#accdistrict

Dear friends,

You did it! It's Finals Week and that means the end of another semester. 🎓🎉

For our final blog post of Fall 2021, we wanted to re-share the HSO Leadership Team's study tips from the midterms. You might, we hope, find a gem or two (or three or four) in there. ;)

Jana McCarthy, Director of Advising

My study routine is based on years of tweaking and learning what works for me and what doesn't. I found my study style and early routine with the help of an Academic Coach, which is a resource I recommend for ALL students, but especially Honors students.

I start with my readings. I read and annotate in a heading-to-heading format. I start with the top-level heading, read the info, highlighting main ideas and things to note along the way. Upon reaching the next heading (sub level or any heading), I pause, and concisely note the highlights I made in that section - usually in a doc or in a spiral. At the end of the chapter, I have then made an outline of what I felt was important, which serves as a reference moving forward.

If there are lectures or videos to watch, or assignments to complete - that comes next. I put the notes in the same doc or just after the reading notes, so that it's all in one spot. Importantly, I use symbols and notations to ensure that I can easily locate specific items that I may need again.

I usually study in 1-hour blocks, with a 15 minute, mindless, break in-between. Mindless means that I'm doing something that won't override the material I'm trying to absorb: walk the dog, do the dishes, take a catnap - avoiding mental stimulation that will distract me from encoding the new material. The time I spend works for me, but others need more or less time studying or breaking. Find what works for you.

Finally, I always work on the material asap after a lecture or class meeting. Google: The Forgetting Curve, to learn why.

Mars Medina, HSO President

Studying for me is definitely challenging (wooo ADHD!) but I’ve found some ways to circumvent that.

Overall, first things first: I turn my phone over and put it out of sight! That is definitely my biggest distraction. Next, I make a list for the assignments or projects I need to work on/complete for either the day or for the rest of the week if I somehow have little to work on.

Working with different studying techniques, especially the Pomodoro technique, has worked well for assignment-heavy weeks. For notes I try to write them down by hand, as I found that writing it down instead of typing it usually results in me retaining the information easier. I’ve also found that index cards (for things like memorizing quotes or definitions) are a huge help.

Music helps me out too, to kind of drown out the rest of my environment; hilariously enough, I usually study to metal music but lo-fi is my second go-to! My biggest advice for studying, however, is this: make sure to take breaks!

Aaron Turner, HSO Social Media Team Lead

I'm pretty flexible when it comes to studying. Since each course is unique, I structure my approach in a "flowchart" sorta way (something I didn't know until I actually wrote it out here, lol).

First, I read each syllabus and compile all due dates from all courses into a single calendar. For each course, I then:

1. Get info on tests (Note: If there are no tests, I skip to Step 2)

1.a. Will test questions come from multiple sources or a single source?

If the professor confirms only one source (i.e. from lectures), I double down and study from just that source. That said, I always follow the professor’s lead.

1.b. If I'm studying from a textbook: I try to read ahead of the lectures; I highlight key concepts and say/write out my own explanations; I conduct multiple reviews leading up to the test.

1.c. If I'm studying from lectures: When attending the initial lecture, I listen to get acquainted and usually take few notes; I rewatch the recording and write down key concepts and info; I conduct multiple reviews.

2. For reading, writing, and researching (i.e. for a paper, presentation, homework, etc.)

2.a. I start EARLY and do a little every day.

For research, I use the ACC Library and other reputable websites; I highlight and save passages; I take notes while reading or watching videos; I keep track of my sources.

2.b. I ask questions; I go to office hours and seek tutoring when needed.

Amber Traylor, HSO Treasurer

Like many students, I can struggle to manage my time when trying to study or complete homework. What I’ve found works for me is a combination of two strategies:

1. I maintain an accurate calendar reflecting when assignments are due, when exams are, and what other activities I have planned on certain days. This helps to remind me what needs to be done on a given day and allows me to focus based on the order of importance, this is often called the Covey technique and involves ranking things from urgent, to not urgent, to not important.

2. I also use a variation of the Pomodoro technique when studying or doing work. I often find that around the 1-hour mark of working, my brain starts to lose focus and I seek out distractions. To maintain my productivity, I work straight through for 45 minutes and then take a 10-to-15-minute break. By breaking up my work, I can stay on task for several hours at a time. I also alternate my types of work between sessions; I may start on math, then rotate to science, and then switch to English before going back to math.

At the end of the day, you must make studying a priority while in college. Develop techniques that work best for you but look over these ideas to see if you like them!

We wish you all the best in all you do and look forward to seeing you again this spring! 🌷 💜

Your friends,

There are times when it’s hard to show up.

Story 1: At 23, I dropped out of college, never to return. But despite the sort of abruptness insinuated by the words “dropped out,” the reality of it had in fact been a long time coming. Somewhere starting in my teens, I had gradually begun to lose my self-confidence as a student until there was hardly any left with which to enroll. Once I got to college, I felt doomed to press on "just because"... until I stopped "pressing on" (attending) and failed out.

Story 2: 7 years later, on an early morning in June of 2020, I opened my laptop to a sea of faces dotting the flat boxes of Zoom. One by one, across each countenance, I quickly discovered my own expression of uncertainty. An expression that said, “I’m still wearing pajamas at the kitchen table, and the world is on fire.” I was 30 and attending my first History class in 10 years, during a pandemic. I didn’t know it yet, but I had already succeeded.

So, what's happening with these anecdotes?

The best advice I’ve ever been given is to “show up.” Of course, we can’t attend everything in life—we have to choose. In my late teens and early twenties, by a mix of self-doubt and youthful abandon, I made choices that didn’t serve me. I chose writing songs over essays and watching movies over lectures. Such were the choices that eventually led to me dropping out of college. Still, it would be a disservice to label them as “wrong.”

When people speak of “showing up,” they mean that it’s important to devote one’s time wisely. Wherever you go, there you are; and that’s not just a book title on meditation (good stuff btw), it’s the literal truth. Life is a series of constantly showing up—there’s no hiding. What matters is knowing where to show up... 'where', not 'when.'

Dropping out of college at 23 didn’t ruin my life, but it did delay parts of it. Once I realized where I wanted to be, I simply started making appearances there. I returned to college at 30 because I had learned my surroundings. While I continue to be proud of this roadmap in my mind, one I didn't have in my youth, I remain aware that there is no arriving: our triumphs are not destinations but just the beginnings of more beginnings.

In my time both within and without the classroom, I've learned that truly knowing where I am is what leads to community, to connection. When we feel discouraged, it's showing up that pulls us out.

I'm grateful to be here.

Along with many other ACC students this semester, I received an email announcing the start of the Honors Scholar tier and began to panic about making sure I met all the requirements. As silly as it sounds, the GPA is the easy part. Anytime you think of the Honors Program, a high GPA is a given, but what about the other parts? I knew I needed to get the endorsement on my diploma, and like every other student, I wanted to be eligible to apply for the Honors Scholar Scholarship.

The first requirement seems easy enough in theory, complete nine hours of Honors course credit. As someone that has taken and completed two honors courses, it’s not quite that simple. Honors courses are amazing, I love the close-knit Honors community in the classes and the individual attention from the professors, but make no mistake, these classes are a challenge. You will be doing a lot of reading, writing, and studying to make it through the semester. I’m not trying to dissuade anyone from doing, you absolutely should. However, don’t just take any Honors course simply because it is an Honors course, choose something you’ll enjoy dedicating time to.

The leadership requirement was probably the most intimidating aspect of the Honors Scholar requirements. Although I enjoy being involved in my academic community, I had never tried to lead. Luckily enough, I had been offered the opportunity of serving as interim Treasurer of the Honors Student Organization for the Fall 2021 semester. It was and has been scary! There are a lot of added responsibilities when you take on an officer position of a student organization. However, it has been extremely rewarding. If you ever have the opportunity, then you should go for it. I have learned so much from my fellow officers and from the members of our organization. Plus, it has been so much fun getting to know people and creating experiences for our members.

Probably the easiest and most fun part of the Honors Scholar tier is volunteering. I absolutely adore getting involved and helping my community, so this was a no-brainer. This semester I have worked with so many amazing organizations: Accessible Housing Austin, Central Texas Food Bank, Wild Basin, Zilker Botanical Gardens, and Prison Abolition Prisoner Support. Obviously, you must work with ACC non-profit partners to earn your 12 hours of service, but the Honors Program makes it easy. One click and you’re taken to a list of everyone you can worth through to get hours and it is truly rewarding to get involved.

If you’re on the fence about becoming an Honors Scholar, I say you should go out and do it. You’ll love the experience and it’ll only help you throughout your educational and career journeys. If you ever have doubts, feel free to reach out!

Hey everybody! Mars here. In case anyone missed these fun information panels that the Honors Ambassadors held for the Honors Program, allow me to help you out and explain some key points about ACC’s Honors Program!

First things first, we are not Phi Theta Kappa. I repeat: we are not PTK. I think that’s the biggest question we in the Honors Program get from inquiring students. The Honors Program functions as a set of courses for students to take in place of their core curriculum (these will reflect on your college transcript by the way! So universities know you’ve taken Honors courses), while PTK functions more as an Honors society (that is recognized across the country! Most transfer applications will ask if a student is a PTK member.) What sets Honors classes apart from non-Honors classes is one, the class size. Honors classes have only fifteen seats per class; this way, it’ll allow professors to hone in on each and every student in the class and really get to know everyone throughout the semester. Another distinction is the subject material. While it still covers the same material, Honors classes allow for professors to focus on one specific subject in correspondence with the course. For example, the Honors Program offers many English Composition classes - but one class will focus on Magical Realism, while another focuses on Science Fiction. These classes are submitted by professors, so once you start a class, you know you’ll be learning the material from a professor that is heavily invested in what they’re teaching. Another question the Honors Program gets is this: does it cost anything to get in? Do classes in the Honors Program cost more than non-Honors classes? And the answer is no! There are no extra fees associated with both getting accepted into the Honors Program or registering for Honors classes. There are some requirements to getting accepted into the Honors Program, you can find those here. Besides the classes I’ve mentioned above, another great benefit for joining the Honors Program is all the wonderful opportunities that the program offers. They are:

Service & Transfer opportunities

Honors Advising

YCS Fellows: offered in the spring, in collaboration with UT Austin, select Honors students will attend free workshops with professors from UT’s College of Education to expand their knowledge in youth and community studies. Once completing the program, YCS Fellows will also be offered a chance to participate in the UT GEAR UP internship during the following summer

UT GEAR UP internship: if selected, Fellows will be able to showcase what they’ve learned and spend a week helping UT professors teach exciting subjects to students! (Did I mention that it’s a paid internship? 👀)

Honors Scholar Tier: newly implemented, this tier reflects a student’s willingness to enhance and expand their Honors experience; once they are a Scholar, students receive recognition on their transcripts and honor cords for graduation ceremonies

Honors Scholarship: exclusive to Honors Scholars, this scholarship is offered to a select number of students every spring to help with ACC tuition, textbooks, fees, or other education expenses

Honors Ambassadors: comprised of students, this internship will allow you to engage in student outreach and recruitment, as well as being able to work with Student Services, host events like Honors Week, create podcasts and videos, and support organizations like the HSO.

Honors Student Organization: and last but not least, students will be able to join the HSO! This organization holds a special place in my heart. I wonder why. 😉 The HSO allows Honors students to engage with their community of fellow students, attend fun events, engage in leadership opportunities, and thrive in a diverse intellectual environment.

In case students have any questions, though, feel free to reach out! The Honors Program is always on the lookout for enthusiastic students and is ready to welcome any and all!