Metacognition: First Semester

I guess I can say that I've learned a lot in this past semester...although my grades probably don't show it, and I know B's aren't bad, but I'm essentially in a class chalk-full of A students.

Obvious points:

• Where I sit is not welcomed for when I take any sort of test, whether it be a reading quiz, essay, french test and more...I should just have found a different seat for the semester.
• Using one huge spiral for Academy takes up less space than 1 large, 1 medium and 1 small spiral.
• NEVER drop anything on the floor.
• Even though we go in the hall because it's "too loud" in the room, everyone is in the hall still making it "too loud", but we stay out there anyway.
• I still don't like assigned books to read over the summer; If I got to pick the book, I'd be more enthusiastic.

Less obvious points:

• My thinking or papers or ideas about anything has to have a head start. In class, I can't really chime in because it takes me a few minutes, hours or even days to really grasp the idea and formulate an opinion. With this being said...I should start my papers a lot earlier to make sure that I know what I am saying is the deepest I can go.
• Shakespeare still can't appeal to my taste. It might be because it takes me about 3 hours to get through one day's reading because the language throws me off, but whatever it is, I can't seem to get excited about Shakespeare. I can say that I've tried to be more open, but I'm getting to the edge.
• Although my grades might dip a little when I have extra-curriculars , I go a little stir crazy at home. At home, I think I have more time to do my work, so I tend to not get to it as fast. With extra-curriculars, I can exercise out anything, or give myself a break before I take school home with me. Homework I feel, is school that keeps you up really late. So, if I can do something before I get back to what I just had for 7 hours, I seem to be a happier person. It just seems to keep me a healthier person in that area of life.
• I need schedules and specific outlines, equations, formulas, the works. This semester I got to school at 7 in the morning. I then proceeded to do my math homework. Went to the same classes, same rooms, same hallways. During lunch I would do my chemistry homework and ask my friend to help me and then eat his fries. After school, I take the same route home. Then, I do my Academy homework and try not to question doing Academy...just kidding, but it's my most challenging stuff. Then my goal is to get a good 6 hours of sleep. Seems fun right? Well, I've noticed that any change in that formula throws me off for the rest of the day or week. Less than 6 hours of sleep and I'm too tired. More than 6 hours and I'm too rested. No chem homework or math homework, I get bored. Well, next semester I won't get to school at 7...math homework at home. Lunch at a different time...no chem help!! Basically, free willy work gets me too distracted. When we are given specific instructions, a format and it must be followed, I can relax a little. I've realized my frame of mind, or my thinking, needs to be in an order. Any change and I tend to go a-wall.

Things that need to be changed:

• I need more sleep. All my work keeps me up. People think they can get more done if they stay up later, but the consequences are that you will most likely suck at what you're doing the next day. You need sleep to function, but with all I do and all I'm given...the question is if I'll risk looking like a mess in school for those extra 15 minutes of sleep in the morning. Either teachers give less homework, or I can try to be a lot more efficient. I don't see less homework in the future, so....
• Actually learn. It's not just in English, but in everything I do. Doing well in school means you are good at taking tests, not how much you learned. I tend to get information, take the test, and file it away to never be used again. I'm not actually learning. I need to get rid of my file cabinets and make sure I remember everything that's said.
• Learn to make long term goals rather than short term. I essentially have my whole life planned out. I've got the colleges that I'm going to apply to, my job, my family life and what names I'm giving my kids, but I have no clue what I'm doing next weekend. Academically, I don't know what I'm looking at in the future.

So to be completely honest...I wasn't very fond of this first semester. I've done horrible on a lot of things, and that puts a dent on my long term plans. I plan to do a lot better this next semester, but it wasn't just academics that made this semester a downer. Tennis team was nothing I wanted it to be, the fun stuff from freshman year didn't carry over this year, and my life is moving full speed ahead. I wouldn't want to go back to this past semester though. Don't get me wrong, some things were extremely worth it and entertaining and most things were my fault.

Notes to myself:

• Get a more accessible seat at north.
• Find a way to not do math homework at home.
• Find a way to convince teachers to not give homework at all.