Overcoming Shortcomings for College Success

How to Flunk out of College, by Dr. Cari B. Cannon is a self help book that provides insight to contribute to College student's success. Throughout the book, Dr. Cannon highlights shortcomings that almost all College students experience at some point. Three major topics that I struggle with are: Assuming reading and remembering are the same thing, practicing perfectionism, and forget the learning and only focus on the grade. I believe that by tackling my shortcomings head on it will result in my continued success as a student.

"Assume reading and remembering are the same thing." Is one of the rules Dr. Cannon discuses that resonates with me the most. In the text, Dr. Cannon states "You read text to comprehend it, but to remember the material other strategies work far better than reading." (39) I struggle with this rule due to the foundation of which my studying techniques originated. While in high school, it was instilled In my brain that reading and rereading the text was critical if I wanted to retain information and

Secondly, I will be more of an active reader. By doing so, I will highlight key phrases and or words, as well as take notes on major concepts. Lastly, I plan to go over my notes weekly to help keep all newly learned material retained.

In addition to improving my study habits; Dr. Cannons rule of "Practicing Perfectionism" is something that I keenly struggle with. For me practicing perfectionism causes me to constantly struggle with the need to overachieve academically. In my eyes, anything lower than a "B" is failing. And when I achieve anything of lesser value I feel frustrated and anxious. When discussing this rule in How to Flunk out of College, Dr. Cannon describes how always trying to overachieve can cause a