L: Phew! First semester is finally over! The last couple weeks have been jam-packed with quizzes, tests, projects and culminating assignments leaving me excited and relieved for semester two of senior year. I have to say though, I’m glad I chose to study and work in the library and I’ll probably be keeping up the practice during the next couple months.
C: Leah I can’t lie, senioritis has been hitting hard! It’s been 100 times harder to just complete one practice/prep assignment. I’m really trying to push through it, but the motivation I’ve had for the last 12 years has completely vanished. But that’s why studying at my house has been so easy! Instead of having to get myself out of the house, drive to the library and find a quiet space, all I have to do is sit down at my desk and open my computer.
L: I know you’re not a great driver, Cecilia, but at the cost of a 10 to 15 minute car ride you can study in an environment that will put you in the right mindset to get work done. Libraries are educational institutions so as soon as you enter the quiet, book filled environment, your mind immediately switches to academic weapon mode. Many libraries have a diverse selection of resources to aid you in your studies and librarians can help point you in the right direction.
C: You wouldn’t know an academic weapon if it punched you in the face, and now I see why. While studying at the library gives you a peaceful and focused atmosphere, if you choose to work from home, you have the freedom to design your study space. Going to the library forces you to sit in uncomfortable chairs surrounded by crying babies (like you), people talking or even teenagers sneaking in a crunchy snack. But at home, you can personalize wherever you decide to work! You can add in a white noise machine, fun wallpaper or even a motivational poster to your workspace if that’s what helps you.
L: Sure, you may be more comfortable at home, but with more comfort also come more distractions. When you’re surrounded by your things, family and numerous other distractions such as your TV or books, you will likely have a hard time locking in and getting your work done. Libraries provide a removed space with very limited distractions as all patrons have to observe library etiquette which includes keeping speaking to a whisper. When you’re sitting at a table in the middle of a quiet, studious library with all of your textbooks and school supplies you will naturally focus and get your work done.
C: When spending time with you, I almost never hear peace and quiet. Even though the library offers an environment that allows for better focus and less distraction, it doesn’t give the 24/7 capability that your home does. Imagine you have a 10 page paper due at midnight, and like many students, you procrastinated this to the last few hours. Even if you start right after school at 3 p.m., most libraries close early due to their limited budgets. If you try to work up to the last minute on this paper, you’re going to be faced with a librarian telling you to leave, which will cause a pause in your work. But, by studying and doing your assignments in the comfort of your own home, you never have to take a break and you can keep functioning and writing until the clock strikes midnight.
L: I see you’ve fallen into the trap that so many students fall into Cecilia. Working at home gives you a false sense of security that you have all the time in the world because you can work late into the night. THAT is what leads to procrastination! All of the distractions at home only feed into that. Knowing that there is a time limit on your library study session is likely to motivate you to work harder and finish before the librarian comes to kick you out.
C: Well Leah, you’re not going to be happy because I actually finished this article at my personal desk. With mental health a hot topic of discussion, schools have been committed to creating curriculums that find a good balance of both rigorous work and opportunities for students to maintain a healthy mindset. So as students finish their assignments at home, it gives them the chance to take necessary breaks. Instead of being cooped up in a large building with almost no places to yourself, students can take a pause from their work to go for a walk, eat a snack or just take a nap. While these rests may seem silly or tedious, they are crucial to protecting the mental health of students, and won’t be achieved if they work in the library.
L: Well, Cecilia, I can see why I beat you in this PFT: I wrote this at the library. There’s a reason that libraries are synonymous with productivity, focus and studiousness, so take advantage of this calm environment. When you’re surrounded by books and other people working, you are likely to lock-in and get all of your work done. But readers, whether you are reading this from the library, home or school, we hope you enjoy the January issue of The Observer!
