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.
