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     | Sunday, March 18, 2001 - 12:16 am What does it take to be successful? Success has two dimensions, first to be successful one must have solid education background, and secondly one has to demonstrate that educational background in a successful career path in the real world. Therefore, to be successful in the educational world, especially during the undergrad years, one must trully sacrifice a lot, I mean by that; there are rules of engagement when going to school, which are equal to those rules of engagement when going to war. Rule 1 DISCIPLINE, discipline usualy means postponing gratification for later time, which usualy connotes with time management. If your time to study is not well scheduled and determined before hand, then all your efforts become too wasted and not organized, and you fall under the mercy of whim decision making. To avoid that, teach yourself on how to stick with your schedules, they may seem pretty tough at the start, but as you become used to it, they will become part of your life and second nature to you. However, expect some torture in the begining, but it will soon pass, and don't give up in the first three weeks of torture, I guarantee you the gratification you achieve later is far more rewarding. Rule 2 FOCUS, in life we can achieve very few things in one time, don't think working full time, going to school full time, and dating can be all done at one time, if you think this is possible, then you haven't learned "The law of diminishing return" or "The Possibilities Curve" Thus, it's futile trying to prove wrong these laws or theories by undertaking all of the above. Remember, to prioritize your needs, and analyze which one comes first. Thereby, you can always count on a better future in tommorow, if tomorrow ever comes, and believe me it will, and only to those who persist. Rule 3 LEARN HOW TO STUDY, learning on how to study by your own way, or style could be great, but it's like re-inventing the wheel all over again, and by the time you develop your own style, you're already down the drain! Additonaly, it has been proven that most of the difficulties students face in college are greatly attributed to lack of guidance on how to study, thus some great schools I know, the first course requirement that you've to register for is "How to Study", or "Study Science". Therefore, if you haven't taken that course, there's always a good chance that you'll find a book on how to study basics in your bookstore, so go and find it, and make it your friend. Rule 4 MARKET ORIENTED, some of you may disagree with me on this point, but it means that you don't only have to study what's easy or what you like most, but to study that which is demanded in the market place. As it's very painful if you study and toil for long many years, and finally all that toiling won't gaurantee you to get a descent job. Honestly, education is not only about getting a job, but we live in a material world, where one's success is always measured in a material sense, thus one has to decide which world to satisfy before and foremost so as to decide your goal in life. Rule 5 ATTEND THE BEST SCHOOLS, also this opens up many heated discussions, again there's a great correlation between the name of a school and its product offering. It's not only a myth that the best schools attract the best minds of faculty and students, but it's also a fact that the TOP 20 schools are the best financed, and thus enable them to maintain a leadership status. The more reputable the school is the greater the chance of better education and less hassle for job hunting. My only advice here is not to be intimidated by these schools' requirements, which are always very demanding, but give it a shot, there's a high probability chance that you'll end up attending one. If you missed that chance in your undergrad, there's always graduate school looming over the horizon, since today a 4 year degree is not considered of that much! The other dimension of success comes into play when one gets a job, and as this dimension is far less complex than going to school, I will come and discuss it later on. If you have suggestions for success in school, please share with us!
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| | Sunday, March 18, 2001 - 02:43 am to sagittarius found it very useful,thanks. do more please
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| | Sunday, March 18, 2001 - 08:55 am Sagi. thanks bro that was really good points. Keep up the good work.
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| | Sunday, March 18, 2001 - 10:19 am sagri; That was outstanding and excellent piece of work. However, i would like to add suggestion and two more points. First suggestion being, the topic should read "Student's rules of success". "Why, so?" you may ask. Well, rules of success is broad topic and can apply anybody not only students and going to school.it can apply for those of us who do janitorial work for living. The first point being, your audience was somalis. and i thought if you should specify somali student's prolbems. Yes, somali students need all of what you said. And this also applies to any other students. But please don't forget we have special problems to solve. You may wondering what it is that we, somalis, have in particular to solve. somali students need to interact and integrate to other students. The reason is group studies, lab partnerships and group projects are the new trends of today's way of studying. This is because team work and interpersonal and human skills are must that new graduates to have in order to succeed today's competitive job market. However,I found that many Somali students don't make good friends in school because cultural difference and also somalis don't consider this issue of team work and interprsonal skills. this is why somalis are isolated students. Needless to say there are also many cultural barrier that make them isolated. And second more point being,somali students need to learn money management and how to stay on budget since they can't be full time student and work full time as the sametime, as you mentioned. This will be easy if somali students stay away from non-student somali community as far as they can. i said so because the lavish lifstyle of non-student somalis can ruin the poor studnets budget. Again thanks for that good topic and with all that tips and tricks of student's life. Alipapa
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| | Sunday, March 18, 2001 - 11:55 am To sag Great advice thanks To alipapa have to disagree with you when you said that somalis find it hard to interact with other cultures and backgrounds. Well i am a university student doing my first year, and part of my course is to do group work, there is no somalis in my class just white people and two asian boys, at first it was difficult to just communicate with white people who have no idea of culture, religion or even good music. But gradually i learned to accept them and was able to commuincate and become friends with them. If you let yourself accept other cultures and religions then you will not have any problems.
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| | Sunday, March 18, 2001 - 02:38 pm I forgot to add two other main points: SCRIPTURES, I cannot emphasize enough the importance books play in student's life. Though, not only curriculum books. For instance; if you're taking principles of economics and you've just one book as main reference, then it will pay greatly if you could borrow from your library other books in that same course but from a different author, most books that are used today in colleges, don't mean they are the best well writen, instead a commercial consideration comes into play most of the times, thus if you use the aid of other books as a cross reference it will help a lot, or facilitate your study. However, not only books but also you've to read magazines such as Business Week, PC Magazine, or whatever your background is. Reason being, have you ever wondered what your fellow classmates are talking about in the class all the time when you're speechless and stunned! It's just they read more in extracuricular periodicals and know more what's currently going on. However, the buzz word here is Scriptures not Television, and if you're a very good friend of TV, then you're in big trouble, as TV is Numero Uno enemy to student life, where you find yourself still gigling many hours after your favorite program has ended. In conclusion it only enforces your postponing habits, which we're trying to get rid of. Thus you need to distance yourself from that evil box. PRAYERS, I won't tell you how you pray, but prayers are like meditation, and they keep you focused and disciplined. Alipapa, All the points you've raised are indeed very relevant, about the topic, I wasn't thinking well when I wrote it @ 5:00 a.m, so you've a very good point there. However, I indicated in the bottom, more to come. Also, about Somali students not intermingling with their fellow student body, I really am not that expert on Somalis behaviour, but you're raising a very dangerous situation here. Since we are minority here in the west, then we shouldn't expect our fellow Somalis to be everywhere, so we have to adapt our attitudes towards gaining more from our other fellow students, because we honestly learn more from our peers than we learn from instructors, and as you mentioned it, this is truly the trend in contemprory education. Group projects, or cohort groups in grad school are the norm not the exception. As for money management, you indeed have addressed a thorny issue, and most students are confused on this subject while going to school, as they want to be dandy and can't afford it at the same time, so they have to find a full time job, which limits further their already limited time for study. To avoid that, it's only wise to live on campus and shut off the outer dissimilar world of their environment, take as much loan as you can to survive, and strongly focus on your studies for now, loan will take care of itself when you land in a decent job! People, it's crazy if one thinks while going to school they can also live large, just look around you, people are dressed in ragedy clothes, which became stylish these days, but was only adopted out of necessity to discourage those who can afford good clothes, not to influence the poor by their snotty behaviour. So while in school, be poor, rough, unclassy, hungry, loveless in some cases, but it will soon pass, and the good life will soon be your lifestyle. SomaliCream, I quote "If you let yourself accept other cultures and religion then you will not have any problems" Yours is a true masterpiece concept, I wish everybody should have adopted that same attitude.
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| | Sunday, March 18, 2001 - 04:33 pm s/cream, You got every rights to disagree with me. After all, i didn't mean to say what i wrote down was divine truth from Allah. And just because you solved it, doesn't mean the problem doesn't exist. In my opinion, instead of disagreeing with me, you would have said" Hey Alipapa that problem do exist and i, somalicream, faced it. But guess what Alipapa i solved it, And this is how i solve it." then, you would have told me us your great idea of " If you let yourself accept other cultures and religion then you will not have any problems" . Wouldn't be that artistic way of conveying your two cents????. But the again, you were only somalicream which means you are born challenger , big time hard feeler and bloody pessimistic. ahahhaa. Take it easy s/cream. will you.?
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| | Sunday, March 18, 2001 - 06:20 pm Brother Sugittarius, Thanks a lot, and Allah may reward you for the noble and the outstanding piece of information you have posted on the website. One advice that you mentioned in your writing was "Prayer." As you mentioned, prayer is the secret for many successes and things, not only an educational purpose. Among other things, prayer enlightens and sharpens the heart of the Muslim student. The more you are dedicated to your prayer the more you excel in your entire courses. This happens to me on regular basis. Whenever I miss one of the daily prayers, I feel that whole day a wickedness within my heart, and I do not comprehend all the lectures as I used to be.Therefore, I must admit that prayer is the most important rule when it comes to the student's success. Thanks bro.
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| | Monday, March 19, 2001 - 09:33 am To alipapa Well I am not going to apologize for the way I expressed my opinions, if you don't like it that is your business. I find it funny that u can actually say and I quote "But then again, you were only somalicream which means you are born challenger , big time hard feeler and bloody pessimistic". Have to say that is a first someone actually calling me pessimistic without actually knowing me. And can you actually say where in my comment did I sound pessimistic.
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| | Monday, March 19, 2001 - 03:57 pm Go Girl Somalicream Sagittarius :- Wonderful insights,i copied and pasted it ,i'll pass it around my class.Thank you!
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| | Wednesday, March 21, 2001 - 01:35 pm Alipapa and SomaliCream, I don't see any disagreement between you, just simple misunderstanding...work it out guys. Raash, Summertime, and Basra. I am glad I could be of some help.
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| | Wednesday, March 21, 2001 - 02:24 pm please giver credit to your source..... nothing is wrong use ideas but it become -s dangerous to use it, as your own.
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| | Wednesday, March 21, 2001 - 06:20 pm Anonymous, You're right, I forgot to mention the source, anyways here is the source; Author: Sagittarius Jupiter Publisher: Somalinet
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| | Wednesday, March 21, 2001 - 06:24 pm anon.... why envy this talented individual? Whether he/she plagiarized or not,(to which i dont think he/ did cuz i have come across his/ previous postings).... i still think he/ gave us some quality info to which alot of us found quite important! Learn to appreciate and stop putting ppl down ! Sags/Ali-papa/Scream.... keep it rolln, i have to say i found ur information quite helpful...thanx to u all! Mad-Man!
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| | Thursday, March 22, 2001 - 12:47 pm Mad-Man, Thanx for coming to my rescue. and BTW it's he.
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| | Monday, April 09, 2001 - 09:16 pm Before this disappears, I wanted to add; SPEED READING; to read fast and comprehend all that you read is the most successful art one can muster during student times. Since, almost most of student's time is consumed with reading (I don't have a scientific percentage) but it's obvious that we do more reading than anything else in school. Thus, it would only pay greatly if one knew how to achieve this. In fact, the first clue is well found in writing itself, how so? When we're writing, we write in paragraphs and using big signs that say "Plz see me I am here" but we often don't notice, as we're day dreaming when reading, so to avoid that, read with some structure in your mind e.g. If you see these words: however, moreover,therefore,thus, and additionally. They have a reason to be there, as they either change subject in the case of However, or conclude the paragraph as in Thus, and Therefore, or add more explanations as in Additionally, and Moreover. Therefore, seeing those words just tells what to expect in the long paragraphs that you read, and they are called sign posts. More importantly, read not word by word, as you'll lose track of the complete sentence meaning, and train yourself not to go back to what you've read, our mind is a strange thing, it can be trained in any way we want it, but the question is do we wanna it! The topic of speed reading is the most fascinating and helpfull of all study aid topics, and the easiest to learn, unlike self discipline. Please look for further help in study guide books, this was just a thought revoking.
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| | Monday, April 09, 2001 - 09:23 pm Hey Sag. I found what you had to say really interesting. Are you interesting in being a mentor? There a lot of us that are kind of confused so if you are interested let me know okay.
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| | Tuesday, April 10, 2001 - 01:53 pm Assalamu Alaikum, Dear brother Saggittarius, this has to be by far the most beneficial topic on this site. Thanks for taking the time to share with us your wonderful suggestions. Wassalam Wabilaahi Towfiiq
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| | Tuesday, April 10, 2001 - 03:28 pm Stellah, Reason I started this page could be interpreted in many ways, but regardless what everybody thinks, I tried to contribute positively something that may help somebody and hopefully may turnaround something. I didn't feel in any ways to be engaged in mentoring, but if that's what's needed here, then molto contento. However, I was more than happy to share my two cents of making school a success rather than an ominous just do it thing! Mr, thanx And we would still appreciate if someone shared with us their school success experiences. As I know everybody must had been in school or in school now, so I beleive more help is needed!
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| | Wednesday, April 11, 2001 - 03:28 am Sagittarius I agree with u, when it comes to being a student half of your time is spent reading. Speed reading is indeed a useful tool that can safe as time and confusion. At first i was really worried about the amount of reading that has to be done in uni, but as time moved on you do become better and faster when reading, u would be able to spot vital information out. One of my lecturers said that when reading focus on the centre of the page where it is shaped like an A that is where most useful and important information are based. It is true, i have tried it myself and it really helped. Well thanks for your adive on speed reading, keep it up.
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| | Wednesday, April 11, 2001 - 07:20 am my goodness, sag what have you done. why r u tryin to inprint western mythology on young somalians, here is how it is, a person seekin knowledge has to have 3 things in islam. 1. intention 2. sencerity 3. devotion you got these three Allah will take of da rest peace m much love u got somethin betta i stand corrected.
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| | Wednesday, April 11, 2001 - 01:33 pm SomalieCream, What works best when reading a book is, if the book was readable as a novel, and as unfortunate as that may sound, then only knowing how to make a book read like a novel is the way to go. And as you mentioned reading the page as a whole focus will certainly help, but also reading the questions at the end of the chapter, the chapter summary, and reading and understanding overall topic structures is the fastest way to get a complete picture of what you read and make it read as a novel. Anonymous, First of all, I didn't specify what to study as to wether that be religion or non-religion, and seconly my intention was not to guide the reader on being an atheist, but rather to study successfully on whatever endeavor the individual might choose as a path for self development. Besides, "Intention, Sincerity, and Devotion" are hard to find in the real world, as they may exist in the utopian state of our mind!
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| | Thursday, April 12, 2001 - 08:08 am Sag. Thankq U sister! That was really usefull! Though the advice came really late for me, i am gonna copy it and give to me young people. I was actually looking for study guides for this high school kid i know and what do U know.... I am just really amazed with your intelligence, keep it up hon. And hey, in case it crosses your mind. I think you'd make a great mentor and that is soo needed walahi. Peace n love
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| | Thursday, April 12, 2001 - 10:15 am Amina, the rest of stuff you said about Sagittarius is rite i.e. his intelligence and great mentor but dear sagittarius is MAN so sis pllz substract the "sister" and add "bro" in its place........! Anon, sagi didnt preach about any religion whether Islam or any other.he only high lited Rules for success for students which are VERY well needed and taken and appreciated. Sagi, thanx for the good points.
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| | Thursday, April 12, 2001 - 01:23 pm anonymous replying you people disgust me, how can u consider a some1 as mentor when she doesnt even believe in noble qualities. also sagitarius- if u only knew the verdict on zodiac signs, n such things, you would not call urself as such. peace
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| | Thursday, April 12, 2001 - 03:29 pm I had a way not to reply to anonymous, but I will answer your concerns only this time. First, keeping calling me a sister doesn't at all change the subject, as I have in real life a very smart sister and smarter sisters here in these forumss, so I am quite elated ou bien, tres bien enchante Sis! Second, why don't you enlighten me what Sagittarius means, or how I would rather deserve it.lol
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| | Thursday, April 12, 2001 - 03:57 pm Sagittarius--Smart,wise,sweet,good hearted--one Q for ya--Do you have a girl?
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| | Thursday, April 12, 2001 - 04:42 pm Libin sorry sir!! thnx for da reminder hon  Sag. my bad walaalo, I always thought U were a sister.. but i guess that didn't offend U huh... just goes to prove Ur manhood (and I ain't hitting on ya). My comments still stand weather Ur a man or a woman.. Ur still my walaalo BTW on Ur road to success U'll always come across haters.. just remember it's jealousy n envy that makes people say things. The best way to deal with it... is to keep handeling your Bizniz! Anonymous hon... if its nasiixa ur trying to give... thats not how U go about it!! But sag. are U on that astrology stuff bro? Peace n Love
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| | Thursday, April 12, 2001 - 07:52 pm Amina Lol ,i think you are having identity crisis dear! Sir??! hehehehe i give up....
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| | Friday, April 13, 2001 - 06:17 am lol@LiBin.......dont give up girl.....everythin' has to underlined for Amina i guess...!! Aminaaaaay....LiBin is a SISTAH...lol...!! Sagittarius....brotha i agree with Mr.....this is the most beneficial topic i've seen in da forums for ages.....thanx a lot and may Allah reward ya for it......!! I am one confused person walaahi....i wanna go to college and i dont know what i wanna major...i wanna have a good job oneday but i dont seem to be payin' much attention to school....i dont know how it is gonna work in my world...!! But ur points were very helpful and i wish we had many somali brothaz around like u.....just to help out the confused ones...!! AliPapa...........sometimes i wonder if there r Alipapa wanna be's in this forums....cuz i've seen couple of really rude postings by u and some like the one u had up there....!! Ur points were true brotha......especially student hangin' with non-students when it comes to budgetin'.....most of my friends r in college...and i must say i put them in big trouble sometimes...!! SomaliCream..........sistah i've been goin' to school for 3 years here and i was the only somali around......and i honestly found it really hard to get along with Americans whites/blacks.....when it comes to group projects and class mates help and stuff...i am good at that....but outa class....naaah.....i could be their first enemy.....in my 3 years i had only one good friend in high school....and we became good friends cuz she's a foreigner like me...Mexicano..!!! Me talk too much....lol..!! Salaam
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| | Friday, April 13, 2001 - 07:27 am lol @ libin. oooooops.. i did it again.. sorry sweety... it's just that i never came across this word/ name libin and sounds kinda masculin to me!! I hope U find it in Ur heart to forgive me SISTAH walahi i don't know what to do wit myself... may be i should controll my big mouth in the futur...... i ama refer to everyone as walaalo from now on!! Laters 'sir' I mean Madam. Honesita aaah kidah..lol ... about underline everything for Amina?. xawariiki ya bint.lol.. u started it lol. Anyways, sweety I would say go for it!! I mean going to college and make sure U do something u enjoy and thats gonna be of benefit 2 U n the ummah. I never wanted to go college and i only went coz my aabo made me... but i am kinda glad that i did... coz InshaAllah, i'll get a degree (instead of wasting my time in some dead end job) and enjoy life.. college days are the most stressfull but also the best time of Ur life. trust me. At my uni. there are barely any somalis and No sistahs...most of my friends are Asians... but walahi i can't be as comfortable with others like i am with my somalis. peace n love
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| | Friday, April 13, 2001 - 08:33 am Honesita, Lol,I will take ur advice......Underline and "Far waaweyn" for Amina! lol Sis,You are smart and intelligent.We all get confused every one and then, but those of us who ever come over their confusions are the best. about your confusion of what subject to major,you are not the only one.a lot of high school students(including my younger sis) are facing the same things.But sis whatever subject you choose,will be Very beneficial to you and your family. Amina, Lol,sis if you hear my Real name......It is older and weirder than Libin.this shows I am one of the "Soomaali Ayeeyos" living! lol An american, who works with me,met Somali man and told him "I work with somali girl and her name is ....... " . Somali guy said; I dont think she is Somali,she must be Ethiopian or something! Somalis dont have this kinda name! hehehe
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| | Friday, April 13, 2001 - 10:02 am Hi Sagitarrius and all. I've only read a little and i'll be back to read the rest later. Even so it looks great so far. Thanks a lot Sag, i mean younger students like myself need some advice and hints on educational attainment and how to best achieve it. Especially at this time of year with exams and all. Thanks all, and PLEASE if anybody else has any more advice it would be A GREAT HELP. May Allah (SWT) bless you all. Your sis SWEET~QUEEN......TADAAA 4 NOW
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| | Friday, April 13, 2001 - 11:54 am sigitarrius, thank you for that piece..it was wonderfull i even copied it for my little nephew
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| | Friday, April 13, 2001 - 01:17 pm LIBIN lol@Ayeeyo, now there is a nick 4 U lol . U don't have 2 worry about me having anymore incidents of wrongfull Identification.. i was just informed dat i could get done 4 dat...is it true? u know i only made it to Uulo in school back at somalia... so i guess 'Farta waaweyn' is all i know lol. laters sweety 'Ayeeyo'
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| | Friday, April 13, 2001 - 02:26 pm Thanks Sag. That was helpful
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| | Friday, April 13, 2001 - 04:11 pm SA thanx for the good words. Amina, Even myself am very proud that you confused me with a sister, since most of the people who make sense in these forumss are mostly SISTERS. Anyhow, also, there are four people who changed my life and contributed to make me whom I am, and they all happen to be women: Mom; for her discipline, far-sightedness, guidance, and her unconditional love..and more, can't find enough words to describe her! My sister; for her big brother role, help, early mentoring, and confidence and pride in me, she's just a jewel. My fiancee; for her understanding, patience, love, intelligence, continual support and encouragement while going to school(s). My professor; the only female black professor I've ever had in my life (She changed my life beyond anybody's understanding.) I am just glad that I came across her. Besides, she taught Mergers & Acquisitions. I would have also mentioned my boss who happens to be a female too, as smart, intelligent, hard working and many more qualities, but at the end she's the boss that tells all about her. You see, I am just beyond blessing and gratefullness that women contributed to whatever success I might claim, and I always wonder what makes the other gentlemen of the forums to react so harshly against all women, as that is my lifetime puzzle! So you don't need to apologize, if you thought of me as a sister, I am just gratefull. Just a thought.
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| | Friday, April 13, 2001 - 04:46 pm Honesita, My dearest sister, you'd be surprised if you only knew that nobody would ever claim they had good time in school while in the process. But as soon as you finish it, it's totally another story, and you just look back with pride and the feeling that you made it through tough times and under immense pressures. Thus, school doesn't make one smarter but teaches us many qualities that really contribute to our self-development such as; discipline, achieving under pressure, thinking on our feet, and great varieties of different fields of knowledge that broaden our horizons. Besides, I am quite unbelieving of all people that Honesita is confused about school. Let me liberally say this, you're one of the few people that I immensely admire their inteligence and self expression of their ideas in these forumss, and it would greatly pain me if you wouldn't use that mind for further self development through higher education. Again, honest to god I am not implying that many years of schooling would make you smarter, but it will only further organize your thought process and boost your CONFIDENCE. However, about what you wanna major is another case, and not knowing it in our early formative years is just natural, and no one can help you in this regard, but I can guide you to what worked for me. Firstly, try to define what you're good at, and more importantly what you wanna be in the future, if you know that, then you can hone (better) your skills towards that goal. For instance; if you want to be an engineer you've to be good in math, and it shouldn't scare you if you ain't, math skills can be developed easily and effortlessly, and don't believe in the myth that says to be math smart you've to be born for it. I can only assure you that every skill can be developed and improved with practice as "Practice makes perfect." Tonight is Friday, I promise you to come back to this issue some other time, and pose your questions. Sweet~Queen and Jaylani, I am just more than thankfull that you're helping others.
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| | Friday, April 13, 2001 - 05:24 pm iam speechless. may allah's blessings be on you bro. well let me thank you for the wonderfull and beneficial discusion that you started for your fellow somali bro and sisters. what can i say , you are one of the few wise bro that's humble enough to share their knowledge and experience with their fellow somalis. i hope you will teach at somali university in the future bro. iam working on my study habits,and iam getting mixed results. you make me feel very proud to have such a good like you in this hemisphere. iam always fascinated by your postings. iam speechless once more. wish you the best in this world and hereafter. iam glad that jeylani is also participating. peace and love to my somali ppl
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| | Friday, April 13, 2001 - 05:39 pm to all my brothers and sisters in here, thnx thnx thnx and many more thanx, 2nite i feel i have learned something that is emounsly usefull. believe it or not, this is blessing 2 me, this just what i was looking for, some afvice on how 2 organise my time best, once again and furthermore thank you very much indeed. i wish u all love, success and happiness ur brother some_guy
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| | Saturday, April 14, 2001 - 10:16 am Saggi thank you for the insights you shared with us. Alipapa your comment on integration and interaction are greatly appreciated and are worth sharing with other Somali students. This issue of being isolated from the rest of the student body is , in my opinion, one of the most presssing issues that needs to be tackled. Disconnected from the campus activities, our students develop an inward attitude that inhibit their academic growth. This negatively impacts their self-esteem and self-evaluation. Here, by no way I mean one should compromise their cultural practices and norms. Rather, one cand only feel proud his/her beleifs when they are comfartable with sharing such beleifs with wider audiance. Often what happens is that these excuses are used to cover weakness or inability to reach out others and get involved. I think it would be great if you shed some light on this issue. Thank You.
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| | Saturday, April 14, 2001 - 04:05 pm To Sagi: First of all we wanted to thank you for all the tips you gave us. This was definitely the most useful topic in this Forum...well done! And sharing this knowledge with us was extremely kind of you. I'm sure that these tips benefit each and every one of us in one way or another, but we have to disagree with you on one point,you said " prayers are like meditation, and they keep you focused and disciplined"...if you are such a believer of meditation...how can you say that: "Intention, Sincerity, and Devotion" are hard to find in the real world, as they may exist in the utopian state of our mind!" If you really believe in God (which I believe you do, as you poited out that PRAYER was one of the keys to success)and had true faith, then you wouldn't say that these three things are hard to find. By the way, are you somali? (Because i don't think you are). For all those who keep refering to Sagi as somali, don't because he might not be. Which is fine. *Just an opinion* ~2 SISTERS~
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| | Saturday, April 14, 2001 - 08:05 pm Sheikh Cabdi Shelawyne, Brother, it would be a privilege to undertake your suggestions, and still expect you'll be in NY. Some guy, Merci beaucoup. Jam, Alipapa's comments on Somali student activities raised an issue I was barely aware of, but I gotta admit that the best thing which ever worked for me to be competitive enough was to study with others outside of school. In fact, there are no browni points for studying with others, but it just gives you the chance to demonstrate your TRUE INTELLIGENCE, as when we're studying with others, we don't want to be looked down from others that we're merely ok, thus that feeling drives us more to study hard and demonstrate our ability to be superior. For some reasons, if you were studying by yourself, you wouldn't feel that pressure or the need to prove something to others, so you take it easy and go with slow pace. And pedagogists knowing this fact, have emphasized the importance of group study and made it the norm in comtemporary education. However, there's only one secret to survive within groups and demonstrate superiority, KNOW YOUR STUFF VERY WELL, AND READ, READ, READ, READ UNTIL YOU MASTER. And finally, when you happen to be with your group, you'll find yourself tutoring them instead of studying with them, this itself is the immense pleasure that one achieves when working with groups, you just learn to learn more! Anyhow, you'll find with any group someone who tries to demonstrate superiority with mere mediocracy, so just show patience and the ability to listen even if you know they're bulshiting, so give them a chance to prove them wrong at the right moment, but understand that you're part of a group, and respect the group dynamics, as everybody is there to learn and not to fight.
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| | Saturday, April 14, 2001 - 08:26 pm save money! save time!, they never tell u to save your ass/I can't sleep in this wicked times/cops after me cuz they see I am living in this life of crime/ •••• yow •••• nigger cuz i don't give a ••••/how many get to take the highway of hell 4 life/ if your ass ain't a •••• better respect the real O.Js now/believe me or not I don't trust a ••••/nowadays to many suckers breaking rules and breaking jails/
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| | Saturday, April 14, 2001 - 08:56 pm This following piece is about library success, and I am not trying to make you laugh, or feel sorry for me! LIBRARY SUCCESS. What is a library? Isn't it that dreary, awful, and ominous looking place in which people go to pore over books! No matter how I make it sound as dreary, and god forsaken place, it's still the only place that true studying is achieved, how so you might wonder? In library, you've two things going for you , one is to be far away from home distractions such as; telephone, and doing some unnecessary things as they come to your mind(which is most of the case,) or aimlessly trying to find a way to avoid your torture(reading) by inventing unnecessary tasks and priorities . Secondly, and the most importantly, you'll find an ambience and a crowd that influences you to stay put and keep you focused to your problems at hand, so you will flow and immersed along with your oppressed fellow students at the library, after all you'll feel a shared plight is not a plight at all. Here, I would like to recount a very stupid and laughable system that worked for me in library behavior. I would go to the library according to a preset schedule and well defined problem or chapter to conquer, and as soon as I get there, I look and scan my fellow students who were there before me, I make face notes, and sit down while pledging not to move from my desk unless others before me had all left or consumed some good five hours since my arrival. Nevertheless, you'll find some die-hards like Koreans and Chinese who'll spend some unbelievable hours in the library whom you can't ever beat or make them to leave before you! But guess what, those were specifically my target people whom I used to tie myself with and challenge. Ooh lord, what a pain it takes to develop library behavior and discipline, but the payoff is unbelievable and far more rewarding. Besides, I was angry and indignant at the long hours and dedication it took those Chinese and Koreans to understand and comprehend simple chapters that I wouldn't normally put less than an hour, but to my despair I found out that they were all engaged in my same strategy of sending everybody else home while they persisted and toiled longer hours in the library through discipline and cultural beliefs. The day I knew the Oriental secret of persisting longer and tiring everybody else, I really achieved something! However, the secret is, to take more than one subject to read, and taking along with you as well, all your provisions of water, snacks, and a determination to outlast everybody else in the library. If you can do this, guaranteed you can be a good student and find a lot of time at your hand to do other things. In case you were wondering where all the time goes when in school, it only means that you didn't well have allocated your time and sacrificed some long hours in the library. Therefore, I believe the rest is just a common sense in what you can achieve in classrooms!
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| | Saturday, April 14, 2001 - 09:07 pm 2 Sisters, I wouldn't have otherwise spent more time in these forumss, if I weren't a Somali! On your other points, if only you could prove to me, that there's intention, sincerity and devotion in studying corporate finance, mergers & acquisitions, calculus and many more mind boggling subjects that we're afflicted with while in school, I would have given much heed and attention to your call!
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| | Saturday, April 14, 2001 - 09:19 pm On a second thought, I am not trying to portray myself as a school hero, or a genius. But, I solely wish to share with everybody else in what I learned the hard way or through some form of mentoring from others.
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| | Sunday, April 15, 2001 - 12:39 am salamacaleykum!! Jisaklahi kharen, Sagi... I will try our library system Insha-Allah, and I´ll let u know how it goes.... I´m fascinated by whatu have to say.....
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| | Sunday, April 15, 2001 - 08:50 am salaan to you'll I really appriciate you, sagi, and my other somalian bros and sis whom are posting some amazing Ideas. I found these advise helpful. and I will pass them aroud to my somali and other friends. KEEP IT UP THE GOOD advice. but I have a question to ask you, how could you improve your reading speed, and understanding what you have read? and by reading what kind of books? I would like to thank you again, again and over agian , for doing greate job in this forums!!!! wish you'll peace n love
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