Page 201 - Keys To Community College Success

Memory and Studying

RETAINING WHAT YOU LEARN

What Would You Risk? Cindy Estrada

THINK ABOUT THIS SITUATION AS YOU READ, AND CONSIDER WHAT ACTION YOU WOULD TAKE.
THIS CHAPTER SHOWS YOU HOW MEMORY WORKS AND THEN HELPS YOU USE IT EFFECTIVELY TO
REMEMBER WHAT YOU STUDY. ALTHOUGH IT’S EASIER TO REMEMBER THINGS THAT YOU WANT
TO KNOW, THE STRATEGIES YOU LEARN WILL HELP YOU STUDY MATERIALS NO MATTER HOW YOU
FEEL ABOUT THEM.

Cindy Estrada never knew a carefree childhood. Her father herself without even a high school
was a ground medic during the Vietnam War, and post- diploma. She transferred to an alter-
traumatic stress disorder took its toll on him after the war. native high school in her hometown,
By the time Cindy reached age 6, he was no longer a pres- Cheyenne, Wyoming, to complete her
ence in the Estrada household. While her mom worked, high school education. But as a single
Cindy watched over her three younger brothers. “At an mom, she knew she needed to risk more in order to pro-
early age, I was there for them after school until my mom vide for her son.
got home in the evenings,” Cindy recalls. “It was a very Cindy enrolled at Laramie County Community College
nontraditional household.” But Cindy had plenty of ambi- while working as an operator with Mountain Bell. Two years
tion. She aimed for the reward of being first in her family later, she transferred to the University of Wyoming in Lara-
to go to college, so she worked hard and explored four- mie, 50 miles away. Aiming for a telecommunications degree
year college options. required her to risk balancing a full-time job with mom
At age 17, Cindy got pregnant. Her newborn son, duties and 100 miles of daily commuting, all while retaining
Jeramie, was the new joy in her life. However, she won- information from classes and study sessions.
dered how she would be able to support her new son and To be continued . . .

DRIVEN TO FORGE A
SOLID LIFESTYLE FOR HER
YOUNG FAMILY, CINDY
WAS DETERMINED TO
PULL OFF AN ASTOUND-
ING JUGGLING ACT. TO DO
SO, SHE WOULD NEED TO Working through this chapter will help you to:
MAXIMIZE STUDY TIME.
YOU’LL LEARN MORE • Understand how memory works P. 164
ABOUT CINDY, AND THE • Become aware of your study strengths and challenges P. 176
REWARD RESULTING • Build studying effectiveness with targeted strategies P. 178
FROM HER ACTIONS,
WITHIN THE CHAPTER. • Identify and use mnemonic devices and other
memory techniques P. 180
• Summarize and annotate notes P. 183
• Combine class and reading notes in a master note set P. 184