2008 Woodie Awards
Intern shares secrets of test-taking with students
By Jeff Reese
Issue date: 3/7/08 Section: Features
Originally published: 3/6/08 at 2:39 PM CSTLast update: 3/11/08 at 3:27 PM CST
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But Reed refused to listen to those who doubted her chances for academic or career success.
Reed, now a student intern for the Methodist Student Center, described herself as an inspiration to those who might not be confident in their chances for academic success when she was told of her prognosis.
"Doctors told me that my brain wouldn't work when I couldn't walk and I could hardly write my name," Reed said. "Now I have a scholarship from the college."
She plans to pursue a master's degree in education.
Reed said students should not listen to those who offer discouragement.
"If we accept negativity, we will never get anywhere," Reed said. "When people talk negatively, they really don't know about what we can do."
Reed took over for the Methodist center director, the Rev. Dr. David Semrad, in the Feb. 19 session of the series "Where There's a Will, There's an A" to discuss test-taking skills.
Reed led students in a round-table discussion on testing. She described tests as a performance as opposed to a measure of self-worth.
She discouraged long study sessions to cram for tests, calling the practice inefficient.
Preparing in short spurts works more to the student's advantage, allowing the mind time to rest between sessions.
Frequent bus trips helped. She used the time to make these study sessions work to her advantage.
Radiology freshman Nancy Delgado said she budgets time during the test itself.
"I move on for a while when I don't understand a question, so that I don't spend all my time there and get short on time," Delgado said.
Reed also advised students to write as briefly as possibly while being sure to make a complete answer to each essay portion.
The amount of time students might take to finish an exam in an hour-long session could be overrated.
She said not to judge performance by the amount of time others take for an exam.
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