a meditation on test prep helps

So now comes the slow dance into finals week. This weekend will pit your need to study and your desire to have fun. The wait for the culmination of a semester’s work is upon you. Next week, you will only be able to refresh, remind and keep the big picture. It’s not a great idea to give an calculus answer to a creative writing question.

Anxiety is rampant as people put their nose to the books and class notes. People are asking questions: “Who has the best notes in class?” “What’s her name?” “Where’s a study group?” “Does anyone have copies of old tests?” “What does this professor really want out of me?”

These are all life skills, folks: learning, working with others, doing projects well and knowing the reason for the project in the first place are all part of what’s needed. That body work all builds confidence.

“Why are you studying?” Try to put that into a sentence. It will help with the studying itself. Also, when you take a test, make sure your essays have a thesis statement. That one was always a problem! Hot oatmeal is good for studying, too.

For those of you with more time and who need to stare out the window, here are a couple reverie starters.

Imaginings:

• The hotel in Dubai where you meet a young woman who is part of the “Turquoise Mountain” project—regenerating the business section of Kabul, Afghanistan. Would you like to join that?

• Here’s a quote: “He who has not despaired has no need to live.”—Goethe

What might that mean? And why is the German history so full of quotable quotes?

• Answer this question: Would I like to live someplace special for 3 months? What would that be like?

• So this guy Jesus comes up to me at Panera’s and says, “Come. Follow me.” Does that interest you? Would you accept the invitation? Where would that invitation take you? Who would you invite to go with you?

You are grand. You are able. You are focused. You are God’s creation.