This post is ironic. The number one thing I took away from Professor Schwartz’s seminar on how to succeed in life is that the key to success is time management. Well, after hearing those words back in October, I now find myself writing this post months after the fact, apparently not having managed my time well enough to write it earlier. I had somewhat forgotten the importance of time management before that seminar. I talked to my friend about it, though, and he seemed to live by it. In my first year of college, I was so bogged down with work that life began to feel like a continuous stream of assignments and deadlines–when I was done with one, there’d be another to start on right away. So I didn’t think much about managing my time, it felt like the amount of work I had managed my time for me. But after attending that seminar I started to think about what I could be doing better.

The friend that I spoke to told me that he had been taught that if you do something now rather than later, then you are opening a possibility in the future. Some might say you are granting your future self time. I think this is true, but it makes me feel bad in a way. If I haven’t been good at managing my time, does that mean I’ve wasted my future self’s time? I don’t like the idea that I’ve “wasted” time. I watched a TED-Talk that began as a talk about procrastination and evolved into a deeper discussion of how we not only procrastinate assignments and essays but also put off our goals in life. The speaker showed an array of hundreds of circles, where each circle represented one week of your life (for an average lifespan). I felt a little uncomfortable to literally see my days numbered. I wouldn’t want to go through each individual circle and analyze if I made the most of that week or if I “wasted” it. Albeit, I don’t think that’s the message the speaker was trying to get across.

I have another friend who believes that everything happens for a reason and that there is no reason to regret. Hearing him explain that philosophy to me was honestly life-changing, and I agree with it. We couldn’t be who we are right now without everything that we’ve been or done before. All we can do is accept the past, accept the state we are in now, and move forward. This was a bit of convoluted way to get to my final point, which is that ultimately there is no time wasted. We can start from wherever we are right now and do whatever it is that we’ve been wanting to do. No doubt that time management is important, but life happens in a bit less organized way than that.

The discussion with Professor Schwarz about college was very interesting and enjoyable. He shared a lot of stories and personal opinions, which showed how much he truly believes in his experience and his observations. It made me realize how important this time period is for us and although we should enjoy our non-academic time as college students, the academic side of it should be just as enjoyable. We should appreciate our classes and think of them as learning experiences rather than tasks to complete in order to get our degree and their effect on our GPA. He advised that we reflect on our experiences and grow from them, and manage our time.

The seminar with Professor Shwartz was an interesting one. He made some very interesting and somewhat controversial statements. The first thing I somewhat agreed with was the fact that college was more turning into an “experience” instead of a place to learn. There is an emphasis on other things that are not learning. Although I also think this mindset is taking over American colleges, I think there is a reason for it. College is an interesting time in one’s life and one should look to enjoy the most out of it whether that be through learning, partying, athletics, clubs etc. Professor Schwartz did say that Cornell is different in this sense though which I guess is a compliment. Overall though, I think his advice resonated with many of the other speakers especially in the area of taking the time to explore and take advantage of Cornell instead of going through the motions.

After attending the seminar with professor Daniel Schwartz, I reflected on my own experience in transitioning from high school to college and the shift of responsibility required in college. I remember when I was applying to Cornell University, I was very nervous because I was applying to the Architecture program with a portfolio and interview. Although I was very confident in the work I presented I knew that Cornell was the only program I wanted to get into, so there was a lot of pressure for me to perform well. Despite this, after completing my interview I had new insight on my application and the work I was presenting. Instead of being nervous I was confident because I had worked to very hard to insure that all other parts of my application were up to par. Professor Schwartz’s advice on balancing joy and the practicality of learning resonated with how I handle my own work load being an architecture major. By attending this seminar, I was able to organize my time better as a student and a young adult.

Professor Schwartz’ seminar on the art of learning made me look back on my educational journey and examine a lot of things that I could improve in my mindset towards learning. One of the key things he discussed in his seminar is that learning should be about both goals and enjoyment, and we should not worry so much about our GPA and the meaning of our classes and what we are getting out of them. Like many other people at this seminar, I am a transfer student to Cornell this semester and the transition has challenged and also pushed me to be better and change my mindset on school. In the past, I very much viewed school as something I had to do, focusing on getting the best grade without taking an actual interest in the work and just trying to get through to the next semester. Now, I am not only studying something that really interests me, but I am reflecting on this opportunity and using it to get the most out of my studies and attempt new opportunities I previously would have shied away from.

One thing that Professor Schwartz advised that I am still trying to work on is the skill of time management. I think that is one of my weakest skills in and out of school, and affects my performance in many ways. In this seminar, he gave us a few tips on improving our time management skills but I will definitely have to do more work in picking up tips and developing this aspect of my life.

I’m very grateful for all the advice that Professor Schwartz provided us with regarding various areas in life in last Thursday’s seminar. As an external transfer, deciding to come to Cornell this year was a difficult decision, specifically because of the current situation of our country. However, ultimately my decision to commit to the school was made on the basis of what Cornell represented for me: the possibility of growth and access to unique experiences. In high school, I was a very grade-focused student, as many of us were, but entering college really changed my perspective on education. Rather than focusing on results, truly enjoying what I’m studying and understanding my purpose is more important than the letter grade I receive in a class or causing myself to undergo unnecessary stress. As the semester continues and the workload and various other life responsibilities begin to become overwhelming, it’s difficult to stay motivated and keep this optimistic mindset. However, Professor Schwartz provided me with that reminder to enjoy the moment and remember why I’m here in the first place. I’m thankful for his refreshing reminder and the wise advice he gave us in the seminar. Hopefully, in the future, I might be able to meet and learn from him again.

Last Thursday, I attended Professor Schwartz’s lecture about how to succeed beyond the confinements of college.  Professor Schwartz talked about a wide assortment of interesting topics, such as the importance of this coming election as well as his 50-year experience in teaching English literature at Cornell.  However, I found his point on the importance of time management most compelling.  As someone who procrastinates frequently and does not plan ahead very well, hearing Professor Schwartz talk about how even the smartest people can not achieve success due to their time management skills really caught my attention.  By taking Professor Schwartz’s advice on how to be better with my time, such as by outlining what I have ahead of me and getting tasks done early, I hope to achieve more of the success he talked about, both in college and beyond.

Attending Professor’s Schwartz’s lecture about How to Succeed in College and Beyond has been one of my highlights this week. Being a new transfer this semester, and this semester being as hectic as it is, it has been difficult to take a step back and realize where I am and what I am supposed to be doing. Various aspects about this semester have been quite tough, but looking back these experiences have taught me how to deal with difficult situations. So far, I have learned so much from my peers, and so much about life so I can look at my college experience and be proud of it, even if it is not totally what I expected it to be. It was very refreshing hearing some advice from someone as charismatic as he is and to just hear his perspective on how to navigate through these years.

Professor Schwarz’s talk seminar “How to Succeed in College and Beyond: The Art of Learning” served as a reminder to maintain diligence during my time at college and his insights also sparked some new ideas for me to consider.

Some of these insightful reminders include going beyond what was required of you in classes, mastering time-management, not forgetting learning for life, and taking advantage of summer internships. Even though I attempt to do these things currently, I still am concerned that I could find my work and actions to be a source of regret if I later find out I lacked information to proceed in a way better suited for me.

So, when Professor Schwarz stressed the value of reflecting on one’s actions to turn regular experiences into growth experiences, it became more clear that participating more in this process will help me to fill in information gaps and to make more informed decisions.

One of the main things that stuck out to me from our discussion were to always have a plan. Having a plan helps you prepare and organize you life and daily routines. With a plan you can have a sense of direction and can be more focused. We also discussed learning and what important things you should look for. For instance you need to look for mentors and people that can write recommendation letters for you. Being friendly and genuinely wanting to learn will take you farther than only doing what you must. It was an interesting conversation and idea on learning and the future. It surprised me when he said he doesn’t take any days off and no breaks. I try my hardest to do my best at school and at everything else in my life, but I need breaks and days off to relax. I would drive myself crazy if I never stopped.

Today I attended the Thursday Seminar with Professor Schwarz about his book “How to Succeed in College and Beyond.”  Professor Schwarz talked about the importance of intellectual exploration in college, stressing that students should take classes that challenge them and make them think.  He emphasized the importance of the liberal arts education, saying that even people in stem should take liberal arts classes that challenge them to think differently and interact with others in a discussion setting.  As someone who is in the humanities, I agree that lately the liberal arts have been highly undervalued.  Another thing which Professor Schwarz discussed were the goals you should have from college as well as strategies to maximize your time.  He said that, especially now, we should use our education to make sense of the world and give back to our communities.  Some strategies that he talked about were getting to know professors to have them as mentors, surrounding yourself with other motivated students, and mastering time management.  He particularly emphasized time management, saying that it was one of the most important parts to life that you learn in college.  I definitely agree that most of college is learning to manage your time between schoolwork, clubs, and social life.  This is an area in which I still struggle, but I am learning to become more effective.  Ultimately, this event helped me refocus on my goals for college and take a step back from the day-to-day routine that I have formed to consider the broader picture.

In this week’s Thursday Seminar, Professor Schwartz reminded us that the true value of college is not the classes you take, and getting the most out of our college experience is not equivalent to achieving a high GPA. Succeeding in college is a very broad concept and cannot be evaluated easily, as there is not a single, comprehensive indicator that we can use to measure successfulness. As a result, succeeding in college comes is more about getting the most out of that college experience and facilitating personal growth. While almost everyone knows that getting involved on campus and leading a rich extracurricular life is important,  it might seem that putting efforts in extracurricular activities means forgoing academic achievements. Yet Prof. Schwartz found that some people can do both: achieving high grades while being involved are not conflicting in nature. But in order to do both, one has to manage time well and demonstrate the 3 R’s: resilience, resolve, and resourcefulness. Managing time well allows us to be productive even in small fragments of time, which we can accomplish by using a time chart to be honest with ourselves. The 3 R’s are indicators of one’s mental ability to overcome challenges that come across on their way to success. I deeply resonate with his view that college is about personal growth. While my college experience has endowed me with precious technical knowledge and skills required for my profession, I have also witnessed improvements in my ability to manage my time using a calendar and working productively under heavy workload and tight timelines. Those implicit skills will turn out be be extremely valuable in our future careers.

From all the advice Professor Schwarz gave, the number one thing I learned was that utilize all the opportunities you get and never have regrets. In the past, I remember having many opportunities and letting them slip because I was lazy or scared. Although I have taken advantage of more opportunities in university, I have continued to let opportunities slip away. In the future, I will attempt to take advantage of all the opportunities I receive. By doing this, I will also have fewer regrets. Regrets haunt me, and if I take advantage of the opportunities I receive and they don’t work out, at least I would not have regrets. Is it better living with the regret of not taking action and wondering what could have been or using an opportunity and it potentially not working out? You be the judge.

The seminar on Thursday reminded me of the importance of engaging in challenging and enjoyable education at the perfect time. When I was young, I loved school and would have stayed in the classroom all day if I could. As I got older, I became overwhelmed with busy work and lost an interest in pushing myself, making it through the grueling work of high school with some apprehension. Senior year of high school was a turning point, and I was able to enter college with a drive to succeed. I tailored my schedule with the promise that I would give myself one class every semester that was a fun, non-major related course which was not incredibly difficult. This course would be a way for me to expand my learning beyond my major and gain different perspectives.

Listening to the reminder that learning should be both goal oriented and enjoyable, I realized how much I was dreading studying for the next week of prelims and quizzes. Of course, I have never found tests fun, but I do remember a time where I would actually look forward to study groups with my friends where we would explore the material beyond what is required to fully understand it. This was an important reminder, and I know it will help me get through the next week.

After attending the Thursday seminar “How to Succeed in College and Beyond: the Art of Learning”, I have learned from professor Schwarz that it is very important to get to know your professors. He suggests that for every term that we have we should at least get close with one professor because this person is responsible for recommendations in the future and they can hook you up with other academic opportunities. I found it very amusing when the professor mentioned a story about his son finding out that his teacher has beer with his students because I would not even expect to get into a scenario like that, especially if it were to happen at Cornell. Either way the grad school application process is no joke and Schwarz emphasizes this very much as students grow throughout college.