The Turkey Trap

It is almost time for a welcome break from Planet College. It is also time to remind students of the looming danger called The Turkey Trap.

Polly's story explains it well.

Polly heard the pilot announce 'Please fasten your seat belt as we approach for a landing.” and awoke from her reverie.  It had been a restful Thanksgiving break. She had arrived home Tuesday evening after an eventful freshman semester. She visited with her family, ate too much turkey and went on a snooze cruise. Saw friends, got caught up and now, as her return flight approached the airport,the cabin lights came on and another light went on in Polly's head. It was accompanied by an announcement that said, ”Oh my God, I've got a paper due for my ten o'clock class and I haven't even started it!"

Polly had fallen for The Turkey Trap.  Since colleges started giving students breaks students mistakenly had assigned these times to get “caught up.”  “Oh, I'll just do it over break” is a common mis-conception students have applied to work due later in the term.   Don't fall for it.  You will not do anything over break. Don't fall for The Turkey Trap.  When you get an assignment start on it right away. Finish it in as timely a fashion as possible. Over break pig out, kick back, visit your sister. Bounce your new little niece on your knee and just generally forget about school. Period.  That's what breaks are for.  Don't fall for the Turkey Trap. If you haven't even started the paper before break, you won't do it over break.

It Is Your Time, Use It Well.

While most of the other students rushed for the exits after the morning calculus class James was enrolled in, James usually waited in his seat. The exit doors always took a few minutes to clear out and there was really nothing to be gained by James pressing through with all of the other bodies. While waiting James noticed something. The board at the front of the lecture hall was covered with the day's work. James realized that having nothing to do and no place to be for two hours until his next class, he could just as easily start the assigned homework. And he did.  Since that time James has developed the habit of completing the calculus assignments right after the calculus class. What better time? The assignment is on the board and the work is in full view and his text is right there too. This practice has allowed James to free up time elsewhere, time he might have spent later on his calculus assignments.

Score one for James.

Observations like this and the resulting behaviors only come from practice. Showing up daily and using your time to the best of your ability.  You have probably had or have periods during your class day when it seem you had "Nothing to do."  A closer look may show this time can be used effectively for projects, assignments or reviewing current work.

Being aware is the first step toward working effectively on Planet College.  If you have not graduated yet you can figure that there is always something you can do, another step on the road to graduation.