8 Steps to Effective Time Management for Students

Time management is a key to academic success. Students around the world learn this sooner or later. The best students are not necessarily those who are smarter, but those who use their time effectively. When you plan your days and weeks in advance, time can be your friend rather than your enemy. And although time management can seem like a pain, once you have mastered this skill, it will enable you to get the most out of life. It can free you to live more effectively, calmly and enjoyably. It can help you get more done with less stress, disorganization and frustration. It can also give you higher marks throughout the school year, as well as on your quizzes, tests, and exams.

Think about it. Have you ever heard of an athlete, even one who is paid millions of dollars a year, playing in a game without showing up for practice? Have you heard of a musician delivering a concert without taking time daily to rehearse? Have you heard of a scientist proclaiming a grand discovery without hundreds of failed trials? All these professionals know that in order to succeed in their professional areas, they have to put in their time.

Unfortunately, millions of students around the world behave otherwise. They appear for exams expecting magic! Without making adequate time to study, they hope to get the highest grades and are then disappointed or ashamed when the results prove otherwise. Frankly, in today’s highly competitive world, if you are lucky enough to be in school, college, or university, you are holding a coveted spot, desired by many. You may have deprived another eager young person from getting admission, because your application appeared more promising, more likely to succeed. So after all the effort to get in, what are you doing about it? Are you making the time to study after working so hard and possibly paying so much to actually get into a particular school?

Once you make the decision, there are a number of excellent time management systems that you can follow. Although these are sometimes expensive or complex, you can achieve your goal by adopting a simple time management approach. The eight strategies below could make a huge impact on your academic career.

1. Organize your time

Life improves when you decide to do things differently. In this case, the goal is to gain control over time, rather than letting it control you. It is about taking ownership of time, which is the essence of your life. The main objective of time management is for you to have a clear picture of your upcoming days, weeks, and months. It is a way for you to discover what time you have available to devote to study, recreation, or other activities. Make the decision to be the master of your life, rather than its suffering slave!

2. Assess your time

Many students genuinely believe that they study a lot. Some even protest that they study all the time! In reality, this is far from the truth. The only way you will discover how many hours of your busy day you actually study is by completing a personal time assessment. The method requires you to keep track of everything you do for an entire week, from the time you wake up to the time you fall asleep. That means recording every single detail.

At the end of the week, add up the totals. For example, count the number of hours spent on eating, traveling, studying, talking on the phone, shopping, exercising, smoking, watching TV, being online, etc, until you have a complete picture of where your time goes. If you find you are losing a lot of time to activities other than studying, try to balance your schedule. Start eliminating the time bandits by making small adjustments in your habits and behavior in order to get better control of your precious time.

3. Set your priorities

The objective of time management is to allocate time wisely, so you can achieve your goals. If you wanted to be an Olympic swimmer or ice skater, you would have to practice several hours a day for years. In the same way, to be a top student you must have a good idea of the study requirements. Even though each subject places different demands on you – reading, writing, research, experiments, assignments, essays, projects, papers, presentations, tests, and exams – by prioritizing, you will increase your chances of success. For each subject, decide how to complete all required tasks, over a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis. This advance planning will increase your awareness, making it less likely for you to squander time away meaninglessly.

4. Make a schedule

After establishing your priorities, set up a schedule which respects your priorities. A wide variety of student organizers, diaries, planners, electronic tools and time management systems are available on the market. Choose or create whatever seems best for you. Many students select weekly planners that enable them to see the big picture more easily. Make sure your system is something you are very comfortable with as you will be referring to it often. Then, set up your schedule in this order:

• Mark in all your fixed commitments such as classes, seminars, tutorials, and part-time jobs. These are the givens, which you cannot change.
• Add in study time. Block off large sections of your day, reserved for studying alone, as well as shorter review periods. Organize your peak study times to coincide with the times of day when you are most awake and alert.
• Mark in other non-study activities. These are the important but lower priority items, such as exercise, recreational classes, or socializing, which you will fit in when possible.

5. Use a calendar

In addition to your weekly planner, invest in a large monthly wall calendar. Jot down all the important due dates, deadlines, exams, etc so they are in front of you as a visual reminder. This will make you more aware of important dates and allow you to adjust or rearrange plans if you are behind schedule.

6. Use review cards

Always keep some review cards with you to read over when you are waiting for something else to happen. This could include when you are traveling or waiting in line at the bus stop, bank, supermarket, cafeteria and so on. You could also place review cards in common locations which you pass frequently in your house, such as on the fridge door, bathroom mirror, etc. Frequent repetition and review is one of the keys to remembering information easily and effectively.

7. Plan activities logically

Get to know your bodily cycle; then, schedule activities around it as much as possible. If you always feel sleepy after lunch, for example, use the time to get in your daily walk, instead of fighting to keep your eyes open over a history book.

8. Plan some down time.

You are not a robot! Schedule some time to relax so you can rest and refresh your mind and body. This will enable you to study more effectively. Get enough sleep as well. A sleep-deprived student is not going to be able to perform at his or her best.

Source: Goodluckexams.com

FRIDAY INSPIRATION - I once repeated a class, placed on probation – Perewari, first class graduate with perfect score, Lincoln University, US

 

Perewari Pere made the headlines few weeks ago when he made a perfect score of 4.0/4.0 CGPA at Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, United States in the 2017 academic session. The 25-year-old was one of the 21 indigenes that won the Bayelsa State government scholarship to study abroad. In this interview with TUNDE AJAJA, he talks about his journey to the institution and how he emerged as the valedictorian

How was life growing up?

I still remember playing soccer every day and getting caned for it every single day. It was so funny. There was this day my elder sister was so mad at me for playing all day that she caned me really hard. And in that furiousness, she said to me “Since you so love football, make sure you play tomorrow again. Did you hear me? In fact, if you don’t go and play, I will show you.” In that naivety, I went the next day to play football. She couldn’t believe it and I’m sure I would have had it harder than the previous day, but thankfully her friend came to visit, and in tears I explained myself to her. It was so funny to both, but exciting for me because that was the only day I escaped beating. Funny, but cute memory.

ADMISSION INTO OUR SCHOOL IS STILL IN PROGRESS.

Before you won the scholarship by the Bayelsa State government, did you dream of travelling out of Nigeria for your tertiary education?

Yes, that was always a dream I was obsessed with since I was a kid. I strengthened my faith in God and He did it. When I got to JSS3, I started praying about it. I said, “Dear God, I know three years is enough for you to work it out for me.” That was in anticipation of my graduation from secondary school. I always dreamt of studying in the United States or China because I felt they possessed the best technology in the world. I’m grateful I made it to the US; I’ve learnt way more than expected.

Since it was a scholarship, the process must have been very competitive. How tough was it?

I’m glad to share this story. I was on the phone with a friend when he told me about the scholarship being offered by the Bayelsa State government, and the application was to close that day. I panicked but ensured I submitted before the end of that day. It rained on the day of the exam and we were drenched. Then it shone, and we got dried again. Funny! Right there, I prayed and said to God, “I’m sure you won’t take me through this if you have no plan for me to get this scholarship.” In the first test we wrote; English Language, I topped my local government and I couldn’t believe it because it had been a long time since I last topped anything. That was great news for my family. It was a long process and at a point, some professors from Lincoln University had flown in to be a part of the process and that raised the bar for us. After the exam, we were told our names would be called over the radio. I literally couldn’t sleep that night. I listened to the radio for that news. Something I rarely did. Well, my name was mentioned again and I was so excited.

How easy is the admission to universities there?

I don’t think it’s easier, but I think the difference in the system is what really matters. The standard for gaining admission is the same for every student. Just take a couple of exams and you’re into the university of your choice. We often have this mentality that for something to be appreciated and valuable to people, it should be very difficult and stressful to get. That mentality has held us back a lot. There, you don’t have to say what you want to study in school before getting in. I mean it is even irrelevant if you say so because you can decide to do something else. Ours, if you’re in science, then art is closed to you. That shouldn’t be. People are diverse and therefore should be allowed to explore different fields even when they are already in school.

Did you choose Computer Science because of the technological advancement there?

I had always wanted to study Computer Science. I had always liked robots. My first gift was a remote-controlled toy car. I always wondered why it worked. That curiosity was a thing I held closely. And when I got a little acquainted with programming in Nigeria, I loved it so much. So, I always dreamt of schooling in the US because I believed I would have a better opportunity of exploring this. I initially wanted to go for robotics, but programming stole my heart, so I got into Computer Science. I don’t program as often as I used to because I’m more into product visionary, but the fact that I know a lot about it is still very much exciting. As a child, I had so many dreams, and one of them was to be the Secretary-General of the United Nations. I know that’s a very tall dream. As I got older, I saw more things I could do to impact my society. So, while not giving up or chasing it, I am working on being a better person for myself, family and my society. Right now, my dream is to own the best technology company in Africa.

At the initial stage, did you target having perfect CGPA?

Before leaving Nigeria, I had the plan to make first class and graduate with a perfect score. I planned to have a GPA no other student could beat. I knew it would be very challenging, but I promised to go through it and God favoured me. There were times that dream almost didn’t seem real, thinking one course could bring down my CGPA. It was very difficult, but thank God I made it. Even if being a valedictorian was not consciously planned for, it inevitably came with having a perfect score.

Have you always had this kind of performance in your previous schools?

Not at all. At a time, I suffered inferiority complex and it drastically affected my education. I only started picking up from JSS2 after already repeating a class once. I was in a probation class and my class consisted of the worst academic students who were on mercy seats. Any slip and I would have left school. I always loved maths, but, like I said, I was suffering emotionally and it was breaking me. I was called a social misfit and that was always my struggle. I started studying hard and getting this scholarship showed me a personality I always knew existed but just couldn’t show forth. In Nigeria, I felt like a fish racing on land. Here (in the US), I feel like I’m in water, and it’s so easy to swim. I like this environment.

Did you experience any form of discrimination?

No I didn’t. On the contrary, I experienced different forms of preference. But I did witness some persons being discriminated against. However, most professors here love to teach international students. After our first semester here, professors literally pleaded to have us in their classes because we were extremely serious with our studies. We always did more than required.

You must have read a lot to have that score. What was your reading schedule like?

That’s the ideology when your GPA is that high. It’s always the general idea. A lot of people say I don’t sleep. True, sometimes, but I didn’t study that hard as well. When I first came, I studied for hours. I did 18 hours twice and it was awesome. In my second year, I literally lived in the library. But over time, I got closer to some persons and we worked more on our projects together, so I studied less. For me, reading books is not my strength. I’m better on projects. Also, my major was not about reading books all the time. It’s more about understanding a concept and thinking critically.

You must have done certain things differently from others to have such a result. What were those things?

I am very intense with my work. I am a perfectionist even to a fault. I worked on the fault part, but kept the intensity. My work was used countless times as a standard for how other students should have theirs. It became a burden as I felt others might dislike me for it. I helped a lot and received a lot of help, but this perfectionist part of me never let me do something half heartedly. Irrespective of how great or small, I like my work looking serious and professional. It always stood out.

Did you attend parties or were you always reading?

(Laughs…) Nice question. Well, I’m not a so-much-of-a-social guy. I like being indoors. I’m scared of chaos, so I always stayed away. I attended only a few birthday parties and those were of my close friends, and I left early. I could use my leisure for studying or playing the piano or sleeping or doing something else, but the reason wasn’t because I was studying. It’s just my personality.

How would you have felt if you didn’t make first class?

I already decided in my heart that I would be fine. The anxiety wasn’t worth it the moment I discovered what I wanted to do after school. It had nothing to do with my GPA, and even if I didn’t graduate with a perfect GPA, I would still have one of the best results out there. I worked hard and more importantly, God was there for me, even when I had doubts. And so delivering the valedictory speech was my happiest moment.

Given all you’ve learnt, what is the next step for you or would you consider staying back in the US to work?

No, I won’t. The next step is to come back to Nigeria and start up a software company with my friends (five of them). It’s called Afridash, taken from Africa and Dashboard. I have a dream to start a tech company in Nigeria and I have been working on that dream for close to two years now with some of my friends here. We know it’s the biggest thing we have ever come up with and we are ready to impact a sector in Nigeria with this dream. It’s not limited to Nigeria as we hope to spread to other countries in Africa and hopefully the rest of the world. Interesting enough, it will be tried here in Lincoln University for a year. It’s a massive product. As you can imagine, it’s challenging to leave the United States and head back to Nigeria, especially with nothing more after school. Some of us got job offers, which we decided to skip because we believe in this technology. I had the opportunity to visit Google, Adobe, Visa, Facebook, and so many other tech companies, and all I think in my head is Afridash. We want to be the face of tech in Africa and we want to build the best and most powerful software out there. The good news is that we just incorporated the company here in the United States and we are set to continue development in Nigeria while collaborating with different institutions to deploy this software. A lot of folks have shared their concern especially with the economic crisis in the country, but that’s fine. High tides not only cause flooding, they also generate electricity. We believe we can make this work. Facebook, Google, Apple, and all these top firms understand that Africa is the next phase of tech boom and they are strategically investing massively. Lagos is leading Nigeria in technology and the government is doing a fine job in supporting tech startups. We believe in this dream and we hope to get the supports required to get Afridash up and running. It’s a risk and we recognise that, but that’s how greatness starts sometimes. We are done with school now, GPA has been set aside, because now is the time to show what we can do for and in our country. It’s a journey that has already begun.

SOURCE: PUNCHONLINE

FRIDAY INSPIRATION - I almost gave up but for my mum –Faidat, UNILORIN best graduate who won 19 prizes

Yusuf Faidat, 24, a graduate of Medicine and Surgery, was the cynosure of all eyes at the last convocation ceremony of the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, when she won 19 prizes. Apart from being the best in the Faculty of Medicine, she was the overall best graduate of the institution in the 2015/2016 session. In this interview, she tells TUNDE AJAJA how she made it.
 

You have a very small stature, were there times people addressed you like a fresher?

That happened many times. I remember vividly when I was doing my final year clearance and a second year student addressed me as a fresher. It was amusing and I found it funny. That was something I got used to over time. It wasn’t a big deal.

 

You won 19 prizes during your convocation, could you describe how you felt, or did you see it coming?

I was overjoyed, not only for the achievement, but also because I knew my parents would be very proud of me. I knew l was going to win some prizes but I didn’t know it would be up to that. I was shocked in the early hours of the convocation day when I learnt I was going to receive that number of prizes. So, I was surprised but happy, and I believe all I was able to achieve were a product of divine providence because I didn’t plan to have first class when I got to school.

What were the awards you won?

In summary, I received the prizes for being the Best student in surgery, medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, pediatrics, community health, COBES, pathology, ophthalmology, psychiatry and overall best graduate of the school.

Have you always had such remarkable performance in your previous schools?

I was an average student in primary school. I did better in secondary school; I was one of the best graduating students and I represented my school in a few competitions. But, certainly, things got better when I got to the higher institution. And when I got to school, I decided to do my best and make my parents proud. So, I worked harder. Meanwhile, I won’t forget to mention that I had one year delay before I got admission. I passed my West African Senior School Certificate Examination and the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination at the first sitting, but I had to take another UTME because I didn’t get admission that first year. When I first applied for medicine at UNILORIN, I wasn’t offered admission, so I went to School of Remedial Studies in Katsina State, just to get busy. The following year, l re-applied for Medicine in UNILORIN and I was admitted. I really wanted Ilorin because I was sure there would be no strike action.

Since you waited for one year when you didn’t get Medicine, does it mean that was the only course that appealed to you?

I found it difficult to make a choice between becoming a doctor or an architect as I was interested in both. For Architecture, I love the idea of creating something, being able to translate people’s ideas for their homes and buildings into reality. But when I prayed about making a choice, I settled for medicine. So, I believe it’s God’s doing. When I was growing up, it was prestigious to be a doctor; they were respected and were well loved by members of the community. I read Ben Carson’s books and I saw that medicine is a platform through which a single person could have a positive influence on the lives of so many persons. This made me think of medicine when I had to decide on a career, and I’m happy I got it. My parents were also very supportive. I mean very helpful. They allowed all of us to decide on our career and they helped us to stick to it. For example, after my first UTME when I didn’t get medicine, I was very disappointed and I was considering other courses, but my mum encouraged me to stay put and put in for the same course the next time. She had confidence that Almighty Allah would grant me success, and that was exactly what happened.

Do you think people exaggerate when they say medicine is voluminous and difficult?

Medicine is voluminous and a bit difficult but the difficulty is a bit exaggerated. It’s a course that requires a lot of sacrifice, in terms of time, energy and emotion, and one needs a lot of perseverance to prevail. Medical school generally is not easy. My aim was always to do my best and be the best I could be. That was what I strove for. I don’t think I put in more effort than most of my colleagues, and that is why I attribute my success to Almighty Allah. No human being can achieve anything except by his help. My parents, siblings, friends, cousins, teachers in primary school, secondary school and university, coupled with Allah’s blessing, support from my loved ones and perseverance are all instrumental to making me what I am today.

What part of medicine did you find most interesting?

I can’t pick a favourite but physiology, pathology, pediatrics and surgery were particularly interesting. And what amazes me most is the ability of humans to adapt and strive in the midst of adversity. The organ I find most amazing is the brain. It’s responsible for our actions, behaviour, emotions, etc. It is the centre of our being. Medicine is very interesting.

When did you start leading your class?

We have numerous exams in medical school and most results when released just indicate pass or fail. Your actual scores are on the transcript so it is difficult to tell who is actually leading the class in a particular course. But in my first year, I knew I did well. My CGPA in my first year was about 4.8, more so that most of the courses involved building on what was learned in secondary school.

Maintaining a good result can be as taxing as having one. Were there times you were discouraged or you almost gave up on sustaining your efforts?

There were times when I was discouraged but with prayer and support, especially from my mother, I was able to move on. Most of those obstacles that I faced made me determined to do better subsequently.

To achieve such, some people would imagine that you were always reading. Was that the case?

No, there was nothing like that. I wasn’t always reading. In fact, sometimes, I could go for few days without reading much. I didn’t even have a fixed reading schedule. I slept well, because I know sleep is good for the body. On the average, I was sleeping for about six hours daily. However, I usually read for several hours when it was close to exam.

It’s possible to think you are a genius, since you weren’t even reading much. Do you see yourself as one?

I’m definitely not a genius, and I don’t believe I did anything different from what my colleagues did or what we were expected to do. I attended lectures, went for clinical activities and read materials. I believe those were what anybody would do. I was never coerced into doing anything, like reading my books. However, being amongst hardworking friends also motivates one to do the same. So, that helped too.

It is common for medical students to be scared the first time they are to work on a cadaver. What was it like in your case?

I had enough time to psych myself up for the experience, even though it was still unpleasant, especially the smell. I was able to manage the situation, and for me, there were no fainting spells or symptoms of Post traumatic Stress Disorder.

From your own experience, what are the basic rules of excellence in school?

The most important thing is for students to put their trust in God and be prayerful. Focus, determination and perseverance are also very important. It is important to know yourself, your reading pattern, what works for you and, more importantly, stick to it.

Some students feel using the library is the key to success. How often did you use it?

I used the library a few times while in medical school. I preferred reading in my room or my hostel’s study room, maybe because I don’t really need a quiet or secluded environment to read. I could read anywhere.

Were there times your parents rewarded you for your performance?

I remember my parents taking me and my siblings for outings after every exam in primary and secondary school. The way they praised me and how much they felt proud of me were enough reward for me.

Did you have a social life?

I wasn’t always reading, but I’m an introvert. So, my own way of catching fun didn’t necessarily involve going out. At my leisure, I read magazines, novels, saw movies and played games.

Are there things you would have loved to do as a student that you could not do, perhaps because of the time you dedicated to your academics?

I would have loved to learn jewellery making, tailoring, etc. I would still love to learn those things, if I have the free time to do it. It’s always good to have a skill in at least one thing.

What are your immediate plans and aspirations?

To finish my internship programme at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, go for service, hopefully start my residency programme and of course get married soon.

If you are to go for residency training, what part of medicine would you like to specialise in?

The jury is still on that. I haven’t made a decision yet.

SOURCE:PUNCH.               

FRIDAY INSPIRATION - I vowed to be best physiology graduate in my set – Falayi, UI first class graduate

Falayi Oluwatosin, 21, was the best in the Department of Physiology, University of Ibadan in the 2014/2015 academic session, having had 6.0 CGPA. She tells TUNDE AJAJA in this interview how she was able to lead others

We learnt you were the only one who had first class in your department. Did you see it coming or it came as a surprise?

I would say yes and no. I didn’t see it coming at first. Just like most people in my class, I applied to study Medicine and Surgery. So, when the admission list came out with my name in Physiology, I was depressed. Getting a first class then was the last thing on my mind. All I was concerned with was getting a good Cumulative Grade Point Average to cross to Medicine. After the first year, I still couldn’t cross. Gradually, the reality that I was stuck in Physiology dawned on me.  The usual saying when you don’t get the course you applied for is “The university gave me the course”. So UI ‘gave’ me Physiology. I remember I had to start browsing about Physiology the day the admission list came out. I didn’t know much about the course before then. I then decided that if I was going to be stuck in Physiology, I would make sure I emerge as the best Physiology graduate in my class and that must be a first class. Even then, I still wasn’t certain. My result in 100 and 200 level were far from encouraging. I guess the moment I started to believe was when I had a CGPA of 6.9 out of 7.0 in my third year. Afterwards, I knew it was definitely possible because this was a major improvement from my second year. The way my CGPA spiked was so high and I was convinced then that a supernatural being (God), was on my side. Even though it was Medicine at first, now, Physiology has brought out the scientist in me. When I was young, I thought being a doctor was the only way to impact lives positively but being a physiologist would help me to still achieve that dream and I don’t think I could have asked for a better course.

Since your course enabled you to know how the human system works, did that knowledge in any way help you in your studies?

We learnt that the more familiar the brain is with something, the easier it is for the person to recall that thing any other time. And that helps. I always say that crash reading is okay only if you just want to pass the exam. But for someone who wants to learn, you need to study, not read. I’ve found out that it is very hard for me to forget things I write down. Besides, our brain stores things as images so you can literarily ‘see’ your book on examination day. But that’s only if your brain has been made familiar with it by frequent study. And I would suggest that students should know themselves. What works for someone else might not work for you. The key is not to study 20 hours every day. You might only need to study religiously for two hours every day and you are good to go. Most students just copy their friends and that is where they miss it. However, one important tip that also worked for me was to study what had been taught in class that same day it was taught because I noticed that our brains thrive more on repetitions.

Given the volume of what you had to read, did you have time for other things?

I didn’t socialise much, compared with my other peers. This has nothing to do with the volume of books I had to read; I’m a reserved person, so my nature didn’t allow me to do much of that. I did hang out with my friends a couple of times. About reading, I didn’t really have a fixed schedule. On a typical day, in-between classes, I could look for a quiet place to study with my friend, Yota, and after class, which usually ends most times around 1 to 2pm, I would go back to the hostel to rest. Usually, I read for four to six hours and it could be longer than that sometimes but I never deprived myself of sleep; I slept when I needed to sleep. Yes, there were times I studied late into the night, like 2 – 3am, but I also had days I slept very well. I know the importance of sleep so I didn’t joke with mine. I understand how my body works. I rested during the day so I could study better at night. I used the library quite often and I did make use of the reading room in my hostel very well. Overall, I think students should identify what works for them and maximise it.

Did you win any award or scholarship as an undergraduate?

I didn’t win any scholarship but I won the most outstanding student award in my department in my third year and the ‘Brainbox’ of Physiology in my fourth year. Thank God I was able to combine my academics with being the editor-in-chief of my departmental press since my second year till I graduated. I was also an executive in my fellowship. I really had to find a way to balance all these or I ran the risk of destroying all my hard work.

Were there times people saw you as too serious with academics?

That happened many times. Some of my mates called me ‘book worm’ but only my close friends and family got to see that I could be very playful. Even though I love reading, singing, watching movies and sleeping were also part of my hobbies. When I’m upset, the first thing I do is sleep, which some may find funny. Beyond reading, I went for a few social gatherings, including my departmental dinner in my final year. I was even a part of the dinner committee. I went to see movies a few times with my friends, and I must say I love movies so much.

Were you in a relationship or was it a no-no?

I was in a relationship in my fourth year and it wasn’t a distraction in any way. On the contrary, it actually contributed to my having a first class because he supported me.

SOURCE: PUNCH NEWSPAPERS

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FRIDAY INSPIRATION - Making first class has changed my life forever, Says UNILORIN best graduate

After four years of seeking admission and living on N30 per day, 24-year-old Saka Ismail gained admission into the University of Ilorin to study Statistics and he graduated with 4.90 CGPA to emerge as the best graduating student of his set; 2014/2015 academic session. In this interview with TUNDE AJAJA, he talks about the issues he contended with to succeed.

It’s over a year since you graduated, what have you been doing?

Five days after my convocation, I proceeded to the orientation camp for the National Youth Service Corps programme in Paiko, Niger State and I had the opportunity of serving at the Federal University of Technology, Minna as a graduate research and teaching assistant. That was when I won the prestigious $25,000 Next Einstein Initiative scholarship to study at the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences for Master’s degree in mathematical sciences.

How did you win the scholarship?

The Next Einstein Initiative is a scholarship proposed by South African physicist, Prof. Neil Turok and the President/CEO of African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Mr. Thierry Zomahoun. The scholarship is in partnership with Mastercard, Canada, Germany and some African countries to help discover the next Albert Einstein in Africa. They named the school African Institute of Mathematical Sciences, with centres in South Africa, Rwanda, Senegal, Ghana, Tanzania and Cameroon. They select up to 250 African students from fields related to mathematical science, such as Physics, Actuarial Science, Maths, Computer and Engineering, and I was shortlisted. So, the $25,000 is the total worth of the scholarship and it covers transportation, feeding, laundry, tuition and others and everything is free here, including pen.

There is usually a huge difference between what people were taught in school and the experience outside. How much difference have you seen?

I agree totally, even in some advanced countries, whereby not much of application is taught at undergraduate level. But aside what has been taught in school, it is the responsibility of the student to not only search but know how to apply what has been taught in the real world.

To have 4.90 CGPA would seem like a product of a concrete plan, did you plan for it from the outset?

I didn’t plan towards it; all I planned for was to be among the top 10 out of 216 in my class, not knowing that would be sufficient to be the overall best. It is never easy to have first class and in today’s world, being a first-class graduate doesn’t translate to being able to get a job easily. Most times, it requires luck and prayers. However, having good grades is good; it opens doors of opportunities, just as I’m presently studying on scholarship outside Nigeria. Apart from the respect and opportunities that it has brought my way, having a first class has evidently been a blessing for me as it has changed my life and that of my family. I went to the university with nothing but left with a lot; academically, financially, socially and in all other spheres of life.

By saying you entered the university with nothing; does it mean you had financial challenges in school?

I lost my dad when I was 15; I was in JSS3 then and my mum was not able to cater for my needs. I lived with my guardian, Alhaji and Mrs. Animashaun who tried their best to make me complete my secondary education. I used to trek many kilometres to school every day. Life then was triangular for me; from school to the house and then to farm or to cassava flour factory. Without making cassava flour (Garri) daily, things might not go smoothly that week. At a point, my uncle, Mr. Saka Rafiu, took it up. He paid my tuition and gave me the little he had for my stipend. So, in my first year, I had huge financial problem. There was never a day I had three square meals in school and sometimes my friends helped while my cousin’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Akinsanya also helped. I was going to classes in bad clothes and shoes, even my bag was bad, but those were not enough reasons not to hit my target. However, all those changed in my second year; thanks to UNILORIN’s Scholar Initiative, when the school offered N93,000 in scholarship to the best student in each department every session, provided the person’s CGPA did not fall below 4.00. The scholarship covered stationery, tuition and accommodation and such a person was entitled to be called ‘university scholar’. I enjoyed that till the end of my studies. I also enjoyed the Federal Government merit scholarship till the end of my studies. That was how self development and determination moved mountains. I think I got more than I planned to achieve or bargained for in my four years in school. God has been good to me.

What would you attribute your success to?

My success is a function of so many things, with the first being the willingness and the desire to learn. Another key factor is consistency and not losing focus. I knew what I wanted and I went all out for it.

People, especially students, would like to know what your reading schedule was like to have 4.90 CGPA. Could you share with us?

I realised that you don’t need to drain yourself to get a first class. You just need to be smart, ask questions when you are not clear, don’t just read to pass but to know all about the subject and read very well. I made sure I read at least one hour daily and I could read for six hours, if necessary, so I wouldn’t need to rush when exam was close. I also tried to relate every concept and theory to real life situations. On weekends, I read and reviewed all I learnt during the week. It’s important for individuals to know what works for them. I found that I understood things very fast when I read after sleeping, so I maximised that. I wasn’t a lover of library and I didn’t go there until my final year, and the times I went there were due to friends’ invitation or if I needed to use the internet there. The library was like a sleeping tablet for me. Also, I paid attention to little details, which helped a lot during quiz competitions and impromptu tests. I had free time, during which I used to surf the internet, learn about the world and its dynamics, play football and watch football matches.

Were you involved in social activities?

I wasn’t a triangular scholar, I was involved in many things, like doing inter-Faculty and inter-University quiz challenge; I was the treasurer of the UNILORIN quiz/debate club and some volunteering/political activities with Sustainable Development Goals (formerly MDG’s) through the United Nations Information Centre and Building Bridges. I also held several other positions at Muslim students bodies, like MSSN, and in my department and faculty. Many knew me as someone who was ready to reel out history about political, sports, life and style issues that had happened decades before I was born rather than the statistical Trojan. I wasn’t going to parties or clubs but I attended a couple of birthday ceremonies and some other functions. But students should not get carried away. For example, ‘October rush or October boom’ has shattered so many girls’ dream, such that some even return home pregnant after the session and their dreams impaired within the first eight -nine months in school. Focus is essential.

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When did you start having first class?

I started leading my class from the first session and it was easy getting a first class because I was a classroom learner; I understand things very fast. That is why it is easier when you have passion for your course. Two of us had 5.00 at the end of first semester and I never knew, but my desire not to go down propelled me into repeating the same point for the second semester while my colleague tilted down. I maintained that top position till the end. It even became a mystery among students that a student could make such grade point in UNILORIN and that made me stronger and undeterred. I remember my lowest GPA was 4.80, and that was in first semester of my third year. I must say that the 5.00 GPA in that first semester was the game changer and that was my happiest moment.

Some people say Statistics is all about that aspect of mathematics, what made you like it?

As a young guy, I wanted to be a doctor, like many others then, but when I heard how expensive it was, I had to put an end to such dream, even without consultation. I knew I was strong in mathematics, hence I tilted towards the mathematical sciences like statistics, computer science, physics and mathematics. In the first UTME that I took, I chose computer and physics, but I later fell in love with Statistics, more so for its wide application and relevance. Between when I chose the course and now, that was the best decision I ever made. The course is a full dose. Right from my second year, I have been involved in thesis data analysis for postgraduate students and even undergraduate students, which was a source of income for me as a student. In this present age, the demand for a data scientist is rising like never before.

What was your performance like in your previous schools?

Passing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination was easy for me and I made my papers all in one sitting. After my secondary school education in 2007, I moved to Lagos to seek admission which never came until 2011. I was not so lucky with the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, which I took four times. One was cancelled; I did badly in another while two were good. I also did the remedial (pre-degree) programme in 2011 and I passed the two. I was almost giving up when I finally secured admission; that experience made me stronger.

What were you doing for the four years you were seeking admission?

During that period, I learnt to keep birds (poultry) and I still keep them till date. I was even consulting for poultry farmers in my neighbourhood. I also financed the business from the proceeds of my scholarship in my second year, and that helped my family in terms of finance. I also acquired some computer skills during that period.

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Would you say Nigeria has been fair to its first-class graduates?

It has not been the best from the country. A first-class graduate is ‘on his own’ as they say, and I think the country should devise a means of extracting and benefiting from the huge knowledge of these scholars. There should be a sort of opening where they can bring to bear what they have learnt in terms of carrying out research meaningful for the development of the country and Africa at large.

As a statistician, what are your thoughts about the current recession in Nigeria?

I believe if we have a good data bank, we would have had good data on economic indices. Retrospective study of these indices and determinant would have armed us with sufficient knowledge on how the present would look like and even go a long way in providing us with prospective information about the subject matter. So, we need quality data bank to make decisions about economic policies, planning, wealth and resources distribution, allocation and the like.

What are your aspirations?

I am a data scientist and business analyst. Over the past eight months, I have delivered over 150 projects for clients covering 10 per cent of the world as a freelancer. I wish to pursue and continue in that line in a leading organization and grow in this field after my Master’s programme next year. I thank God for where he has brought me. As of 2007, my breakfast and lunch allowance was N30, but in the university, things changed. I believe everybody was born great, we only need to develop good attitude, have a plan and work towards the plan. That was what did it for me.

SOURCE: PUNCHONLINE.COM

HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR FORTHCOMING EXAMINATION

Do you have an exam coming up? Waste no more time, start preparing right now.

There’s an old but true saying that those who do not prepare for success are preparing for failure. Passing your exams with high marks is not a particularly difficult task. The successful student plans his/her exam long before the actual due date.

In this post, we will briefly discuss how to prepare for an exam in a rational and efficient manner. To do this, we first need to know where you stand in terms of the exam date. The best way to handle an upcoming exam differs depending on how much time you have to study.

For this reason, I have therefore divided the issue into 3 separate scenarios:

A – You have 2 months or more to prepare
B – You have 1 month or less to prepare
C – You have 2 weeks or less to prepare

A – You have 2 months or more to prepare

This is the optimal situation. You start preparing the moment you know the exam has been announced. Don’t be fooled with the fact that you have a lot of time left before the actual writing of the test.

This will make you procrastinate and fool yourself that you are going to study tomorrow when in fact you are only postponing the inevitable.

1

The first day: Strategy!

Spend the first day formulating your strategy. Make sure you are aware of all of the required reading for the course. Skim through the entire textbook and try to produce a reading schedule and a preliminary deadline for when you need to be finished with the reading of the book. The deadline is important, make sure you keep it!
An example of preliminary planning is shown below. In this example, only the first few days are show, hopefully it’s enough to get the picture.

Show

entries

Search:

Day	What To Do	How Much
1	Prepare	Create a schedule and decide on a deadline.
2	Textbook "Name"	5 pages + 2 practice problems
3	Textbook "Name"	5 pages + 2 practice problems
4	Textbook "Name"	5 pages + 3 practice problems
5	Textbook "Name"	5 pages + 1 practice problem + 1 handout
6	Review	Review all of the pages you've read this week.
7	Textbook "Name"	10 pages + 2 practice problems

Showing 1 to 7 of 7 entries

2

The rest of the days: Implementation!

In the case above, the required textbook had 208 pages + a few handouts and practice problems. With an average of 5 pages per day + day at the end of the week reserved for repetition only, one will conclude the entire book in about one and a half month. This leaves you about 2 weeks to review everything.
Remember to specify a deadline for when all of the reading needs to have been completed. Make sure this deadline is – if possible – at least 1 week before the exam date. This way, you’ll have time to revise what you’ve learned. This is how knowledge sticks. It is through the medium of repetition in which information becomes knowledge and knowledge becomes wisdom.

B – You have 1 month or less to prepare

If you have about 1 month to prepare you can still produce great results, depending on how much you know about the topic, the difficulty of the exam etc. The modus operandi is not much different from the case above. What you need to do is simply create a schedule where you would need to work twice as much on a daily basis to finish all of your reading + eventual practice problems/old exams before the exam date.

If you have less than 1 month to prepare, it is still possible to get good results but you have to start studying immediately!

C – You have 2 weeks or less to prepare

So it happened. You are in the tight situation of having only 2 weeks to prepare for an exam. If this was intended by your professor it might not be a big of deal since the scope of the exam will not be as big as if you had had 2 months or more to prepare. However, if the course was indeed intended to go on for 2 months or more and you have only started studying right now, you are in some deep trouble! Don’t worry though; it is still possible to produce decent results even though you have such limited time. It’s time to go into emergency mode.

EMERGENCY MODE

Emergency mode means that you will have to put anything that is not as important as passing this exam to the side! That means that you will most likely have to forget about meetings friends, going out for shopping, leisure activities, sport and so forth. For the next few days, you will need to eat, sweat and breath the topic that you are studying.

As before, begin the first day by planning. This time however, we are planning to cover the most important parts first, knowing well enough that we might have to skip some parts. It’s survival mode and in survival mode you think about the essentials first and foremost.

1

Triage!

Triage is what they in the medical community call the priority system that is used in emergency situations in ER rooms in hospitals and similar places (such as during rescue operations, disasters such as floods etc). The people who are in the direst need of medical service are those who get served first so for example the person who was in a severe car accident gets to be treated before someone who had a minor wrist injury. This is how you need to treat your exam.

2

Important vs Less important

You need to know the following:
– What are the most important chapters?
– Which parts are less important (keeping in mind that less important does not mean unimportant)?
– Which types of problems are in the most likelihood going to be included?

3

Study, Study!

Start studying, cover all the essential parts first and make sure you have mastered them. Once you have learned these, you are ready to move on to the more advanced examples/chapters. Don’t waste any time what so ever doing anything that is deemed less important than your studies. Until the exam date, you must be focused on passing that exam.

http://www.study-habits.com/

I dedicated three hours to learning new things every day –Anthonia, first class graduate

At 21, Aina Anthonia, was one of the two persons that graduated with a first class from the Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, and both of them had 4.68 CGPA. In this interview with TUNDE AJAJA, she talks about her achievement

What was your typical day like?

I woke up at 6am every day. I could either do some exercise for about 30 minutes or go for morning mass. After that, I would prepare for school and resume at 8am. My movement was usually between the clinic and my class till around 4pm. After leaving school, I loved to rest or play tennis before going back to study usually in class till late in the night. I usually went to bed at 12am. Like the saying goes, ‘nothing good comes easy’. It was through God’s grace, hard work, determination and lots of sacrifices that I was able to have it. Even though I planned for it right from the start, I had to learn how to make my plan a reality because excellence goes beyond planning, and if you don’t have a plan, it is easy to settle for less and accept average performance as an outstanding one.

That schedule looks like a normal routine for any student. Were there other things you would attribute your success to?

Let me start with one of my dad’s favourite quotes, which says, ‘It is the extra effort put in something that makes one a champion.’ One of the things I did differently was taking note of fine details while studying and I often went further to practicalise whatever I had read repeatedly. Also, I always did a little more research on whatever I had been taught. As simple as it sounds, those things helped. And contrary to beliefs by some students that only geniuses can study physiotherapy or any other medical related course, any course of study requires consistency and dedication. To create more time for my academics, I avoided attending some events, social gatherings and family gatherings so I could have more time to study. It wasn’t very easy seeing other students going to have fun, it could be tempting, but it was a decision that had to be made. Beyond that, I made a decision not to be in any relationship as a student because it would be time-consuming and could be emotionally stressful. I’m glad I have something tangible to show for it.

SIMILAR TO THIS STORY - http://goo.gl/Ez7cBZ Meet the student who made history at the convocation of the University of Ibadan

People are usually of the view that students studying medical-related courses don’t have social life because of the demands of their academics. What was your own experience?

That assertion is true but I never saw myself as a non-sociable person. Yes, the demands were much and it was as if there were things to read all the time, but I found time to play tennis; I danced and played volleyball. For students in College of Medicine and those who studied courses that were very demanding, it could seem difficult creating time for other things apart from facing only their academics, but it was my choice to be involved in other things, whilst making sure that my academics didn’t suffer. I was involved in some extracurricular activities both in school and in church. Thank God for His wisdom.

When did you start having first class?

I started having first class in my second year on arriving at College of Medicine. From the start, I dedicated at least three hours every day to learn new things. I tried to be consistent with my schedule and cover up for hours missed in previous days, sometimes due to unforeseen circumstances. I love reading in the evening, and I took advantage of that, even though I read anytime I had the opportunity. In my second and third years, the library was like my second home. During our orientation in second year, I remember that those leading various classes were males. It was in the final year that a lady led and I was so motivated that I promised myself I was going to be like her.

Have you always been this excellent?

Even though I passed the West African Senior School Certificate Examination and the Unified Tertiary Examination at one sitting, I think I was an average student in secondary school. But with hard work, dedication and God’s grace, coupled with the support and encouragements from my parents, friends and colleagues, I became a lot better in the university.

ALSO READ HOW A PANEL BEATER EMERGED AS BEST GRADUATE http://goo.gl/3Q3IfX

Some people have their results once and still have some delay in securing admission. What was it like for you?

I didn’t have any delay. I took the post-UTME in all the institutions I applied to in my form. I hoped and prayed for the admission and I got two admission offers which I chose from.

What informed your choice to study Physiotherapy?

My parents wanted me to study medicine and surgery but somehow during the admission process, I was in a dilemma of choosing between medicine and physiotherapy since I was offered the two courses by two different institutions. I decided to carry out a research on what both courses entailed before taking a decision and I found out that most times, medical doctors don’t have time for themselves as compared to physiotherapists. Moreover, I enjoyed the role of physiotherapists in the health care sector. This influenced my decision. And ultimately, all I care about is the happiness I would bring to my patients whenever they get cured from illnesses, especially those threatening movement and function. I believe if one is good at whatever he or she does, one would get financial reward as and when due, because some people see medical-related courses as not very lucrative.

What is physiotherapy about?

Physiotherapy, also known as Physical Therapy, is a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialty that remediates impairments and promotes mobility. It functions and aids the quality of life through examination, diagnosis, prognosis and physical interventions such as heat, ice, massage, exercise, mobilisation and manipulations, electrotherapy and so on. Physiotherapists provide services that develop, maintain and restore people’s maximum movement and functional ability. We help people at any stage of life when movement and function ability are threatened by ageing, injury, disease, disorders, conditions and environmental factors. Physiotherapists use their knowledge and skills to improve a range of conditions associated with different systems of the body such as Neurological (e.g. stroke, multiple sclerosis, Pakinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, etc.), Neuromusculoskeletal (e.g. back pain, whiplash injury, sport injuries, arthritis, etc.), Cardiovascular (chronic heart disease, rehabilitation after heart attack, etc.) and Respiratory (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, etc.). Everything about the human body is quite amazing, most especially the brain, and I enjoyed every part of the course especially the clinical aspect.

Were there days significant things you may not forget in a hurry happened?

I had so many memorable moments but the one that readily comes to mind was when my name was called as the most outstanding student in physiotherapy students association award. I also remember when I got my first 5.00 GPA in my third year, and that was my happiest moment. My saddest moment was when I got a call that my father was involved in a road accident.

During holidays, were you also reading at home?

Yes, but I usually read more random books other than school books and I read them at my leisure time.

Were there times you isolated yourself to be able to read?

Yes, most times, I went to the library or class which was farther away from the hostels so as to minimise my distractions.

What was your experience like as a first year student?

It was a time of self discovery. This was when I got to know my strong and weak points; learnt how to relate with other people and how to become more independent.

What was it like when you started practicals?

It was fun especially gross anatomy laboratory practicals in our second year. Also, I enjoyed clinical years which began in our third year where I had the opportunity to practicalise all I had learnt in class and from textbooks. It was a refreshing experience.

What are your aspirations?

I hope to become a world renowned neurophysiotherapist. Also, it has been my childhood dream to own a hospice for the physically challenged and a home for the under-privileged in our society.

Where would you like to work?

Actually, I would love to work with the World Health Organisation and many other respectable organisations. Also, I hope to open or own a rehabilitation centre in future.

Are there things students should do that could help them?

Students should put God first, remain dedicated and hardworking. Also, they should know what works for them and never underestimate the greatness in them. They should dream big and then wake up to achieve those dreams. Finally, always be grateful for who you are and the efforts people have put in to make you who you are!

What fond memories of growing up do you still have?

Growing up was fun. I grew up in a family of nine, and I’m the fourth child. My siblings have always been a strong source of motivation right from my childhood, likewise my parents who have been very supportive. They are both teachers and expectedly, they are both disciplinarians and that helped.

SOURCE: PUNCH ONLINE

DEAR STUDENTS,
YOU TOO CAN DO IT!  WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING YOU ACHIEVE YOUR FUTURE GOALS.