Procrastination-

Many say that the reason we don’t get things done is because of procrastination and I believe that is true to an extent. The dictionary defines to procrastinate as delaying an action, which would agree with the popular definition of procrastination. However, I believe that it is much deeper than just putting off an action; it involves what is behind the action of putting off.
If I were to put off a paper for science until the night before it was due, there is a reason. It could be caused by a myriad of things including not knowing the subject or just being so busy that I had no time to write it. One may say that these are just excuses for my procrastination, but excuses often have a grain of truth or what we think of as truth. I may have been so busy that I chose to prioritize the other things I had to do before this paper or I may not have known the subject so I spent extra time researching it so I would be prepared to write it. Or maybe I was just too lazy to do the paper on time. Any way you look at it, it is more than just the fact that I delayed the action it was the reason I delayed the action.
So at this relaxing and calm time of the year, why do I speak of procrastination? It goes back to the promise of a new semester and the reflection on the semesters past. Reflecting on what has happened and what is to come. We all need to realize the mistakes of our past actions and look to correcting or at least not repeating them in the future.
Procrastination is one of the biggest mistakes a student can make. It can ruin a semi-perfect semester by putting you weeks behind. Procrastination has, at times, plagued my college existence. The parental view of there children is a view of productivity and timely-ness, but it is far from true and every college student struggles with balancing there newfound freedom. The freedom most college students find themselves with can cause many issues. One of those issues is procrastination. In college there is no one telling you when or how to do your work. Yes, there are guidelines that will guide you to what the professor wants. But, as a whole you have sole responsibility for you success or failure in college. Manny freshmen students find it difficult to find there groove and end up with poor grade the first year. I was one of those people. I did not do well the first year because I was unable to get a good grasp on my new found freedom. I ended up with a 2.0 my first semester and only a 2.3 my second. This GPA caused me to loose my small, but important, academic scholarship.
Now I am in no way telling you all this so you will be scared and feel unequipped to handle the stresses and joys of college. I am saying this in hopes of having all of you take a lesson from my experiences, which is the reason I write this blog. In my second year of college I realized that I no longer wanted to be a culinary student and switched to the exploratory studies path. I started taking classes with the sole purpose of trying to figure out what I want to do with my college career. By the end of my second year I had decided on graphic design and started working with a new advisor to figure out what classes I should be taking. The staff in the academic advising office helped me immensely with the challenges I faced in switching majors. All in all I believe that my college experience has been the most rewarding experience of my life and I truly enjoy my time here.
In my second and third years I have made a complete 180 in terms of grades and social interaction. Since I switched majors the first time, I have not had a semester under a 3.2 GPA. This has allowed me to be an active member of many clubs and organizations. I have hit a high point this year with being part of six clubs and organizations. The most important of which include Radio SNHU, The Observer, The Enterprise Yearbook, and the LTI program. Through these and other organizations I have been able to grow my leadership and personal style.
The many organizations I participate in have helped me conquer the strange mistress of procrastination by developing my personal organizational and leadership style. My grades have improved and for the first time this semester I have attained a spot on the deans list. My achievements in academics have only been possible through my involvement on campus and I am grateful for all of the encouragement and support that the staff and faculty on this campus has given me.
So to wrap up what has become an incredibly long posting I will say this. When looking at procrastination and the past mistakes of your academic career always know that there is an underlying reason for it and the is always someone willing to help you find your groove!