Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Final Exams: A Uplifting Way to Procrastinate

Hey folks,

these are three blogs I just found that are completely worth taking the time to "productively procrastinate" and sneak a glance at...

Sassy Women is a really cool blog for women of color in their early twenties-thirties... check it out... its fun, serious and inspiring

The Change Blog... this blog is great if you are having a hard time getting/staying motivated and/or inspired. It is full of great tips... including... how to motivate yourself to wake up early everyday, being more productive and staying organized, living a healthier lifestyle, decreasing stress, and living more consciously... take a look, I promise you will love it.

Motivation Mama.... having a hard time getting started in the morning? Check out this blog!

good luck all, and don't stress to much...

peace.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

What I learned about being a good scholar in 2008

I originally wrote this just to post in my own house... but I figured that since it was useful to me, maybe it would be useful to you as well...

• Brilliance isn’t something that just happens, it is cultivated.
- Presentations and workshops stimulate your intellect, creative thought doesn’t just happen in an isolated vacuum. Make time and go!
- You must read and you must write notes about what you read. Read for papers, read for exams, read for classes and when you don’t have any of that to do, read what you know others in your field have read and are reading. You are more than capable of engaging those around you when you come to the table with the proper tools.

• There is a lot of value in being theoretically AND empirically strong. Don’t allow one to become stronger than the other. The scholars you admire most are able to study whatever they want, because they have the skills to do so.

• Your presence matters. Show up, speak up and engage your department.

• Living fearfully is not living.

• Your sanity, happiness and health are just as necessary for brilliant scholarship as your academic work. Never neglect yourself.

• Continue to build relationships. The people you meet now will be your colleagues for the rest of your life.

• A plan for the day/week/month/year/career are critical to achieving your goals. Everyday should be structured, everyday should be composed of a series of tasks so at the end of the day, you can feel that you’ve made some progress.

• Failure is an imposter. Things not going to plan just means there is an opportunity about to happen that you failed to anticipate.

• When you go to campus you are going to work, always dress the part!

• You are blessed to be where you are.

• Everyone doubts themselves sometimes, even those you admire the most.

• Sometimes you have to be able to respect the work, even if you don’t respect the person.

• Stay creative! Creative thought is what matters at the end of the day! ☺

peace.