Going To Class. Simple, really. School was so much easier when I just went to class, paid attention, took notes, and did not solely rely on learning in isolation by reading the assigned texts.
Going to class was an action and that action resulted in engagement with teachers & classmates and a deeper connection to the material presented. Teachers presented information; students shared interpretations; and I collectively synthesized this into understanding.
Recovery requires action as well. Much like class offered engagement, going to meetings provides similar in that I gain from the experiences and successes others have had. Learning in isolation does not afford the inputs and feedback loop of the classroom or discussion groups.
As an undergraduate, I had poor classroom attendance and thought I could complete coursework if I just did the required reading or learned from what the textbooks presented. I struggled, it was difficult and I often found myself pulling all-nighters to cram for an exam or write an essay on an assigned reading.
After graduation, I had a focused purpose to take some undergraduate science classes to complement the work I had in a research lab. I now went to class regularly, showed up to discussion groups, and devoted a chunk of time each day to reviewing notes & working through problem sets.
When it came to exams, I would spend the evening before refreshing what was covered in class in the preceding weeks, have dinner, relax for a bit, and then go to bed at my normal hour. On exam mornings, I chuckled knowingly while listening to the undergraduates complaining of not sleeping the night before and stressing over the amount of material they needed to jam into their heads for the test.
Recovery has always been challenging and requires hard work– but it is much easier if I show up, take action and diligently devote time to it daily.
Paying attention to what I am presented with and to what others share makes for fruitful lifelong learning for a lifelong affliction.
