Since the beginning of the semester i have displayed nothing but poor time management again, and again. My priorities are out of line, I would prioritize hanging out with my friends, sleeping and going out drinking. I have poor self management which always effects my Time skills. This is not a new thing i have noticed, it is a reoccurring problem that happens whenever i try and apply myself to something, i inevitably give up which then leads me to fail.

The First and most important strategy i have found so far would be to constantly prioritize my work.  The use of a weekly planner can help remind me of my short-term goals such as looking online at moodle, preparing for upcoming assessments, and the ability to just use it as a general weekly guide.

Learning how to say no would also be a huge help to me as i always find myself saying yes. Sometimes it is incredibly difficult to say no. i need to learn to decline my friends politely and let them know that me doing good for myself and going to class is my priority until the end of the semester.

When sitting down to complete tasks that have been given to me, i need to eliminate as many distractions around me as possible. I’m easily side tracked by my phone, text messages, and social media. I’m too worried about what it is other people are doing than worrying about myself. I need a quiet work space, friends, family and mobile free. This will allow me to put 100 percent of effort and concentration into the tasks at hand. \

Overall i think i have a good understanding of what it is i need to do in order to better my time management. I can see the distractions and problem at hand, i can also see the solution and how to work around the the problems. However, saying I’m going to do something and actually doing it are 2 completely different things.

I hope to use these new time management strategies of mine, to help me pass this level 4 bridging course. This task has allowed me to assess my time management so far, to think about ways to help benefit my own learning, and how to eliminate existing problems.

My Learning Style:

 

To figure out what my learning style is i completed the “VARK Learning styles questionnaire”. VARK came to the conclusion that i am a read/write learner. VARK suggests that the best way for me to learn would be through doing a long list of things that i cam summarized into 3 things.

1: ‘Observational Learning’ The process of learning by observing and watching what it is that goes on around you. Looking for physical details that i can relate with, something that can cause me to see it and have some sort of emotional feeling, the ability to see gestures, actions and behaviors, to then retain the information, replicate and then use it at a later date or time. Ways i can implement this skill into my learning is by taking in the good behaviors, actions and gestures around me, i can then think about how this information will help me and then replicate it later in the future. I easily pick up other peoples habits this is an advantage and a disadvantage. This benefits me because i’m able to retain the good traits from other peoples habits, however at the same time, i’m just as likely to pick up the downfalls of those habits.

2: ‘Repetition’ The process of learning through constantly repeating the information that you have acquired. The old saying “practice makes perfect” I have heard this about 10,000 times in my lifetime, and i’m sure i will hear it about another 10,000 times because it is true. The more you practice, repeat and redo things, the more you will get the hang of it, the more you will remember it and the more you will be able to replicate it. Repetition will always be the key to learning for me as the more you repeat an idea, question or statement, the more and more clearly you to start to understand it and take it in. A good tactic for me when it comes to studying is consistently writing lines of information over and over again to drill them into my head. Reading a passage of information, and regurgitating it on the paper in my own words repeatedly to show that i understand and grasp the concept of the information that is in front of me.

3: ‘Instructional Learning’ This is the process of learning through instructions you have been given. For example; Being handed a task sheet with bullet points on how to complete the tasks. Being given a list of orders, having the ability to understand them and then completing the task at hand. Ways instructional learning can help me is by using a schedule, a schedule is just the same as following a list of instructions. This will allow me to ensure that i succeed. This will help me to keep projects on task, set realistic time frames and allows me to use my resources as i need to. If i follow a schedule correctly, this increase my chances for success and leave minimal gaps for failure.

My learning experience so far has been largely effected by my lack of attendance. At the start of the course, i was interested in studying as it was something new and unfamiliar to me. As the weeks have gone on though, i have started to lose interest. This is due to the fact that i let my “party” life take priority over my study life. Obviously the thought of going out, drinking and having fun, sounds way more enjoyable than getting up and going to class the difference between me and other students though is that i let it take priority over my class life.

The classes that i have attended though, i have enjoyed. I have the ability to absorb information like a sponge. The difficulty of the work, i also don’t find incredibly difficult, this is what to expect from a level 4 course though. The work given doesn’t always have my brain constantly thinking, this causes me to seek new tasks that will keep me actively thinking of solutions and how to work things out.

After writing this reflection on my thoughts of the course so far, i have came to the conclusion that i haven’t given this course much of a chance and that i need to work on attending more and engaging in the work that is being handed to me, rather than just brushing it aside because i find it too easy or it doesn’t interest me.

I think this is very true, if i know that when i complete something, there will be a reward i feel more keen to complete the task at hand. I’m genuinely surprised that from completing this short test it has obtained enough information to judge my behavior perfectly. I am the kind of person that would see sitting through school all week a hassle, but it came with the reward of going to a party on the following Saturday. I’m a very in the moment (impulsive) person. I like to think about the short term rewards rather than the long term. Winning a bet, proving a point, being right and being first have always been a big priority of mine. If there is a competition, i will go all out to win, no matter what.

A huge motivator of mine that this test was unable to pick up on, is ‘what other people think of me’. This is a huge factor that has ruled my motivation ever since i started high school. I am always trying to impress everyone, from the clothes i wear, to the music i listen to, to the activities that i would participate in, and the list could go on. Other people opinions on me has always meant a lot to me, and it is something that i have been unable to shake for many years now. I have slowly started to over come and realize that what other people think doesn’t really matter and only what i think truly matters.

 

 

5 Things i would love to do before i before i go in the dirt:

#1: Travel to Greece

Why: I love Greek mythology more than anything else. I would love to go have a look at their mythology museums.

#2: Go to Amsterdam

Why: Me and my friends have a made a pact that the first one of us boys to get married, we are going to Amsterdam.

#3: To own a Ford Escort MK1

Why: Its my favourite car and it would be a dream come true to own one.

#4: To buy mum a house

Why: My mum has never owned a house before, nor do i think she ever will. It would me so happy if i could one day buy her a house.

#5: To go to a Final game of the Rugby World Cup where The All Blacks are involved.

Why: It has always been a dream of mine to go see The All Blacks in person, let alone a World Cup Final.

I would probably have to say that my favourite sport is Rugby. It is the sport that i played growing up as a kid and it is also the sport that our country dominates in. I have played rugby for about 8 years of my life, i began playing ripper rugby when i was only a young one, and then as i grew older i progressed onto tackle rugby (union). I played for the southern magpies at the start and then as i got to high school i played for an array of different high schools. The school i went to didn’t have enough people interested in rugby to have our own team, so i was always thrown into a team at another school. This did not phase me though i enjoyed the game enough that i could play for any team and i would have been happy. As i have grown older, i have not played as much. although i did play a couple games this season for my friends at the club Zingary Richmond. My favourite international rugby team would be The All Blacks. My Favourite super rugby team would be the Highlanders and my favourite club team would be what ever team i’m playing  for haha.

Song title 1: Young Wild and Free

Artist: Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa

YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa5B22KAkEk

Why it represents me: This song represents the lifestyle in which me and my friends like to live in, i am a pretty out going and fun person. In this song they talk and get up to some pretty crazy stuff that reminds me a lot of what it is like with me and my friends. We have had quite a lot of cotton wall wrapped around us as we were growing up and now we are all finally “you, wild and free”.

Song tittle 2: Houstifornication

Artist: Travis Scott

YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzmnM2PLPfs

Why it represents me: This song talks about how sometime we just need a little ventilation and a vacation, these are both things that i agree with. I know sometimes life gets hard and sometimes all we need a is a little space/vacation. Dunedin is a small place and as a teenager, sometimes its really hard to escape what it that is going on our life, especially with how social media is these days. one thing is said and before you know it, its everywhere.

Song title 3: Because I Got High

Artist: Afroman

YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeYsTmIzjkw

Why it represents me: I’m pro weed and think that it is a good stress reliever but moderation is key, you cant abuse it, but it does sometimes make you forgetful, this song is representation of me and my experiences. Weed has changed so much these days that 15 years ago, if you were to smoke marijuana you were to be associated with a gang or something along those lines. The reality is now though, that everyone is partaking in using this recreational drug, i know of teachers, businessmen and even a doctor, that all partake in enjoying this drug in moderation.

 

I think that there are 3 main problems that are preventing me to be able to achieve my learning goals.

Barrier 1: I love playing video games. This causes me to stay up late till all hours of the morning just playing video games. This then leads to me going to sleep later and inevitably waking up later.

Barrier 2: I lose interest in book work way too quick if it is not something that is going to be challenging my brain.

Barrier 3: I prioritise hanging out with my friends over doing class work.

After thinking about how i am going to restrict these barriers these are the solutions i have thought of.

Solution 1: I’m going to set myself an “off time” (no more gaming) every class-night so that i can get a sufficient amount of sleep for class the next day.

Solution 2: I’m going to try achieve my work at my full potential, this will result in challenging my brain to attain the highest possible marks.

Solution 3: I’m going to start seeing my friends less often and i will not prioritise them over my class-work as i need to succeed. I also feel more grown up seeing my friends when it suits my schedule, not suiting my schedule around my friends.

 

Over the course of this semester, i have set myself 3 goals that will help better my learning, increase my concentration, and hopefully help me atone the skills i need to complete this course and earn my certificate.

Goal #1: Get into a sleeping pattern for class. 

The reason this is my number one goal is because i currently do not have a sleeping pattern at all. I stay up all ours of the night until early ours of the morning, just not being able to sleep. This causes me to sleep all day and inevitably miss out on class as i have already. Achieving this goal would benefit me a lot as i would find myself with plenty more energy which will help me learn in class and keep my attention on the task at hand. I hope to achieve this goal before the end of our 5th week here at course.

Goal #2: Finish the semester with a 75% attendance.

Attendance is a constant battle i am always having within myself. I find that i lose interest really quick and after that has happened it is hard to keep me focused. Everything i have ever tried applying myself to, i inevitably end up quitting as i never have the will to want to go. But that stops here. This course is sort of a last chance for me as i have failed everything else. The achievement of this goal would benefit me a lot as it will teach me how to apply myself to something over a long period of time, i can then look back and reflect on this accomplishment and replicate it again in the future.

Goal #3: Complete my work to my full potential.

At school and any other form of education ive had i always find myself giving it only just enough effort, not my everything. I find that i only ever apply myself as much as the task requires, i never strive for the higher achievement. This is an attitude i would like to change as it could have a huge impact on my life. If i start completing tasks to my full potential and showing what it is im capable of, then it could open many many more pathways for myself. i hope to complete all tasks given to me over the course of this semester with nothing but my all.

 

i used to drink sprite now i drink spirits

i used to play sports but now i support

i used to buy lollies but now i buy shoes

i used to play guitar but now i view from afar

i used to get in fights but now i know that it’s not right