Page 83 - Keys To Community College Success

student PROFILE

Ming-Lun Wu

NATIONAL CHENGCHI UNIVERSITY, TAIPEI, TAIWAN
(GRADUATE) UNIVERSITY OF DENVER, COLORADO
About me: When I arrived in Boston for a study-abroad experience, I began
I grew up in Taiwan. After com- looking for opportunities to work on my language skills. I joined
pleting high school and my under- a Toastmasters club and an English training club that focused on
graduate degree in Taiwan, I leadership skills and public speaking. In the summer, I went to a
traveled to Boston, Massachusetts, for a summer ESL program and, Boston-based language school. Besides improving my language
later to Denver, Colorado, for graduate school. I’m currently skills, experiences like applying for my visa, finding a host family,
attending the University of Denver and am working on my mas- and scheduling trips around Boston helped me gain independence
ter’s degree in marketing. and confidence in a strange place.
I had to test both my language skills and my independence to
What I focus on: achieve my goal and succeed in the United States.
Growing up in Taiwan, I had a dream of experiencing education in
the United States. To me, American schools seemed more open- What will help me in the workplace:
minded than the schools I attended in Taiwan. That dream became Even though knowing the big picture is essential, understanding
my goal and I quickly started to pay attention to any information every baby step necessary to accomplish a vision is vital. And hav-
related to studying abroad. When I received a chance to make that ing the hands-on plan for moving toward that vision, little by little,
dream a reality, I jumped at it. However, even though I had my is absolutely essential.
chance, I knew I needed to improve my English immensely if I
wanted to succeed.

switch back. The time it takes to switch from one thinking activity to another called
switching time. For example, suppose you’re talking to a member of your study group
by phone, discussing a homework assignment. If you decide to read through your
email while you are on the phone, you will be unable to listen to what’s being said on
the phone call.
According to two researchers, David Meyer and Dr. John Medina, switching time
increases errors and the amount of time it takes to finish the tasks you are working on
by an average of 50%. This means the more activities you juggle, the more your brain
is interrupted, the more switching you do, the longer it takes to complete your activi-
ties, and the more mistakes you make. The cost to the quality of your work may not
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be worth the juggling.
If you want to be successful at your work, consider the words of Tony Schwarz:
“Difficult as it is to focus in the face of the endless distractions we all now face, it’s far
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and away the most effective way to get work done.” Focusing on one task at a time
will save you time, mistakes, and stress. The minor risks of managing yourself in the
present will reward you with learning and accomplishment in the future— and don’t
worry, you will still find time to play.

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