School update

For those of you who have been following this blog for a while, you may remember that I have been struggling with a terribly boring course at school. I had a research paper to write about schedules and files in a medical office, which I procrastinated doing for three weeks. Not like me at all, but exactly like me when I'm faced with tasks that I deem unworthy of my time.

I finally wrote the paper and reported here that I had written it in about an hour. I thought it was pure garbage. I said I'd get back to you all on my grade and here it is: 100%.

What am I to make of this? There were research papers that I worked hard on, doing excellent research that was far beyond the requirements of the courses. Yes, I got good grades on them, too (but not always perfect grades). Should I continue to BS my way through my classes? Is that the lesson I should take away from this little experiment? No. I'll continue doing what I do, but I have to admit, this does bother me some. It was a test of sorts - would the person grading me be able to discern the difference? Apparently not.

Procrastination

I've never had a big problem with procrastination. Sure, there are plenty of things that I've put off doing, but in this area, I think I'm in the "normal range" (whatever that means). Oh, what does that mean? I suppose I rate normalcy as not being overly one way or another. In the case of procrastination, there are some things that I put off and other things that I get to right away. Thus, normal.

However, I am having a big problem with my schoolwork. It has been so boring to me that I find it nearly impossible to engage with it. And since most of the work is online, it's quite easy to navigate away from the page (as I'm doing right now).

This is interesting: I realize that if there was a textbook, I'd probably be more engaged. This is the second "class" in a row without a textbook, and I had a problem with that course material, too.

Textbook or no, the course material is painfully dull. How much can one read about filing systems? I took an exam yesterday and encountered questions like how many filer drawers are needed for x amount of files. I did the math, but my answer was wrong. Of course, I didn't use the "official" numbers that were in the course, for I never wrote them down. I couldn't bring myself to take notes. . .I skimmed, over and over again.

I need to knuckle down, but I can't seem to. One thing I've never been was a diligent drudge. I've never been big on taking notes, for one thing. In the past, I've found that taking notes gets in the way of paying attention to what I'm listening to or reading. Now, I must take notes, for I've no textbook to refer to.

How do you push yourself to do something that you can't stand doing? Right now, I'm feeling like I'd rather subject myself to various forms of torture than do this work. Maybe I am subjecting myself to torture by doing this work. That's what it feels like.

Any suggestions would be truly appreciated!

Painting note: Henry Fuseli The Nightmare 1781
While searching for a painting of someone asleep, I found this. An artist I have never heard of, or seen (or if I did, I don't remember it).