Infantryman's tales: Harty's World Collides With The College World...

College is so easy. I have no idea why I ever thought it was hard. I guess I was just too young, dumb, and full of you know what to realize how easy I had it. Oh well, I'm glad that I took the chance and headed back after the army, cause really...it's so easy.

Nothin' but A's and one B on the transcript from this semester folks...But I will say this, some of my younger friends at school had a hard time with their classes this semester. I think it's just a lack of discipline on their part, but here is the advice I gave my buddy who struggled all semester with his classes.

Harty's strategy for makin that A on the final (or any test for that matter).

1. You got to study. I know it sounds simple and obvious, but I just can't believe how many of the kids that I sit around at school talkin about how they didn't study for a test, and then they are surprised that they fail it. Come on, it's not that hard. Put down the PS3 controller and pick up the professor's notes that he posted for you on blackboard and read them. They are HIS notes, stupid...the test questions are obviously going to be taken from HIS NOTES.
Personally, I try not to study the day of the test. I feel like if I try to "cram" the day of, I just get nervous and end up forgetting stuff more than remembering stuff. I personally will start studying for a test a few days prior to a test, and then stop the night before. Hey, you might be different, but it's worked so far for me. (It will come down to being relaxed during the test, which I'll mention later.)

2. Get enough sleep. "By cutting down on sleep we learn less, we develop less, we are less bright, we make worse decisions, we accomplish less, we are less productive, we are more prone to errors, and we undermine our true intellectual potential!" Dr. Piotr Wozniak.
I think the doc said enough.

3. Eat a good breakfast. "Studies have shown that adults who eat a healthy breakfast are more efficient during their workday than those who do not. Children who don’t have breakfast get sleepy at school, have a harder time paying attention, and tend to eat more junk food later in the day. Kids who do eat breakfast get higher test scores and perform better in sports." http://www.permanente.net/homepage/kaiser/pdf/6128.pdf
I always eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich the morning of a test. "Peanuts and peanut butter are a good source of vitamin E, powerful antioxidant membranes that protect nerve - plus thiamine to help the brain and nervous system uses glucose for energy.” It's said to be number 3 on the top brain foods according to most doctors, right below salmon and eggs.
http://www.healthtip4you.com/content/top-10-brain-foods-children-give-children-stimulates-brain-nutrition

4. Exercise daily. I'm a huge believer in exercise. I believe that if you build your body, you will build your mind. Exercising daily will also help get rid of that pent up stress that builds up through your daily life. People who exercise daily have a lot more energy throughout the day, so you will be able to pay attention more in class. Make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day as well. I find when I don't drink enough water during the day, I’ll end up with a headache from dehydration.

5. RELAX. This is the one thing that I see the most from a lot of these "kids" at my college. They wait til the last minute to try and cram the knowledge they need for a test in order to pass. They didn't pay attention in class, so they really don't know what they are trying to cram, and they get all stressed and nervous once finals come. Me, I just try and relax. Like I mentioned earlier about studying, I don't actually study the day of my big test. I study several days before the test, and the way I figure it, if I don't know it by the time the test day comes, then I'll never know it. The day of the test, it's all about relaxing. It's kind of like gettin ready for a big game or back in the army days when I'd get ready for a grappling tournament. All the training was the studying; now it's time to perform. Pull out that iPod, listen to some music, maybe upload a good movie on that iPod and just relax. It's like taking that hot chick you've always loved to look at on a date for the first time. Relax, cause if you show up all nervous and sweaty, you're just gonna look like an idiot. So put on that special movie, head to the bathroom, and relieve that pressure and show up to the big date with a clear mind; someone who is calm, cool, and collected will make a good grade on that test.

I know I'm not an expert in the ways of the college world, but hey, these are just my ideas on how to make that A on the final in Harty's world.