Reflections on studying ahead of time...

Procrastination was in my blood – yes, was. I was in the business of saving things for tomorrow. Homework? Least save those pleasures for later. Reading? I can do that on Sunday. I have time.

However, on Sunday evening, when I’m supposed to have that time, I’m too tired; a good show comes on TV; my friends want to hang out; I discover some great music. Those problems occurred throughout high school and college, yet all that has changed. I’ve thankfully defeated the procrastination monster, but how?

Perhaps working within the trenches of the 40-hour workweek before medical school enabled me to appreciate the importance of free time? Instead of spreading out work and study along the 24-hour day interspersed with breaks, naps, and leisure, my day partitioned into 8 hours of pure work followed by 8-10 hours of nothing. I freaked out. However, I eventually found the abundant free time liberating for other activities: reading, writing, socializing, cultur-izing. Upon, returning to school, I had grown so accustomed to those little pleasures that I force myself to study ahead of time to enjoy them. I have no time to procrastinate!

Perhaps planning ahead more helps? In my two months of school, I’ve visited Michigan twice, accommodated for guests, given tours of campus, attended social functions, and planned social functions. In college, this usually happened without warning, so I had the appearance of free time, which filled quickly. Now, I have a similar amount of extracurricular and social activities; however, I now have advance notice – which reflects what happens in the real world. For example, because I knew my partner was visiting three weeks in advance, I was able to allot enough study time before his arrival. I have no time to procrastinate!

There could be other reasons: Perhaps the stress radiating from the other students keeps me in line? Perhaps the fast-paced New York City lifestyle rushes me into doing work? Perhaps my homesickness keeps me in focus? Perhaps my partner’s influence keeps me in check?

Either way, this reflects my transformation from a student into a real adult. Am I ready for this?

You know it's sad when...

you visit the Kandinsky exhibit at the Guggenheim with your partner and see nothing but cellular organelles-- Look! a golgi body!


Composition 9
by Wassily Kandinsky
(1936)