I love my classes, and I love my professors, and I consider myself a pretty academic person, but even so, sometimes a class can still be really challenging, and that's ok. The great thing about being at LC is that I feel like there's a good support system for me to get help from so that I can succeed.
Right now I'm taking political science research methods and given the nature of the course there is a lot of statistical math, and data analysis: two things I am not naturally very good at. As the culminating project of the class, each student is writing a full-on political science research paper complete with a literature review and statistical analysis, and in all honesty, it's a challenge for me. I enjoy writing research papers but the math is a struggle for me and I'm trying to work my way through it. So here is a pep talk for myself or for anyone who is struggling with a hard assignment at LC, and also a mention of some of our fantastic on-campus resources that help.
If you have any questions, feel free to email me at quentingaul@lcalrk.edu I'm a sophomore Political Science and Hispanic Studies double major, ask me anything!
Right now I'm taking political science research methods and given the nature of the course there is a lot of statistical math, and data analysis: two things I am not naturally very good at. As the culminating project of the class, each student is writing a full-on political science research paper complete with a literature review and statistical analysis, and in all honesty, it's a challenge for me. I enjoy writing research papers but the math is a struggle for me and I'm trying to work my way through it. So here is a pep talk for myself or for anyone who is struggling with a hard assignment at LC, and also a mention of some of our fantastic on-campus resources that help.
- Recognize the problem, get over yourself, and ask for help
- If you try to skate by and ignore the fact you're not doing well with something, it probably won't end well, so it's best to acknowledge when you may be struggling with something as soon as you can
- I have to get over myself in a couple different ways. Sometimes I have to suck it up and realize I should ask for help even when I wish I could do something on my own. And other times I also have to remind myself not to keep repeating in my head that I'm going to be bad at something, because then, of course, I'm going to be bad it. This is especially something I'm working on for math
- And the most important thing is to ask for help because learning doesn't happen in a vacuum, there's a whole college around you that is dedicated to making learning easier, take advantage of it!
- Office hours are fantastic
- I haven't had a professor yet where I wouldn't want to visit them in-office hours. They really do just genuinely want to help and they're there to help you so go talk to them! Or even a quick chat after class has ended can go a long way too
- Find a study buddy!
- Nothing brings people together like mutual suffering, who knows you may make your new best friend as your staring frustrated at some line of code that neither of you can figure out why it isn't working properly.
- Seriously, working with someone can help a lot because you can talk things out and it gets you out of your own head.
- Use on-campus resources-- they're there for a reason!
- Office hours might be the best place to start for help, but there are also tons and tons of on-campus services and resources that are there to help you. Here are a few bellow:
- The Writing Center- walk-in hours with peers, and appointments with professors to help you with all your writing needs
- The SQRQ- The Symbolic and Quantitative Reasoning Center is the place to be if you need any math or science help. It's also full of tutors for everything from computer science to algebra to economics and it's a fantastic environment to study in
- The ILC- the Interactive Learning Center is dedicated to helping you learn whatever language you happen to be studying. There are dedicated language fellows for all the languages LC offers and they're great
- SAAB tutors- if some class doesn't fit in one of the above categories of help, it might have a SAAB tutor sponsored by the student academic affairs board. SAAB tutors are students who have take a class and excelled in it, and they are there to help tutor you in it
- SSS- Student Support Services help anyone with learning differences get accommodations, and they help anyone experiencing and illness or injury or any circumstance where they might need extra support.
If you have any questions, feel free to email me at quentingaul@lcalrk.edu I'm a sophomore Political Science and Hispanic Studies double major, ask me anything!