The semester is in full swing, which means we actually have to start paying attention in class, taking notes and using our time wisely. This is not syllabus week anymore, folks. This is go time.
It’s hard enough trying to ease back into school, let alone starting to study again. I find that the best way to dust off the cobwebs and get my study on is to get away from the places where I do unproductive things. Take my bed, for example. Freshman year I thought I could study in my bed all day and get all my work done with no problem. Now, I can’t even get into bed without wanting to fall asleep, so that place is a no-go for studying. Get away from your bed, your couch and even your friends, if you know you can’t stay focused. Get out and take advantage of the several places on campus to study. I promise you’ll finish your to-do list faster.
There are several different places to study on campus, all of which can accommodate even the most unmotivated of students. Studying can vary from taking notes to reading and writing papers. If you’re like me and you like to get away from the world to study (because you have the attention span of a squirrel) I recommend studying on the balcony in the Professional Writing Alcove in Gaylord. It is usually occupied by professional writing majors, most of whom keep to themselves, writing stories on their laptops. If the weather is nice, the view and the silence are enough to inspire you to finish your assignment or paper.
If you like a lot of activity around you when you study, the Union is always lively. The high booths in the Sooner Schooner room are perfect, especially for working on group projects. Also, the Beaird Lounge in the Union is equipped with cozy couches and armchairs for those who like to pull all-nighters and nap between classes.
One of the most popular places to study on campus is, of course, the Bizzell Library. This building is usually packed around midterms and finals weeks, but I find that on an odd day in the week, at the right time, you can find the Great Reading Room or the Bookmark empty for just you and your books. The best thing about the library is that you can go there by yourself or with a study group and still manage to finish most of the things on your to-do list because the library’s atmosphere seems to fuel everyone’s concentration.
This campus is much larger than you might imagine and, with a bit of searching and determination, you can find your own secret study spot. So, get out there and find it before somebody else does.