Reaction to the Missing Basics and setting future goals
My initial reaction to the missing basics were that they should be skills most people have, or develop over time. I guess this is the reason that they are missing quite often, because it is presumed that they are present. In the event the missing basics are in fact absent from someone's skill set, I believe that they should be learned as soon as possible. They are integral to being an efficient engineer. Not just that, but many of them can be used by anyone to simply be more effective at working through problems in every day life.
Over this semester I know for a fact that I will need to work on increasing my level of focus and dedication in order to get more work done, practice on using my time effectively, and learn to recognize when to relax and take a step back from everything.
College will be (and already is) much more different than high school in terms of work and class organization. Because of this I will need to alter my method of studying to be more focused outside of class, as well as being able to dedicate more time for work. In order to do this, I will simply make sure that I do work as it is given to me, and not just set it aside, assuming I have time to do it later. That time that I plan on may very well be necessary for another course, and it will no longer be possible to use it as originally intended. So long as I continue to look at what is in front of me and not too far ahead, I will be able to maintain and improve my focus and dedication.
Planning out what to do with available time can often be more difficult then it sounds. For most it is an acquired skill, but for few others it comes natural. Personally I must acquire the skill through practice. Using time between and after classes will be a necessity in days to come, even years following college. To do this effectively, I must analyze where I have time in my schedule, and plan on what to do with it. There isn't really a long thought out process to doing it either. Just doing it will become a habit, so long as it is done well. Creating that habit through practice will be one of my main goals.
And last but not least... Knowing when to take a step back. There may be many reasons for this. Needing a third person point of view at things in order to analyze your life better, or even just to take a break from all the work. This may even be one of the most difficult goals I have set. It is difficult to plan for, because you don't know when it may need to happen. Just recognizing the need when it comes will be the biggest factor. If I can learn to recognize when I am stuck on something and need another point of view, or simply overworked, then I am one step closer to success.
I suppose that my 'due date' for all of these things will be by the end of the semester, but the sooner these skills are developed the better. In my opinion, they are all incredibly useful for working towards success, if used well anyway.
