Find Out Where You Shine
It is the rare individual who is superior, or even good, in every subject.
If you are, count your blessings. Most of us are a little better in one
subject or another. Some of us simply likeone subject more than
another—and don’t think thatdoesn’t change your attitude toward it.
Others are naturally gifted in one area, average in others.
For example, skill with numbers and spatial relationships may come
easily to you, but you may have absolutely no ear for music or lan-
guages. Or you may find learning a language to be a piece of cake,
but not have the faintest clue why Pythagoras came up with his
Theorem—or why you should care. Some students are good with
their hands. Others (I’m in this group) may find making the simplest
item torturous (and the results laughable).
The reasons for such unequal distribution of native-born talents rest
somewhere in the area between karma and God, depending on your
philosophy.
My advice is to be thankful for whatever native-born talents you
possess and use the gift as a double-edged sword. Shift some study
time from those tasks easily achieved to those that you find more
difficult. The balance you will see in your development will be well
worth the effort.
And if you’ve never really thought about the subjects you like and
dislike, use the chart at the end of this chapter to identify them. You’ll
also be asked to identify those in which you perform well or poorly.
(Your report card should confirm those!) Use this list to organize your
own schedule to take advantage of your natural talents and give
added time to the subject areas that need the most work.
And If You Have a Choice
All college students—and some high school students—are able to pick
and choose courses according to their own schedules, likes, dislikes,
goals, etc. The bliss of such freedom should be tempered with the
commonsense approach you’re trying to develop through reading this
book. Here are a few hints to help you along:
42 How to Study