Time Management

Quartz Clock (Wikipedia)

When I think of what I do for time management, I have a few things in mind. When I see problems that seem daunting, I break them up into pieces and take them one step at a time. It's kind of like avoiding biting off more than you can chew. I do still have a problem with procrastination though. Whenever I try to work on something that isn't due soon I end up getting into an internal struggle of "I'll be really busy by the time I have to work on this so I might as well do it now" versus "If I can do it tomorrow I won't do it today!", so I read two articles about procrastination.

How to Beat Procrastination by Caroline Webb: I like the idea of pre-committing. It's true that when I tell people I'm going to do something I feel more obligated to actually start. Not sure if it would apply to everyone though. I also like the idea of tying the first step to a treat, in case I get to the point where I'm even procrastinating about taking one step.

Four Questions to Help You Overcome Procrastination by Peter Banerjea: Focusing on high priority tasks is a good idea. Splitting up tasks by priority helps tell you what to focus on first in case you've got a lot on your plate. I also think that imagining the negatives of not getting something done will make me a lot more active towards getting something done. That doesn't mean I wouldn't procrastinate for some time though, it just means I wouldn't do so for longer than I'd be able to.

Technology

Keyboard (Flickr)

I'm already pretty familiar with most of the tools here. I don't think Tumblr was included as a storybook option last time but I know how to make one anyways. Having the reading content organized into blog sites is really helpful and looks streamlined. Also useful is the sidebar showing the the announcements Twitter feed.

Assignments Impressions

Colored Pencils (Wikipedia)

I'm familiar with this format and content already! I definitely know the value of extra credit now, so I think I'll work on them whenever I get bored during the day. I'm most excited to read about the Mahabharata, which seems really interesting. Writing my own stories again is going to be fun too.

Growth Mindset Thoughts

Growth Mindset Meme (Growth Mindset Memes)

So, I learned about Carol Dweck and the Growth Mindset concept when I took the Mythology and Folklore class. It was nice to be able to put a name to something I had in my head for some time. I shared a personal experience with having a growth mindset when it came to art. Early on with drawing, I felt discouraged when I encountered an obstacle. Eventually I would come to tackle these obstacles, understanding that I could overcome them through practice and effort. It ended up being a rewarding experience for me and when I draw unfamiliar things today I loosen up instead of prepare myself for failure. This applies to my other hobbies as well, such as piano and guitar. When I start learning a tough song, I see it as a challenge in a positive way. As I play (and make mistakes), I'm still having fun because I realize that I'm getting better every pass through. To me, realizing that you're constantly improving is really important for maintaining a growth mindset.

That said, I still groan when I need to do something really difficult and I have a short time to do it (it's only natural to feel frustration at these times). But when I think of these things I keep a quote from Laozi in my head: "A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step". This makes things seem a lot more approachable and if I didn't have this mindset I don't know where I would be, since I'd end up giving up when things get too difficult.

My stay at OU has taught me that I'm capable of putting in more effort than I thought I was. I spent dozens and dozens of hours on projects that just seemed like way too much work when I first saw them, but I ended up finishing anyways. Just by pushing through and working bit by bit, learning as I go.

Introduction to a Computer Scientist

Changsha Concert Hall (Free Great Picture)

Hi! My name is Tyler and welcome to my (second) blog! I'm a Computer Science student here at OU (you could probably guess this from the title of the post). I'd say the most interesting thing about Computer Science is that it requires a lot of thinking outside the box. There are a lot of approaches to tackling any given problem. My favorite class I took last semester is actually linear algebra. My teacher was nice enough to hand out printed notes to go over during lecture, which made learning the material really easy since I didn't have to do the whole 'write now think later' thing. Over break, I planned to go to New York City, since I usually go every year, but plans changed and I ended up staying home, but if you saw my Favorite Place post already you would know I didn't mind. If you had anything interesting you did over break, go ahead and mention it in your comments; I think it'd be neat to see what everyone else did!

Anyways, I spent a lot of this break sleeping ,refining my piano skills, and drawing. Speaking of that, my hobbies include drawing, playing piano, playing guitar, playing video games, and sleeping. Recently, I've been playing Mario Odyssey and I have to say that it's a really impressive gem of a game, really takes me back to my childhood playing Super Mario 64 and Sunshine.

Some goals that are important to me include getting better at drawing and piano. I practice drawing every day and learn new songs on piano often. These goals aren't too clearly defined though so I've considered establishing more concrete goals and sticking to them (such as practicing piano or drawing x hours a day).

Since I play piano, it makes sense for me to enjoy piano music so here's one of my favorite pianists playing:

Storybook Favorites

Tornado near Cordell (Flickr)

OU's Haunted Halls: This storybook was the first I looked at. It stood out to me because it's about a familiar place, so I figured that my existing background knowledge could enhance my reading. The introduction does a good job at informing the reader of what's in store. I was really impressed with the second story, which took the form of an interactive story. It contained branching paths and alternate endings like a visual novel and I think that was a fantastic idea to incorporate. Overall I was pleasantly surprised by the different 'mediums' used to express these stories, not to mention how each story was interesting on their own (maybe because they're based off real rumors).

King Arthur in Japan: I chose this storybook because I like Arthurian legend and Japanese legend. The introduction presents a pretty fleshed out backstory to this King Arthur. I liked the idea of Merlin being imprisoned within excalibur, with the 'true excalibur' present in a faraway land. Bit by bit, the author turns Arthurian legend into their own legend.

Tales of the Wild West: I chose this storybook because of the unique setting. The introduction is full of campy goodness which I enjoy. It does a good job at summarizing the characters, though it was a bit difficult to keep all these names in my head due to my limited knowledge of the Mahabharata. I think that retelling Krishna's victory against the wind by representing it as a desert tornado was clever and the victory seems more grounded than it is in the original (Krishna here only being perceived as strangling the winds instead of actually strangling the winds). The interactions between characters were enjoyable. Turning the legendary archer Arjuna into a gunslinger was a good idea, I just wish the storybook continued and had him end up using a bow at some point.

Favorite Place: Home

When I think of favorite places, a few come to mind, but the one that comes first is my own house. It feels like home is one of the only places where I can fully relax and get to work on things that require a lot of concentration. I also have hobbies that I only have the chance to practice while I'm at my house (piano, guitar, etc.), so I really enjoy spending time here. Last but not least, I'm fortunate enough to have a loving family to live in this house with!

(House Picture: Public Domain Pictures)