It's important you understand the expectations of your course as you're studying. Use the syllabus as your guide if you feel overwhelmed or lost while studying. The syllabus will outline major concepts, grade breakdowns, and so on. For example, say you've been getting frustrated memorizing the years of major scientific breakthroughs for a science course. The syllabus says the goals of the course are to help you gain a better understanding of scientific theory. It's more important for you to understand the overarching theories than know the exact dates. Find peers who are hard workers and do well in the course. Ask them to form a study group. The right study group can really help you stay focused and engaged and gain a better understanding of course material.  Choose the right peers. If your study group is made up of friends, studying may turn into socializing fast. Pick good students who are genuinely engaged in class. Bounce off one another's strengths. If a classmate is confused on a subject you're skilled at, and does well in an area that confuses you, they would make a good partner. The two of you can help one another out. There is nothing to be embarrassed about if you have questions. Everyone gets confused sometimes and needs some extra help. If you have questions on a concept or subject, e-mail your professor or go to office hours. They may be able to offer you tips and tricks to better understand the material.  Your professor's office hours should be stated on their green sheet, which they handed out at the beginning of the semester. When e-mailing your professor, state your class day and time in the subject header. Professors often teach more than one class. Some teachers have review sessions each week or before an exam. Always make a habit of going if you have time in your schedule. Review sessions can help you gain a better understanding of course materials. They can also be a great place to ask professors or teaching assistants questions. If your teacher does not offer a review session, ask them if they are willing to do it. If enough students are interested in a review session, they may create one. If your campus has tutoring centers, make use of them if you ever need help. You can also look for a private tutor in your area online. A little one-on-one help can go a long way if you're confused about a subject.  Not all tutors advertise in the tutoring center on college campuses. Some tutors post their fliers on the school bulletin board, alongside other fliers for housing and textbook sales. If you cannot find any tutors, ask your classmates. Some of them may be willing to help you before or after class, and not all of them will charge a fee.

Summary: Refer to your syllabus as needed. Form a study group. Go to your professors with questions. Go to review sessions if they are offered. Use a tutor.


You may want to store the numbers to your favorite radio stations in your phone so you can always be ready to call and not be searching for the number. Don't let the radio become background noise. Pay attention to when the contest happens. Call exactly when you are told to call. Don't start too early because your call won't go through and you could miss out on the actual calling time. When you hear about a contest that a station is offering, put a reminder in your calendar or phone to alert you to call. You can even set an alarm to go off ten to fifteen minutes before the station comes on to help prepare you. Digital watches, cell phones, and email accounts usually offer easy-to-use reminders. Grab your cell phone and house phone and use them simultaneously. Have your family and friends call in for you too. As soon as you hear a busy signal, hang up and re-dial. Don’t just try once and hang up.  Use the redial button if you can't get through on your first try. Those few seconds spent redialing manually will reduce or likely eliminate your chances of being the correct caller. Be persistent and keep trying. The people who win a lot of radio contests, play a lot of radio contests. People do get through, and you never know when a phone line will open up, so don’t let the busy signal discourage you. Don't call into the business office or reception. It is not a sneaky way to get around the busy signal and you may miss your chance at winning. The only phone number you can win a prize at is the one that you hear the radio station give out on the air or the one that is listed on the website. Be optimistic and understand your chances are just as good as someone else's chance. If you never try, you will never win. You will not win every time, but with effort it may happen. Just don’t give up and remember to have fun. It can be frustrating when you get a busy signal and you’ve tried multiple times, but there are contests everyday so be persistent. You can’t win if you don’t play.

Summary: Be ready to call and dial in fast. Set up reminders to call. Seek out ways to call in from multiple sources. Play as often as you can. Make sure you’re calling the right number. Have the right mentality.


If someone has done something to cause you pain or suffering, the worst thing you can do is return the favor just for the sake of proving a point. Doing so will only compromise your own honor, integrity, and respectability. Stay true to your values and be the bigger person.  Choosing not to act on your vengeful urges can also be very empowering. It screams loud and clear that the only person who has control over your actions and reactions is you.  There’s a lot of truth to be found in the old Spanish proverb, “No revenge is more honorable than the one not taken.” Talk to a trusted loved one about your enemy’s actions and the impact they’ve had on you. More often than not, the fires of revenge are fueled by hurt, not anger. By working through your emotions and coming to terms with the way you were wronged, you’ll be on the fast track to making peace with it and moving on with your life. Getting reassurance from someone who cares about you is far more satisfying and impactful than making your enemies grovel at your feet. In fact, scientific research shows that acts of revenge rarely make the person committing them feel any better at all. Contemplating revenge can give you a sinister thrill, but, taken too far, it can also cast a shadow over your life. Resist the urge to continually reopen old wounds by maintaining an upbeat attitude and taking stock of the things you’re thankful for. In this way, you can break the cycle of rage and one-upmanship that threatens to keep you stuck in an unhealthy state of mind.  Try to look at your enemy’s actions as a blessing in disguise. It could be, for instance, that they’re a former friend who’s stabbed you in the back, and their betrayal has made you more careful about who you let into your inner circle. Don’t feel too bad about being a target for your enemy’s scorn. The fact that they would go to such great lengths to interfere with your happiness means that they think you’re important. Malicious words and actions can sting, but they can also have an energizing effect. Channel the energy that you would otherwise put towards holding a grudge into working out, studying, or picking up a new hobby. In the end, you’ll be better off for it, which is just about the biggest middle finger you can extend to your haters.  Intense forms of exercise like weightlifting, sprinting, rowing, or interval training can be an excellent way to blow off some steam while also reaping a host of health benefits.  When someone tries to make you feel small, you have two choices: you can let it eat you alive or you can let it push you to become even greater.
Summary: Refuse to stoop to your enemy’s level. Vent your feelings to your friends and family. Focus on the good that comes from the situation rather than the bad. Use your enemy’s hostility towards you as motivation.