Beyond the Lecture

Bits of Advice Given to Students

1. Read at least as much as you eat; write at least as much as you read.

2. You must grapple with new information in order to understand it and learn it.

    Often, that means the same thing as hard work. 

3. When preparing for a test, close your book/notebook. If you cannot explain the

    concepts in your own words, you do not know it yet. 

4. You will become what you think about, so disagree with negative self-talk. You are

    capable. 

5. Connect new content material to your world. For example, biology became much

    more important to me after my children were born.

6.  Do not settle for “good enough” in any area of your life, including academics.

7. Never choose to be ignorant.  Ask questions.

8. If grades were given away, your degree would be worthless.  Trust me on this, you

    don’t really want that.

9. Unforgiveness will rot your drive by creating emotional blind spots.  Forgive

    others, and while you are at it, forgive yourself.

10.  Forsake cruelty, especially in its most acceptable forms.