Textbook Tightrope

~ 17 ~ Sophomore in college ~ Texas ~ Studygram @ textbooktightrope on Instagram ~

[atraversso]

Winter Secrets (photoset: by Bill Dolak)

Please don’t delete the link to the photographers/artists, thanks!

[eintsein]

A GUIDE TO MAKING EFFECTIVE SLIDES aka how to create presentation slides that actually improve your presentation

By Eintsein

(apologies for the variation in image quality. idk what went wrong with tumblr)

[theorganisedstudent]

eleven little self care tips for students

Get enough sleep. Your brain needs it. Set yourself a ‘bed time’ and fall into the routine of going to bed and waking up at the same times each day.

Drink water and lots of it. Aim for 2 litres a day. This one’s easy, you can do it. Ditch the juices and carbonated beverages, just add a slice of lemon to your water if you feel like something fancy.

Allow yourself to switch off. Don’t be afraid to read books that have nothing to do with your studies. Go to the cinema. Work out. Take your mind away from your workload.

Take care of your skin. Wash your face every morning and night. Moisturise after every shower and bath. Don’t go to bed with your make-up on, no matter how tired you are.

Talk to your friends and family about something other than school. Don’t let your studies detach you from the things going on around you.

Work out. Even just once a week, or whenever you can. Go for a walk or a run, maybe just for 15 minutes. Follow along with a YouTube exercise video from the comfort of your own home or try out some yoga moves.

Make time for your hobbies. Studying is your full time job, but there’s plenty of hours left in the day. Don’t neglect the things you love.

Cook. Sometimes all we have time for is microwave noodles, but don’t fall into the habit of relying on the basics. You’ll feel the difference.

Don’t forget to laugh. Watch a hilarious film. See a comedian at a local venue. Watch funny videos on YouTube. Reminisce with friends. It’ll do you good.

Ditch the caffeine. Don’t rely on Starbucks. It’s delicious but you don’t need it. Save up all the money you’d usually spend on coffee and treat yourself to something instead.

Make your bed every morning. You’ll be grateful at the end of a long day when you can get into a cosy bed that doesn’t look like you just rolled out of it.

[textbooktightrope-blog]

College Classes and Dropping

So in the United States if you started college after the year of 2007 then you only have the ability to drop six classes over the course of your college career. This is a lot of classes unless you decide to drop out for the semester all together. 

Do not feel bad if you have to drop a class or even several classes. Maybe your load was too big or the class wasn’t worth the money you were paying for it, but usually, you have a reason for dropping a class. 

I dropped my Introduction to Mass Communication class because the teacher was holding my GPA hostage for no reason in particular other than the fact that I didn’t do something that he had made no effort to convey at all. He threatened to give me a zero and I said eff that and left the class. You know it’s bad when the communications teacher doesn’t know how to effectively communicate.

Moral of the story: You’re in college for you, not anyone else. You have to what’s best for you and your well-being in order to be successful in anything you do. Burning yourself out because you lit the candle at both ends won’t do anything for you, you can challenge yourself in a way that’s efficient. 

[textbooktightrope-blog]

Surviving in a Long Distance Relationship

When you love someone and they happen to be miles away for some reason, school, the military, a job, family, whatever, you ache for them. You miss the warmth of their smile, the smell of their detergent/soap/cologne, the empty hours that you would usually spend talking to them are now spent aimlessly trying to occupy yourself with anything but the thought of not being there with them. I’ve been dating my boyfriend for almost two years and while we’re both rather independent and like to keep it that way, but the miles that physically separate us at the moment are excruciating. Here’s how I’m managing:

1. Talk to Your Significant Other

This is kind of a no brainer, but keep each other updated and make them feel involved because even if they’re miles away they love you and want to know what’s up.

2. Try New Things, Find New Hobbies

Basically, keep yourself busy. Process the feelings and then channel them into something productive that won’t let you wallow.

3. Make a List of Everything You Want to Do With Them When They Get Home

Date nights are the best nights when you haven’t seen your significant other in a month or two. Go see a movie, cuddle and watch TV, or even just walk around a mall together. Instead of being sad about the current absence look forward to the future presence and all it entails. 

4. Keep a List of Things That You Love About Your Life Without Your SO’s Immediate Presence

My list includes my (mostly) daily trips to the gym and getting back into school work and practicing my instruments.

5. Learn to Be Okay With Time Apart

This seems super cliche and stupid, but the fact that I don’t see my boyfriend everyday makes me appreciate every conversation we have and how much I love him. Distance either tears you apart or pulls you together, but you have to be willing to work on it and be okay with distance.

[textbooktightrope-blog]

A Quick Update

There’s something about the cool breeze and my favorite music that’s making me feel nostalgic and it’s quite lovely. The amount of freedom that I’ve had this few weeks has allowed me to hone in on some important things going on in my mental health lately and while I’m nowhere close to 100% I feel better than I did even just a week ago. I have a goal to post at least once a week starting here and now (this doesn’t count). Let me know if there’s something specific you’d like to see!

[textbooktightrope-blog]

Choosing Your First College Classes...

The thing about college is that sometimes the advisers don’t really do a great job of advising the incoming students. This is especially true of the community college that I personally am attending. The issue was that my adviser tried to put me on a path to get an Associates of Arts, a two year degree, instead of telling me about common core courses and which classes transfer into the four- year institution that I am planning to go to after this year. My mom helped me and now I’m on the path to save money and finish my bachelor of art in psychology. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Look up Common Core in your state

So far I haven’t seen that common core is nationwide (it may be), but either way you’ll need to look it up. This will include math, English, language, science, fine arts, etc.

2. See which credits transfer where.

Not all classes are created equal, so make sure you choose the right one. The right classes will have a corresponding class at the college that you’re looking to enter while others will not. 

3. DO NOT GIVE YOUR AP SCORES TO YOUR COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Hear me out, if you’re transferring into a four- year college then give your scores to them because, surprisingly, community colleges don’t accept as many classes. This was the difference between having eighteen hours of credit and twelve. Just a friendly warning, proceed with caution.

4. Register for Your Classes according to the list you’ve made.

This makes sure that you chooses classes that get you where you want to go. Just a couple of small reminders:

YOUR ELECTIVES VARY BY MAJOR

CHECK YOUR MAJOR FOR WHAT SCIENCE CLASSES YOU NEED TO TAKE

Now, go forth and gain knowledge and follow your dreams!

[textbooktightrope-blog]

JUST A REMINDER THAT AN AP SCORE IS JUST A NUMBER AND DOESN’T DEFINE YOU AT ALL.

[textbooktightrope-blog]

AP or Dual: The Great Debate

When it comes to college everyone wants to go in with as much done as humanly possible. AP and Dual classes both provide the opportunity to have credit hours in courses that are common core, a tedious prerequisite to the degree of your choosing. Each state has it’s core set and those classes transfer anywhere within the state. The question remains, which to choose? AP or Dual? The hardest part about this debate is that high school counselors are more likely to tell you to take AP because it’s in their best interest. Better test scores = more money from the state, but not everyone who takes an AP level class is a test taker. 

Some, like me, are naturally pretty good at playing the numbers on these exams and can get by with minimal effort (not that I don’t work hard in class and study) while others, my boyfriend is a perfect example, simply don’t do well on tests for one reason or another. My boyfriend is brilliant, but he’s never happy with his testing scores, they often aren’t a true measure of intelligence and knowledge, especially for people with dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADD, or ADHD, people who’s brains are wired differently than mine, a natural test taker. This makes Dual a great option, but limits te schools to in-state. 

The problem is that Dual is seen as the lazy route because, at least where I went to school, it seemingly requires way less work than an AP classes, but that’s just not true. The main difference between AP and Dual is that Dual gives you credit based on your work in the class, not a single, miserable test. This makes it seem like less work because there aren’t Dual students losing their ever loving minds at the end of the school year over a test that could perceivably make or break their college careers even though they have a lot more at stake in their classes.

AP and Dual are both viable options, I myself had a good mix of both and graduated a year early with eighteen credit hours under my belt before my “freshman semester” which starts this fall. The key is to figure out for yourself what would work for YOU and not let anyone tell you that you chose wrong.

[textbooktightrope-blog]

Taking Care of Yourself: A Cautionary Tale

I rushed into graduating. I'll be the first to admit it. And during the longest four and a half months of my life I put my health and well being on the back burner to reach my goal. I cut back on sleep and free time to do more work, I didn't post as much, I ate out of convenience not health. This resulted in me getting MAJORLY sick at the end of May/ beginning of June. I got pneumonia, but instead of cancelling my lessons and giving away my shifts I worked anyways. I finished my medications, but didn't rest. Now I'm back at the doctor's office with a cough that's so violent it makes my head throb and I cant keep food down. Lesson learned, y'all. Take care of yourself because things can always get harder.

[textbooktightrope-blog]

I'm a busy bee this week. 🐝 Left page is Fix You and the right is Yellow, both are by Coldplay.

[textbooktightrope-blog]

I graduated from high school a year early and started a swim lesson service only to come down with pneumonia during my first week of true freedom.

[textbooktightrope-blog]

Friday April 21, 2017 ~ New bullet journal means new spreads.

[kyonite]

this is the perfect grade of good luck

reblog in 5 seconds and all of your grades will inch ever closer to perfect

[textbooktightrope-blog]

Five Ways that You Can Make the Most Out of Your Bedroom Workspace

Experts say that you should separate your work and sleep space, but for some that’s closer to a pipe dream than reality. Sometimes the only space people have for work is their bedroom. Please Note: This list may help some more than others.

1. Keep Things Clean 

This eliminates the stress of clutter and will also allow for much more efficient movement than a cluttered floor would. Because unless you’re training to be a ninja, being able to soundlessly leap over those dirty clothes piles will do nothing for you. Add shelves, get rid of those old markers that you haven’t used since the first grade, de-clutter and get organized, trust me when I say you’ll thank yourself later.

2. Add Color with Structure

Color could be distracting but if it’s added slowly and with structure, meaning in patterns or cohesiveness, then is could elevate your work space to a new level as well as make it your own. Good thing it’s Spring, there are plenty of pastels and bright colors to choose from! A little guide: Bright colors help get creative juices flowing (hello right brain) while cooler colors (blue and green) relax you. 

3. NO PHONES

Your phone, as important as it may be, could in fact ruin your productivity. This is nothing new, but eliminating that distraction could mean the difference between finishing your to do list and having to move tasks over to the next day. When you’re working, lock it up, put it away, do whatever you have to do to prevent yourself from looking at it.

4. Inspiration Comes with Life (Even if That Life is Fake AF)

Keeping plants on or by my desk has been one of the best things I’ve done for my creativity and my anxiety. Even if you aren’t a green thumb, fake plants can add the right amount of color and variety to your bedroom to make it feel more open, light, and alive. Currently I have an aloe vera plant and two cacti that live in my room and they add color texture, and shape that is otherwise missing from something like my bedroom.

5. Light and Sound Play a Huge Role in your Productivity and Sleep

Different lighting has different effects on the brain, especially if you sleep in complete darkness. During the day, make it clear to your brain that light = work and dark = sleep, this way you can stay alert at your desk and make the most out of both parts of your room. Sound is even less complicated than that. Studies have shown that music without lyrics, music of any genre, can be beneficial to productivity and learning, but people should steer clear of music with lyrics if they’re trying to write or do math.

A lot of the psych stuff included in this post are things I’ve picked up in my AP Psych course at school which means there is plenty of room for growth and the post may have a few errors. If you happen to find any errors let me know by messaging me and if you have anything to add tag me so I can see it! Thank you so much for your continued support! xx @ambersghost

[textbooktightrope-blog]

Count Down to Freedom

There are officially five more weeks until I graduate! This is a huge accomplishment for me because I am a year early and it's been a long hard road to get here. Thank you all for your support in my little journey, and I plan to be able to show off my bullet journal to y'all in the coming weeks. God bless, take care, more posts to come. ☺️☺️ xx @ambersghost

[textbooktightrope-blog]

The only problem with numbing all the bad stuff is you sacrifice feeling good too. So either way you lose and that doesn't help. 😞