Productivity in Studying in Groups - Why bother?

Someone once told me that if we study with other people we are pretty much opening the door to distractions, and inviting distractions to come and take over the supposed study time. Therefore ultimately being a total waste of time.

That got me to think... is that really why I like to study in groups? I mean, I guess that person's argument may be the case for some people. But... is that the reason why I like to study with a group of friends? This person's words really got me to think: Am I just a die-hard procrastinator? If so, I have to change my game plan and maybe pick up some of this person's studying techniques... But if not, what is it about studying with other people that makes me like doing it oh so very much?

Well, of course, there are the common and obvious reasons: "I study with so-and-so because so-and-so is great at Chemistry and I really need help!" Or how about this one: "It's a group project... so I have to work in a group?"

Although I gave this person those reasons, hours later, I still did not feel satisfied by them. I knew there was something else - something deeper - that propels me to turn to a certain group of people to study. So, I gave it some thought.

After one of my friends came to me to unwind from a recent argument he and another one of his friends got into, there was one term he kept coming back to that caught my attention beyond all others: solidarity.

Then it occurred to me that the reason why some of us (ha, or maybe just me) have a desire to study with others is not just because of the possible help they can provide, the occasional excuse to procrastinate, or even because in some cases we have to. Instead, I feel it's because it gives us the feeling that we are not alone. It makes us think it is okay to spend hours and hours working on a single task without having our brains wander about imaging what someone else is doing or what other fun activity we could be doing. Even if we are all doing work for completely different subjects, whether it be a lab, an essay, a composition or a sketch, it makes us think we are united by a common struggle to complete our assignments or personal projects to our best ability. As strange and far-fetched as this may seem... just studying with someone can build up self-confidence.

In times when procrastination is tempting you, simply by raising your head and seeing your buddy working diligently right in front of you makes you think, "Hey, I can continue for another few minutes." And then right there, just like how after running for a few miles you get this remarkable strength and stamina to continue for twice the amount miles you thought was possible, you feed off of your friend's academic stamina and continue to study twice as long than what you had originally intended. Then funnily enough, your friend glances over at you during your academic rush, you then replenish your friend with that same strength and stamina.

So to whom it may concern, that unity, that bond, that feeling that we are all together in the good times and the hair-pulling stressful times in this world of academia - that - that is the reason why I like studying with a small group of friends.

Friends and Promises

The way I see it, there are 3 kinds of friends. There are acquaintances, friends and then there are best friends. Acquaintances are those who you walk by dozens of times, smile politely to and occasionally may share a few words with. Friends are those you can hang out with, but they may only be great for certain instances. For example, I have a friend who I may go to the movies with, but maybe not dare take him/her to a sporting event. There is another friend who I may take to restaurant but never to a museum.

Anyways, I just established that so I could describe my best friend. We have gone through many things over our 15-year friendship. Although distances made it harder for us to see each other on a regular basis, we always made a point of seeing each other. True, we each made new sets of friends, and despite not seeing each other everyday, it didn't matter because our friendship isn't contingent on seeing each other daily.

I got sick a little over 2 years ago. I got so sick, it literally had my life on the line. This best friend of mine, despite my horrible conditions and very little hope of my recovery visited me and kept a strong face while in my presence. At one point she told me I had to get better. It was not an option, but rather a necessity. She asked me if I remembered sometime, probably five years into our friendship, when we promised that no matter where life took us, we would do anything possible to keep in touch. We promised that when either of us met the man we chose to marry, we would be sure that the other would be the first one (outside the family) to know. We promised that no matter what, we would be at each other's wedding, and will always be attentive to the other's family.

Of course, it is not strictly because of this promise that I survived the illness. The doctors I had, the nurses who attended me, and the amazing support from my family and friends kept me alive, and has helped me return to college. But I do like to think that this bond that I have with my best girl friend and that that promise we made really did help pull me through.

So, it is with great joy that I can say that as of a few days ago, my friend told me that in a little over a year, it will be my turn to hold my ground with the "I will be at your wedding" promise. Without a doubt, I will keep my end of the promise. And because of all that she has done for me so far, I know she will hold up with her end when my time comes.

Photos from Jordan

This one reminded me of those early chapters of Star Wars when they have those races between cliffs. 

I like to call this photo "Air Mo" because it reminds me of the Air Jordan pose. He is one of my Jordanian buddies from a camp I did about 5 years ago. This is when I went to visit him (and the rest of the delegation) years later. Note: he executed this after springing off a trampoline. 

I guess this is just a "typical" view of Petra - I just love how you can find ancient buildings all over the world. It's amazing how united we were with people from all over the globe - even without knowing it - in our own unique way.

Paraguay

This is in Santa Ana, a rural part of Paraguay. This was the family that hosted me for lunches. They were so warm to me and really made me feel at home, even if we were only "at home" for lunches. They are also some of the hardest working people.

This was in Carapegua, a rural part of Paraguay. Here we got some of the urban students and rural students working in unison :) 

This was in Santa Ana, which was very close to the capital. Here we worked with kids as young as those in the photos to young adults like in the family in the first photo. They were all so kind.

A different kind of jungle gym.

Coming from Washington DC, I'm used to seeing people play chess in Dupont Circle, so it really made me feel at home in Paraguay to see some pass-times are universal. 

Czech Republic and Slovakia

Olomouc, Czech Republic

I can't remember if it was in Olomouc or in Prague, but in one of the two, there was a tower that had this on it.

At a Cathedral

Gardens in... Either Czech Republic or Slovakia

This could be Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia.

The details in making fine Czech glass candle holders...

Iguazzu Falls, Brazil/Argentina

According to our guide, he and his friends used to swim in the little pond there....

Image you're someone wandering through the forest and you think you've seen it all, but then you start to hear something. You follow the noise and low and behold this is what you see!