This upcoming Tuesday I will be starting History 103 which discusses Columbus's exploration in 1492 up through the U.S. Civil War. The problem(s) for me is... this will be my third try at the same class. My first attempt at it was less than stellar --no more than a 65% overall grade. I had to drop out during my second attempt in order to save my sanity and keep my grades up in other classes.

In addition, this is a summer class. It is not like the spring and fall semesters which are each between three and four months longs, but this summer class will be a mere six weeks long. This means that, for this one class, I will have to work double-time on it. So starting next week you guys might not see me pop up here on Vizzed often --just for college it would actually be for the better, so do not go thinking I am disappearing on everyone.

I have been struggling to schedule a routine for myself and actually stick with it. I did post in another thread that I am a video game addict. The reality is, in fact, I am addicted to all electronics. This includes television, iTunes, and Internet (Vizzed is not exactly helping me ). It is not all bad. Rather, I plan to video blog (vlog) about it on Youtube when this class ends and I do get a break.

In the mean time I am doing some research on college survival and video game addiction for my personal benefit, so I was wondering if anyone has their own tips they could lend to me. Even if you have nothing to share, I thank you for at least reading all the way to the end of this post.

Why don't you make a video blog about the class and right now?

Can you study in front of the computer? I suppose you can? give it a try.

you just have to pull it through.

how is your college system? we have a rule that if you fail a class twice and the exam twice, you get dismissed from college.

I know what you're going through. It took me about 9 years to get a degree and a lot of time and money was wasted on avoiding school. You simply have to make yourself go through with it. Suck it up, work hard, and do what you can to get through without being distracted by video games.

I suggest using university resources in regards to overcoming your electronics problems. I used the computer as a way to avoid real life because I was afraid of failing. Unfortunately, I was failing miserably and it was an escape for me. I now attack things head on and get stuff done and I'm happier for it. It cost a lot of money and hurt me socially, financially, and personally.

Please, please, PLEASE, get school done. For your sake, trust me, you have to make it happen. Don't make my mistake.

aili : "Why don't you make a video blog about the class and right now?" I do not see how I could do that. I am simply planning to vlog about college survival. I may mention the fact that I have taken this class more than twice, but vlogging about this individual class is not possible since it will only go for six weeks --as I said, I will probably have to work double-time.

"Can you study in front of the computer?" Yes, I can, but I have to be cautious not to let the computer distract me. I am doing some personal research to understand potential weak points and what to avoid. For instance, the morning and evening are the times of day that a student will best remember what he or she has studied. One possible time to get distracted, in the evening, is right after dinner.

"How is your college system? We have a rule that if you fail a class twice and the exam twice, you get dismissed from college." I am not aware of anything like that. With everything that I have been told, no one ever said I could be dismissed from the college entirely. I do know that if I do not earn at least 75% of the credits attempted, I at least get put on academic probation which really just means... "I have a pair of eyes looking over my shoulder, watching how I do in my classes, and I am close to losing my financial aid. Is it safe for me to talk about this?

warmaker : "It took me 9 years to get a degree[...]" *insert stuttering here* 9 years?!? What kind of a degree were you working for if I may ask?

"I suggest using university resources in regards to overcoming your electronics problems. I used the computer as a way to avoid real life because I was afraid of failing. Unfortunately, I was failing miserably and it was an escape for me. ... It [...] hurt me socially, financially, and personally." You pretty much hit the nail on the head. Four times. And what is surprising is that it happens more often than we think, which is why I want to share this online. I want people to know that such mistakes in college do not make them a one-of-a-kind losers, and that they are not alone with their problem(s).

AuraBlaze : I have a BS in History with a geography minor. NOthing serious. I got into a habit of doing only a little bit, quitting a while, failing, getting frustrated but I never really tried hard the first time, and trying a little again.

Trust me. It can take forever and cost you all sorts of problems unless you buckle down and attack.