Focus Focus Focus

Film students learn early the importance of focus. They ask themselves often is this scene in focus? In fact, on bigger budgeted films one full time crew member is the focus puller. This is how important focus is to film making.

Filmmakers, who are essentially visual storytellers, know that focus is a function of purpose. When the purpose is to tell a compelling story, i.e. make a good movie, the focus for each scene is clear. Does this scene contribute to the overall purpose of the film? If so, then it is important to keep this scene in focus.

If focus is this important for film makers then how much more important is it for you? In the ongoing comedy/ drama that has been your career on Planet College you may have lost and regained focus many times. Maintaining focus is crucial to your eventual graduation and your return to Earth with your degree. In order to stay in focus it is simply good practice to stop often and ask yourself. What am I doing here? What is my focus? Whether it is a class, a school function, the library or your job your purpose is your degree. Your diploma. Graduation. Keep your graduation in focus no matter how blurry the daily picture gets.

Focus, focus, focus.

Going to Campus or Returning to Campus?

Veterans who have been around Planet College for a few semesters realize there is a significant difference between going to campus or returning to campus.

Originally going to campus meant how many hair dryers should I bring? Will my roommate mind my pet snake and I swear to God I wont be able to sleep unless I find a duvet that matches the drapes in my dorm room.

For experienced students returning to campus means just the essentials. Little that seemed so critical freshman year remains as a priority. The pet snake crawled off long ago, if the place has drapes that's a real plus and who sleeps.

There is one thing which remains among the most critical of essentials for new or returning students. Bring your brain. Sure you will be automatically enrolled in that Anthro class you wait listed. The RA is cool and won't mind if your best friend sleeps over for most of the semester. You don't care whose meal plan you eat off of. See? You have the basics covered.

And hopefully by now your personal computing unit, your brain, is fully hooked up and among other things attends class right along with you.

Your brain? Don't leave home without it.

Fee Infestation

Fees are everywhere on Planet College. Materials fees. Lab fees. Late fees. Library fees. Planet College is infested with fees. No matter how careful a student is fees occur. They add up over the term and fees must be paid. Fees represent a slow leak in the ever flattening tire of your financial bicycle wheel. Sometimes the best you can do with your limited finances is slow the leak.

The real key to financial management is keeping as much of your money as you can and fees maybe an opportunity to do so. Specifically the fees that your bank or credit card company charges at ATMs for withdrawals. (You can check that flimsy little booklet you got with the card to see what the policy of your financial institution is. That is if you still have it.)

Without even checking you are probably aware that there are some fees involved almost every time you use one of your bank cards. But some places charge far more than others. Specifically, the ATM outside your schools bookstore may charge as much as two dollars for a withdrawal. This is in addition to your bank's charge for not using their atm. Inside the bookstore is a different story. Many large retail institutions, drug stores, grocery stores and even your school's book store do not charge a fee for your credit, check or debit card use. Thus going inside the student store purchasing a pack of gum or some paper and asking for cash back may save you money. Real money. Your real money.

Remember this when you need a quick twenty bucks.