Previous Challenge Entry
Topic: Exams (07/26/04)
TITLE: BENHUR'S EXAM TIPS By Anthony David 07/29/04 |
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He knelt down to pray. “ Heavenly Father, I have failed to plan and study properly. Please help me this once. I promise to be better organized in the next semester, Lord!”
With a lighter mind, he began to toil hard and utilize every minute, as the countdown began for his exams.
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Benhur and Luke sat talking over a hot cup of coffee in the canteen. The results were out and both had passed. “You know Luke, I prayed sincerely and worked hard to get through these exams.” Said Benhur.
“What are your plans for the new semester Benhur?” asked Luke.
“I plan to be systematic in my study this time Luke. I will start immediately as the semester begins. I’ll make a Macro and a micro plan too,” gushed Benhur.
“What’s the difference between your macro and micro plans?” queried Luke.
“In my macro plan, I’ll make general roadmap as to how I will deal with all my subjects through the semester. My priorities and so on. The micro plan is what I’ll be making every day. Each morning after I finish my time with God, I’ll review and make a small flexible plan for the day. That will include all that I am going to study on that day. I’ll divide my study time into manageable chunks and allot subjects to them. Did you understand?” He explained.
“Yes” nodded Luke, “ But wont you get bored quickly if you keep on studying for hours like you plan to? Why don’t you let go and enjoy yourselves now. The exams are really far off? ” Advised Luke.
Benhur sighed. He took a long sip of coffee before he replied. “ Luke, I know myself. If I relax now, I’ll have to slog heavily at the last, like I did in the last semester. No, I’ll start right now. I will take regular breaks every forty-five minutes or so so that I wont be bored.”
“What will you do in these breaks?” asked Luke finishing his coffee and ordering for another cup. “Well, I’ll have a look at the newspapers. Or I’ll go have word with someone. Perhaps I’ll call you and have a small chat,” replied Benhur. “ I will use good methods such as mnemonics, mind maps and mental associations to study properly”
“Whatever on earth do you mean by those words?” asked Luke inquisitively.
“ Mnemonics are simple alliterations to help us remember long lists. Here’s a simple one for you: ‘ My Very Educated Mother Just Showed Us Nine Planets’ this is an easy sentence to remember. The first letter of each word stands for one of the planets in the solar system, in order. They are: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune & Pluto. Mind maps are maps we make with a central image and basic ordering ideas as branches, on any subject. Mental associations are linking known with unknown facts,” explained Benhur patiently.
“My, my Benhur, you seem to be an authority on all this. Where on earth did you get all this stuff from?” asked Luke wide-eyed.
“Recently we had a seminar in our Church youth group. I learnt all this from there.” Confessed Benhur as he asserted, “ I am serious though Luke and plan to start my study right from now on.”
“Well, all the best, Benhur. Even I feel like trying this out.” Said Luke as they rose to leave the canteen.
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How about us dear readers? Do we too have plans to prepare? To prepare for our spiritual exams? But then, these ‘exams’ are unpredictable. Truly only God knows when they will come and what they will all be about. Will you take a tip for success and prosperity though?
“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth. Meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua1:8)
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© 2004: Dr.M.A David S Kumar