In college it all came back to haunt me I had to learn how to learn
When I was in school, I never gave my studies the attention they deserved. I was always too wrapped up in girls, parties, and sports. I was fortunate to have a good amount of common sense which helped me make high enough grades to get in to college. Don't get me wrong, I still did most of my homework and studied some for important tests, but I wasn't interested enough to truly learn.
My teachers were too easy on me as well. It always seemed like my teachers were either one of my coaches, a friend's mom, or a friend of the family. This was an enabler for me. I can't tell you how many second chances I had. Not to mention extra credit opportunities at the end of a grading period. I began to rely on the fact I'd be given the second chances and the extra points that took me from a C grade to a B grade.
In college, it all came back to haunt me. I had to learn how to learn. My knowledge of subjects I should've learned in high school was at least a year behind the other freshmen. I had a general idea of what was going on. Just enough to not fail. Nonetheless, my first year in college, I made the worst grades of all four years.
While I wasn't the type of person in school to pick on and make fun of a brainiac or bookworm, I still didn't respect them. However, if I had it to do all over again, I would be the biggest nerd, geek, or bookworm ever. Which brings me to what this article is really about.
Since my school days, it has been scientifically discovered that the people who did more reading when they were younger in lieu of increasing their social status (a.k.a. partying) were more likely to have better memory retention when they are elderly. This is particularly true during the ages of 12 to 18 years old. Fortunately, those of us past the ripe old age of 18 can still strengthen our brains by participating in activities that exercise and stimulate the brain. Reading, writing, thinking games (chess), and even visiting a museum are things that will result in a healthier brain later in life.
Basically, the more we exercise our minds, the slower the decline will be as we grow older. Those that do these kinds of activities on a regular basis will have more memory retention than those that don't. Also, people who start exercising their brain later in life have 35% more retention than people who do not actively and consciously stimulate their minds. Lucky for me and people like me, it's never too late to start. I only wish I had started 20 years ago. My GPA wishes I had started earlier as well.
My teachers were too easy on me as well. It always seemed like my teachers were either one of my coaches, a friend's mom, or a friend of the family. This was an enabler for me. I can't tell you how many second chances I had. Not to mention extra credit opportunities at the end of a grading period. I began to rely on the fact I'd be given the second chances and the extra points that took me from a C grade to a B grade.
In college, it all came back to haunt me. I had to learn how to learn. My knowledge of subjects I should've learned in high school was at least a year behind the other freshmen. I had a general idea of what was going on. Just enough to not fail. Nonetheless, my first year in college, I made the worst grades of all four years.
While I wasn't the type of person in school to pick on and make fun of a brainiac or bookworm, I still didn't respect them. However, if I had it to do all over again, I would be the biggest nerd, geek, or bookworm ever. Which brings me to what this article is really about.
Since my school days, it has been scientifically discovered that the people who did more reading when they were younger in lieu of increasing their social status (a.k.a. partying) were more likely to have better memory retention when they are elderly. This is particularly true during the ages of 12 to 18 years old. Fortunately, those of us past the ripe old age of 18 can still strengthen our brains by participating in activities that exercise and stimulate the brain. Reading, writing, thinking games (chess), and even visiting a museum are things that will result in a healthier brain later in life.
Basically, the more we exercise our minds, the slower the decline will be as we grow older. Those that do these kinds of activities on a regular basis will have more memory retention than those that don't. Also, people who start exercising their brain later in life have 35% more retention than people who do not actively and consciously stimulate their minds. Lucky for me and people like me, it's never too late to start. I only wish I had started 20 years ago. My GPA wishes I had started earlier as well.
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