The Closing of the Semester and the Opening of The Hobbit

Week in Review: A Reflection of December 10 – 16

The timing couldn’t be any better. I’m finished with classes for the fall semester the same week that “The Hobbit” came out in theaters. That means there was no homework to do or classes to go to so I was able to go to the midnight showing.

My friends and I went out to dinner and then headed to the movie theater early with our pre-purchased tickets. Fortunately, the theater let us inside right away. We were first in line outside the door to get our seats. I won’t say too much about the movie since some haven’t seen it yet, but I enjoyed it. I read the book as a school assignment years ago, and I didn’t remember much of the story so the plot was fresh to me.

Even though I’m done with classes, there are still a few things I need to do at the college. I’ll be selling some of my books back to the campus bookstore this week, but I’ll be keeping one of the reference books. I have to turn in a graduation candidacy form to Student Services because I’m graduating in May. On Thursday the Web Developer Club has their last meeting of the semester. We’re probably going to have a potluck. Also, I’ll be going out to lunch with some of my classmates to celebrate finishing the semester.

As a reminder, the MPTC colleges will be closed from December 24 through January 1. You can expect to hear more about my life, my future, and my MPTC when I return to blogging in 2013. Have a happy and safe holiday season everyone!

Now I have to decide how I will spend my winter break. How will you be spending yours?

One Week, Two Presentations

Week in Review: A Reflection of December 3 – 9

My online presentation

I gave two very different presentations. One of my presentations was for my Document Standards and Expectations class, and it was given using ClassLive through eCollege, our classroom’s online portal. My PowerPoint presentation was loaded and played while my instructor and classmates, all in different locations, could view it on their computer screen. I typed in what I wanted to say in the chat window as if I were speaking.

My second presentation was for my Customer Service Essentials class. My group and I gave a presentation in front of staff that works at MPTC. It was nice of them to come so we had experience giving a presentation to an audience that wasn’t made up of our peers. We used PowerPoint for this presentation, like I did for my other one, but it is much different when you are standing in the room with the people you’re giving a presentation to.

Lunch ‘n Learn: Holiday Happiness

Last Monday I went to the final Lunch ‘n Learn of the semester at the West Bend campus. We talked about the holidays. This can be the most fun yet most stressful time of the year. Kathy, a counselor and instructor at the West Bend campus, provided a handout that listed ways to reduce stress. I think the most helpful tips include having realistic expectations for yourself and others, be flexible if plans need to change, and keep organized by writing things down.

I like to focus on all the good things December brings. There are lots of things I do that have become traditions. This past weekend my friends and I watched the movie “Love Actually,” which we do pretty much every year in December.

On Christmas Eve, or sometime close to it, my family and I drive around the neighborhood to look at Christmas lights. For the last few years, the Washington County Fair Park has hosted Enchantment in the Park where they have a large lights display you drive through. This is also fun to see. You can donate nonperishable food. Some of the clubs at MPTC have volunteered their time at this event.

Strategies for Getting Homework Done

There are two times of the year it seems almost impossible to get any work done: Right after Thanksgiving break and right after spring break. It also happens to be the worst time to procrastinate, because it’s nearing the end of the semester. There are projects due and assignments to finish, many of which are worth some hefty points.

How do you stay motivated and productive this time of the year? I have a few tips to share with you that may help you get through the mental slump season:

Find your most (and least) productive times of the day. When do you notice is the easiest time to accomplish things? I find that, when I let myself work on tasks when I feel like it, I choose to work on them at 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. I’m least productive around 3 p.m. I can still get things done at that time, but it always seems to take extra effort. I’m much better off starting or finishing a project in the morning or at night.

Break it down. Large assignments can seem overwhelming. Taking a few minutes to decide how to break it into smaller pieces will make it more manageable. Sitting down to work on a small piece is less daunting than looking at the big picture, especially when beginning a project.