very lengthy - webpage focusing on the vice of procrastination. We procrastinate over fear of failure, perfectionism, full schedules, and “because it works”. Everyone has a different way of procrastinating and a different reason for doing so. But, what I’ve failed to realize - until now - is how fortunate we are as students at AC. Amarillo College offers many avenues for those of us who fall victim to our “friend”, procrastination.

Amarillo College offers study groups, Writer’s Corner, math labs, counselors (tailor-made to your career path), and accessible professors who are concerned for your education. But, I think procrastination continues to hold some of us back due to pride or fear of looking ignorant - I know I fall into that category. Luckily, the support received through Amarillo College has pushed me out of my comfort zone. The instructors and counselors during my short time at AC have offered nothing but a helping hand. Go visit them! For lack of a better term, “they don’t bite!”

As I submit this post and close my laptop, I’m going to take my own advice and attempt a nine page algebra review. Sure, it’s daunting and I definitely wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy ... and, wow, one of my favorite films is on television, but, I’d like to be able to crack the door open when procrastination comes a-knockin’, pretend like I’m in my pajamas, and give it the cold shoulder.

And, readers have faith in yourself. Don’t let procrastination wipe its feet on your “Welcome” mat.

As God is your witness, you’ll never procrastinate again!

(I do not own the photos/screencaps used in this blog. Turner Entertainment Co. and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. own the rights to the 1939 classic, Gone with the Wind. These photos were simply for the betterment of the blog and if you've never seen it, you should. But that's just my opinion.)

Welcome to the first AC Video Blog!!! This is the first of a series of videos in which I will be presenting a variety of AC centers, places, departments, and activities that I will be checking out as a new AC student. OK, I am not that new : /, I have been taking classes for a while, but I have to confess that I come to class and leave, thus I do not know the AC campuses and what is going on. So, the best way to find out is to VISIT those places, attend the events, take some video shots, and publish them for you, my dear blog audience.

Yesterday for example, I went to the AC Carter Center. I wanted to see it and find what activities were going on. First of all, I couldn’t have picked a better day. I found a parking spot only 3 blocks away! Now, inside the center there were only 5 or 6 people. But today it was full! The Amarillo Open Fencing Tournament was going on. I invited my son, (9), to come with me. I thought he would be interested in fencing, since he often shows natural skills in making weapons out of anything, like a broom, when playing with his friends. So, take a look at the AC Fitness Center and also at the Fencing Competition.

Also, if you would like more info about the CFC visit http://www.actx.edu/carter/index.php?module=article&id=3&page=5

Yes, I am new to this college experience and I am accustomed to being hand fed by public school with extended deadlines, assigned parking (until last year), and a cross guard in elementary school. Imagine my amazement when I stumble upon the free-for-all parking and unguarded cross walk on 22nd avenue.

On my first day of classes, I left supremely early - or what I thought to be early - and soon discovered: there is no such thing as “early” in the realm of the Washington Street Campus at 8:30AM. Unless you are willing to camp out in a single person tent the night before like you did for those concert tickets, the term “early” is nonexistent. (At least, in a car, you have a little more comfort than the ground .. and a tent isn’t required. Actually, this idea is becoming more and more appealing.)

I waited for - what seemed like - hours at the crosswalk. Student after student and not a single senior citizen with an orange flag in sight assisting both traffic and pedestrians. I’m pretty sure I heard the Creedence Clearwater Revival's version of “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” before I was able to make any sort of movement. Although I was smiling at each passing person, anger and impatience welled up within me and God must have extended his helping hand because the coast was clear.

Then what I failed to realize previously is: you are entering a sea of cars all searching for a prime spot, and what I adapted to - almost immediately - was the fact that I should give up and park next to the highway or perhaps by the downtown library and walk.

After the soles of my shoes resembled that of a tissue, I finally reached the crosswalk .. and what’s this? Cars are stopping for me (imagine that!) as I had stopped for my predecessors. I felt like Moses parting the Red Sea, or the Beatles crossing Abbey Road .. and if I had enough guts, I might have paused and pretended to be Paul McCartney for a split second. “How liberating,” I thought, “college rocks.” Arrogance consumed my usual clumsy swagger, and I held my chin high.

These crosswalks, I’m telling you, could serve as a psychological confidence booster and too bad Dr. Leo Marvin didn’t consider this for “Baby Steps”, because it is genius.

Pretty soon the World was my crosswalk. I was taking liberties at unmarked parts of the street - always with the lawful thought “I wonder if I’m jay walking” in the back of my head. Nevertheless, I didn’t care who stopped for me or if they were late - too bad.

So, the next time you’re waiting impatiently in your car at a crosswalk, think of poor souls, such as this blogger, who need this moment. Fellow pedestrians, hold your head up high and realize it is your civil right to uphold traffic!