If you are going to try to make it through the MAT@USC in one year, you are going to have to take summer classes. That means while many of you are on the beach, sipping something cool from a big glass with lots of fruit hanging off of it, I and many others are taking one or more classes. I’m taking both “Understanding the Social Context of Urban Schools” and “Application of Theories of Learning to Classroom Practice”. The amount of work required for these two classes is not overwhelming, but it comes pretty close. As we approach the semester’s halfway mark, I’m starting to feel a little “beach deprived.”
Luckily, I planned ahead and noticed the weekend between weeks three and four was the only weekend we didn’t have at least one paper due. Thanks to a very understanding wife (who couldn’t get the time off), I was able to get away for several days of sailing. (See the picture —that’s my little boat peacefully at anchor on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Yes, I actually sleep in that little cabin.) In order for me to take four days in a row away from study, I had to look ahead and plan for the following week well in advance. Luckily, I did not have any other responsibilities, because it was the only four days all summer I could have made the trip. Of course, I paid for this abundance of leisure by having to buckle down twice as hard for several days when I got back. As I keep saying to anyone who asks, organization is the key to success with the MAT@USC.
I guess the point of my ramblings here is to remind you to make sure you plan a little downtime in your schedule. Even if you can only steal away an afternoon here and there, it’s important that you give yourself a break from the daily pressure that comes with the heavy workload we take on as MAT@USC students. Take the time to reward yourself for completing a particularly difficult paper by going out for a nice meal, spending the afternoon shopping, walking the beach or doing whatever it is that helps you recharge and refresh.
The MAT@USC courses are intellectually stimulating and challenging. To get the most out of them, you need to be ready to tackle the material with both mental and physical energy. In the day-to-day schedule of reading, attending class, participating in forums and writing papers, don’t forget to also schedule some time to keep yourself mentally and physically sharp. That way, you’ll be ready to . . .
. . . Fight On!
Looking for other summertime activities? Consider teaching abroad next!
