studying-is-boring
Opinion

What Studying Really Means to Students

What is this action called “studying?” For some reason the utterance of the word alone just causes me to feel depressed. Thanks to my handy-dandy pocket dictionary, I looked up what “studying” actually means:

Studying (verb): to devote time and attention to acquiring knowledge on an academic subject.

That whole definition right there just spells out p-r-o-c-r-a-st- i-n-a-t-i-o-n. For someone who can actually discipline themselves to sit down with an open text book and memorize whatever it is they need to for an exam, I’m going to have to consider you a Jedi master, because that’s harder than it looks.

Sure the definition that my itty-bitty dictionary gave you was an accurate definition of the word “studying,” but I don’t think it was an accurate definition that can be applicable to the college setting. This is my own definition of “studying”:

Studying (verb): act of texting, eating, and watching TV with an open textbook nearby.

Yes, it’s so incredibly accurate. I’m completely guilty of studying this way. But let’s dissect this new definition. Why is it that when it comes to studying, we can’t stay focused? Is it because we are too excited about wearing that new outfit we bought at Forever 21? Or maybe is it because the new Halo 4 is supposed to be coming out? Or possibly because we are just waiting to receive texts from friends, hence why the cell phone is placed strategically next to the open text book.

So if you do in fact receive a text messagee , you’re able to pounce on your phone as if you’re a lion pouncing on its prey, open the message and respond to it within mere seconds . Honestly , what would happen if your phone wasn’t by you while you were studying? I’d probably be having withdrawals because everything and anything is on my cell phone.

I feel like college students have the need to constantly be on their phones, even when it comes to sitting by ourselves in the library writing a paper. Our phones are placed right next to the computer. Oh but wait a second folks, it isn’t just the text messages that can distract us from studying, food can play a factor too. See now, food is everything for me.

If I went on an impromptu trip to Italy, I’d probably have a relationship with my pizza, and I wouldn’t be ashamed of it either. Yeah, so I love food, who doesn’t? But when it comes to studying food can become a huge distraction.

Let’s say you’re studying for your biology test, looking at the millions of notecards you made just makes you want to punch the cinder block walls (as if you’re the incredible hulk or something). And then comes the “grumble, grumble, grumble, roar” sounds from your stomach. However, your stomach is making noises not because you are hungry, but because you are bored (guilty). Then you begin to think about the chips and salsa you have in your refrigerator, or the Twinkies that just so happen to staring at you in the face saying, “Eat me! Eat me!”

Next thing you know you “just so happen” you be scarfing down three Twinkies and a handful of chips. Now cue the palm to face action because you just realized you wasted 15 minutes of studying because you were too busy chowing down on some super delicious snacks. Stupid food, why must you be so delicious and addictive?

Now, hello there pretty little television screen. As you’re studying you’re not 100 percent sure why the TV is even turned on, but let’s face it, “Dance Moms” is on and you missed the last episode, so why not have it on? I have reason to believe that the television has the ability to hypnotize people, especially when they need to be studying something.

It’s as if the TV goes, “No dear student, you mustn’t study for your history test, glue your eyes to me instead.” Then boom, you totally just watched the full hour of “Dance Moms” and missed a full hour of studying. Stupid “Dance Moms,” you’re tacky and addictive.

So I’d like to extend an apology to all the open text books out there. I’m deeply sorry that my cell phone, Twinkies and “Dance Moms” are more appealing than you. I mean, it’s nothing personal, but you’re only words on a page. And do I really need to know the mass of the sun when I go grocery shopping? Probably not. I’m sorry that I pay very little attention to you, maybe you can add some pretty pictures to keep my eyes on you and not on the TV.

I hope you accept my apology my poor open text book. I hope we can still be friends. In the meantime, there’s chips and salsa in my fridge, so I’ll study later.

PHOTO COURTESY of gearfire.net