After Class

Let’s delve into a story that took place during the spring of 2011, a pivotal time in my life. It was my 2nd year in college, and at 19 years old, I was navigating the challenging path towards my dream of becoming a doctor.

Reflecting on that period, I must confess that my college experience was far from joyful. In fact, it was quite the opposite – I was consistently disengaged, frustrated, and uninspired. The classes, particularly biochemistry, left me feeling utterly bored and perplexed, and the minimal studying I managed to muster felt futile.

I was constantly disengaged, frustrated and uninspired.

Then came the dreaded exams, and with them, the bitter taste of failure. As someone who had excelled in high school, this was a disheartening and unfamiliar setback. It left me feeling like a dejected and angry failure. The gnawing emptiness I experienced at that time was profound.

The natural impulse was to abandon my aspirations and find a more comfortable path. However, my parents, the unwavering pillars of support in my life, made it clear that while I could choose to quit, I would have to do so without their backing. This meant no financial support for necessities like food and lodging. Reluctantly, I acknowledged their stance and resolved to give it another shot.

The summer that followed was consumed by intense cramming sessions, aimed at redeeming the academic missteps of the previous semester. The hard work paid off as I managed to triumph over the exams, offering a sense of relief and vindication.

The experience, while not necessarily fostering a newfound love for my chosen field, imparted invaluable lessons. I came to understand the futility of last-minute cramming and the inadequacy of using it as a substitute for effective study methods. Education, I realized, extends beyond mere accumulation of facts, diplomas, and accolades. It should equip us with the acumen to navigate the expanses of knowledge.

Within this journey, I unearthed three crucial steps pivotal to knowledge processing:

Inputs

This comprises the absorption of new information, whether through study, research, or observation. It’s the process of uploading information into your consciousness.

Assimilation  

Here, the assimilation of inputs occurs, integrating them into existing knowledge frameworks, generating mental models, and inducing changes in perspectives.

Outputs

This stage translates knowledge into actions with real-world impact, whether through exam performance, teaching others, or practical application. Furthermore, this stage requires a feedback loop, constantly reassessing mental models against reality, akin to the scientific method.

When confronted with study difficulties, focusing on these three steps can be key:

– **Input Challenges:** Address them by increasing reading, studying, and self-discipline.

– **Assimilation Issues:** Combat them through self-testing, flashcards, and summary creation.

– **Output Hindrances:** Pinpoint the origin of the problem and address it methodically. For example, you might want to work on writing more convincing essays, or getting better at speaking in public.

In conclusion, you now have a way to troubleshoot your studying. Try it!