You don't need more time.

Right around now some projects are coming due and others are being assigned. The big stuff, stuff that is a large part of your grade. Individual reports, group projects, lab assignments, you know the stuff. And right now, as you've seen especially if you've been around Planet College for a few semesters, nobody has any time. Every body is rushed, everyone's schedule is on emergency overload, everyone is busy, BIZZEEE, busy, get it? Or at least that is what the class negotiator will say when the instructor starts handing out the time and date for the way big deal assignments.

Oh, there's no class negotiator? You must be new. Because nearly every class has at least one student who as soon as these assignments are proposed raises her hand and says, "When's it due?" When the instructor replies with the date, that student immediately discharges a horrified gasp and says, "That isn't enough time." And. The negotiations begin. Experienced instructors know the procedure at least as well as the class and after much class time consuming discussion a reasonable alternative is arrived at.

Right? OK. Here's today's news. You don't need more time. Really. You don't. Everyone has the same amount of time, everyone on Earth. Some people get it done early, some people right on time, some later and some never. And in the categories just mentioned it is usually the same people, ever notice?

This term, when the which ever assignment is assigned, figure on finishing it, completely, with in the time assigned. If that seems impossible you may have a scheduling issue or a priorities issue. If you do ask for some help. No, not more time, more time management. Many schools offer as part of a study skills curriculum, time management. It is useful, simple and can really help. If it seems that, for you, there is never enough time look into getting some scheduling help. A little planning (and of course actual execution of the tasks) can go a long way, no matter when the assignment is due.

Get Your Story Straight

Seth Godin, A former marketing major who has done pretty well in his career since leaving school, often has worthwhile things to say about, sales, markets, and life in general including at times student life.

One basic tenet of Seth's business philosophy says we are all marketers. Well, ok, wait, he says all marketers tell stories. That is, people who are hired to represent products or services or people compose a story about their subject, their employer. This story is of course intended to put the best face possible on the company or person they represent. If they do their job effectively, you, the intended audience or consumer, the market, respond appropriately. You consume their product, applaud their performance, follow their career, apply for their service. If the marketer does not tell an effective story or tell the story effectively, there is little, no or the "wrong" response and the marketer/storyteller looses his or her job or account or position. Simple.
Well, not real real simple but not toooo complicated either. Seth goes one better than the area of commerce. He says we are all marketers, storytellers about ourselves. Worth considering. Right now you are a student. That right there is a big part of your story. What is the story you are telling about your student self? Much of it is what you say or don't say but a much larger part is what you actually do about your student 'story', about your student life.

Are your actions coherent with your general story about your student life? Well, are they? You know, you really do. So, ok, student, what's your story?

We'reeee Baaaack!

Avenue Q is much praised and awarded Musical which has run both on and off Broadway for several seasons. It features puppets and 'real' characters who together explore the dilemma a recent college graduate faces after graduation. Avenue Q was composed by college graduates (so people do actually graduate.) In honor of your return after a much too short winter break here is one of the songs performed by the original cast, I Wish I Could Go Back To College.

The link is here

Summer Dreams

Planning is a useful habit and Planet College is a useful place to develop that habit. By now it is obvious that not everything can be planned but somethings can. Knee deep in snow does not lend itself to planning for summer. Dreaming of Summer yes, planning, not so much. But. Summer is coming and some preparation now could be useful then. The opportunities of Summer are pretty well established. More hours at work, another job. Summer school class, an internship. They will be there. Which will there be for you?

Right now, one step toward a productive summer plan could be check out internships on line, the ones that start in June. The pre-req you've been meaning to take but haven't been able to fit in to your schedule, find out if it will be offered this summer. Departments often have their schedules set for Summer by now.

If you will be going back home this Summer do you have a job lined up? If you don't, you can start looking now. Snow does promote Summer Dreams, but it is your actions that make them come true. Summer is coming, act now.

Tell it to Janus

Right now Resolutions are evaporating as quickly as they were made. Resolutions, the New Year's kind, fade promptly but resolve lasts. With that in mind a brief look at a common college course might prove inspiring.

If you haven't taken Intro to Mythology yet here's a quick overview. Western Civilization is permeated with references to ancient gods, goddesses, demi-gods, semi-gods, deities and entities. For example the days of the week contain the names of Norse and Roman gods and the months of the year still retain a few other Roman gods' names, most notably Mars, March and Janus, January. In ancient times Janus was the go-to Deity for beginnings. Hence the first month of the year remains named in honor of him. Janus is pictured as having two faces, one looking back and one looking forward. In that distant past Roman believers seeking a blessing for an undertaking went to the temple of Janus. For an offering they obtained a key to the locked temple door from the priest. The key opened the entryway. Upon entering the seeker walked to the statue of Janus and made their entreaty. They then walked to the rear door of the temple and using the same key they unlocked that door and made their exit.

There are two significant points in this simple tale. First, Janus has two faces, watching the past as well as the future. Second, the same key opened the exit as well as the entrance. From these symbolic facts we can conclude a simple and profound lesson. The past is the key to the future. Your past is the key to your future. During this month of Janus, with a fresh start at hand, it seems wise to pause and reflect. A look at your past will tell what has been. A brief glance, no need to linger, should suffice. Has what you've been doing helped you toward your goal? For an Average Student on Planet College, for the most part yes, but, in some ways, no. You can probably sort out quickly what has worked and what hasn't.

This quick survey of your past is the key to your future.

Happy New Year From Planet College.

Pressing Ever Onward Toward Inevitible Victory.

The Planet College experience has been an international experience since college itself was devised. Exposure to cultures from around the world is one advantage, one of many, that higher education affords students.

To this end Planet College would like to present a virtual mainstay of Japanese student life. In that culture there is a head band evolved from traditional warrior apparel , a sort of Samurai doo-rag,which is often worn by students in that country when attempting a particularly difficult or important test. Those familiar with Japanese student life understand why this means that Japanese students wear these headbands, known as 'hachimaki' , nearly all the time. These types of headbands are always adorned with slogans, usually in Kanji*, like "Pressing Onward Toward Inevitable Victory". As you can see from the link the particular version displayed have a dot centrally displayed. This dot is a Japanese symbol meaning home of the Sun. ( Did you know the Sun is from Japan?) Like 'team wear' in the USA it, no doubt, has the value of promoting an indomitable attitude and solidarity with others so adorned.

If you don't feel like shelling out the bucks for one of the hachimaki in the example it should be pretty obvious you can fashion your own. All that is necessary is a clean, white handkerchief, extra large in your case, and a quick trip by the shop where that guy did your last tattoo. Those guys always know Kanji,and, if he's still in business, he can ink whatever slogan you prefer. About the dot, well, why not try your schools mascot or logo or something. But something simple. There you go. Now you are ready for your next big test, just like an old school samurai, pressing ever onward toward your own inevitable victory.

*Kanji is the Japanese written system of Chinese characters.

Don't Ask. It's a guy thing.

Gender equality has made progress in the last few decades. But there may be one area where gender equity may never be achieved. That is in asking for help. Or asking for anything for that matter.

You've probably observed this to some degree in your own life not just on Planet College. You're at the wheel, pressing through the night, driving with some female, your girlfriend or someone else's. From the passenger seat a soft voice caresses your ears. "Do you have any idea where we are?" Being a guy you say, "Sure." Whether you do or not. Your passenger remains unconvinced and suggests politely, "Why don't we stop and ask?"

No chance. Guys just don't do that.

And there is a sound biological basis for this behavior. Males, men, guys, us, are supposed to be in charge. In fact we are wired to be. We make a decision and move straight ahead, no questions asked. Females are genetically predisposed to be curious, to ask. You've probably noticed this in class. When an instructor says, "Are there any questions?" You reply silently,"Not on your life." "Besides", you think, "If no body asks any questions maybe he'll let us out early". Then from across the classroom a soft voice caresses every one's ears. " What I want to know is . . . " or " What if . . . " Or. Well, a question from a female, coed, girl, the opposite sex, one of those. While in the short term this may cause class to go on too long, at least for your schedule, asking isn't such a bad thing.

Try it. Next time you don't know something (and for most guys this is very tough to admit.) even in class. Ask. Just ask.

Who knows you might learn something. And after all this is what Planet College is for.