Metacognition: First Semester

As the first semester winds down, it's time to start reflecting upon all that I have done or failed to do; as well as build on my strengths and improve my weaknesses.  To do this I have to take a step back and observe my style of thinking and learning through a metacognitive lens. 

First, my strengths, I think I have one significant metacognitive strength: prioritizing.  Prioritizing has helped me a great deal this first semester.  With the workload I face, it would be extremely difficult to survive without understanding time constraints, knowing my schedule, and getting work done early.  Balancing work time and down time is something I think I do well.  My philosophy is to just get as much work done as possible as early possible.  This allows me to correct and refine my work if I end up with extra time, or relax and take a break if necessary. 

One weakness that I will definitely look to improve upon is focus.  In most of my classes I find it hard to balance my alter-ego as an entertainer with my role as a student.  If I can remember to be a student first, then that would definitely allow me to concentrate in class, leading to better understanding of the material I am learning.  Although I believe that having fun in class does make for a better learning environment, I now realize that there cannot be a fifty-fifty balance, it has to be seventy-thirty.