So, I’ve been diving into this whole psychology thing, and I decided to take a psych class this semester. I’d heard mixed things – some people said it was a breeze, others said it was super tough. I figured, “Hey, I’m pretty good at figuring people out, how hard could it be?” Let me tell you, the answer isn’t super straightforward.
The Beginning: Feeling Pretty Confident
First few weeks? I was feeling good! We started with the basics: history of psychology, different schools of thought, you know, the introductory stuff. The textbook was pretty readable, and the lectures were mostly just going over the same material. I did the readings (most of the time), showed up to class, and took some notes. I even participated in a few discussions. My first quiz? Aced it! I was thinking, “This is going to be easier than I thought!”
Mid-Semester Slump: Uh Oh…
Then, things started to get… complicated. We moved into more complex topics like cognitive processes, developmental psychology, and research methods. Suddenly, there were a TON of new terms to learn. Not just definitions, but also how they all connected to each other. I started to feel a little overwhelmed.
- Reading got heavier: The textbook chapters got longer, and there were supplementary articles to read too.
- Lectures got denser: The professor was throwing a lot of information at us, and it was hard to keep up.
- My notes became a mess: I was scribbling everything down, but it was hard to make sense of it later.
I realized that just “showing up” wasn’t going to cut it anymore. I needed a new study.
Turning it Around: New Tactics
I decide it to make changes.
First.I start to find some classmates to make a study group.
We meet up everyweek to do the review togther.
It is suprised me that how it helpful when you ask a question which I feel silly before.
Then, I found the office hour of the professor is really useful.
The End Result: Not So Bad After All!
The final exam was still challenging, but I felt way more prepared than I would have been if I’d stuck with my original approach. I ended up with a solid B in the class, which I’m pretty happy with. It wasn’t a walk in the park, but it definitely wasn’t impossible either.I think I am going to take another psychology class next semester.
