Where is the perfect place to study? Does such a place even exist? These questions are asked time and time again by college students everywhere. So in an attempt to provide an answer, I set out on a quest to find this illusive perfect study place.
I started off by trying to do homework in my house. Home sweet 504 Jackson St. But I was only productive for about 10 minutes before I became distracted. When I wasn't perusing Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, I was gossiping with my housemates. Needless to say, home was far from the ideal study spot.
The problem with studying at home was simple: I viewed my living area as a social space. I live with eight of my good friends and spend the bulk of my time at home socializing. Therefore, it was extremely difficult to be productive.
When my campus home failed to provide a productive study area, I decided to try the library. But as I walked into the prestigious Roy O. West Library a gloomy fog fell over me. I looked around and could hardly make out the faces of my fellow students because the lighting was so dim. The third floor silence was deafening. I felt like I was in a prison. The lack of windows and lighting overwhelmed and smothered me. I was suffocating. After 30 minutes, I couldn't take it anymore and fled the building. I had never been so happy to see the sun.
I then decided to try to work on homework in the upper level of the Hub. At first, things were going really well. But then I looked down at the food area and realized I was hungry. As I ate, several of my friends walked in. Not surprisingly, I soon forgot that I was supposed to be doing homework and spent the next 45 minutes talking to my friends. This pattern pretty much repeated over the next few hours. So I realized that the Hub wasn't the best place for me.
My next destination was the Green Center for Performing Arts. Unlike Roy, the GCPA is covered in windows and is lit up by the natural light. I found a spot in one of the comfy red chairs in front of Kresge Auditorium and opened up by books. A few hours later, I realized I had finished my homework and had even worked ahead. When I was hungry, all I had to do was walk 20 feet to the coffee shop. People passed by and they said hi here and there, but they were usually on their way to class so the conversations were brief.
I was not distracted. I had found the perfect study spot.
Although my ideal place to study is the GCPA, I enjoy making the trek out to Prindle Institute for Ethics at least once a week. I find that trying to study in different places helps keep me focused.
Overall, your ideal place to do homework depends on your study patterns. Some people flourish in the darkness of Roy. Others prefer to stay at home. But locating a place to study productively is crucial for success at college.
My point is to find what works for you and stick to it. Go ahead, be productive in your new space.
- Dobias is a junior from Fishers, Ind., majoring in communication.
