When I was 32 years old, I decided to go back to school and study something I was interested in – Psychology. It had been 10 or so years since I dropped out of Long Beach State, but wanted to get out of the construction trade and knew that I needed to finish my Bachelor’s degree. In my first class back, the teacher told us we needed to read something 10 times to memorize it. 10 times! I was working full time and going to school full time! I didn’t have the time to do that. Instead, I decided to record my notes. In doing this, I could listen over and over to the tapes that I created, while I lived my busy life.

Technology was different back then. I had a Walkman and recorded the highlighted text from the books onto cassette tapes and went about my busy day in my new job as a pool cleaner. Working in construction and attending school was too taxing on me and an old friend offered me a job.

I noticed on my wall at home today an article that was written about me in the local Santa Monica newspaper about being “the Poolman Psychologist”. That brings a laugh. At the time I would go into apartment complexes and homes, clean the pool while I listened to my notes, and prepared myself for upcoming tests.

At the time I was a poor student, or at least I had been. In the past, I pursued Architecture and had a zillion math classes that I hated. My family wanted me to be like Frank Lloyd Wright, and I wanted to appease them. Eventually, I had it with calculations and decided to drop out and find a good-paying job which landed me on my hands and knees.

After I enrolled at Cal State Northridge, I started to do well in school – really well. Listening to my notes was easy and I was able to study while I worked, drove, went on hikes, and especially just before I took the tests. Test anxiety is no joke and I used to freak out before each exam. In listening to the cadence of my voice on the way to class, it helped me keep my cool. Then the teacher would say, “Put all your things away” and handed out the exam. I was calm, centered, and ready for action. 

I wasn’t the fastest student, but my grades became so high that I often didn’t need to take the final exams! In fact, at Cal State Northridge, they gave a $1,200 grant to students who got all A’s, and each semester there I collected it! In fact, my GPA was so high they wanted to send me abroad! Me, the pool cleaner.

I told other students about my technique and only had a few takers. One woman who had a vision problem was incredibly grateful since she had to read out of a telescopic fixture on her glasses. She went from all C’s to all A’s just like me! I’m telling you this is no joke.

I tried to read into the tape player the notes from the class but it was too boring. I had already suffered through those lectures and didn’t need a repeat. It seemed as if the exams were focused on the textbooks anyway, so that was what I focused on. It took me all day Sunday, my day off, to read the highlighting on the book into the Walkman, and let me tell you, that was the hard part. I felt I was removed from life and never got to play. I was either working or going to school from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm when my last class of the day ended but I had my dream and needed to push toward it. Plus, I was cleaning around 16 pools a day. On my day of rest, I had to read books, highlight them, and dictate. It was weird hearing my voice but after a while it was digestible.

I wonder how I did it. At the time, all I knew was that I didn’t want to do construction work my entire life. I knew I could talk to people and would be able to do so for the rest of my life, so Psychology was the path I decided to take.

Here is the key to getting through school:

1. Do the homework assignments before you go out and play or use other distractions.
2. Reward yourself for completing the assignments by doing the distractions.
3. Find enjoyment in what you are studying. Basically make it interesting.
4. Get involved by asking your professors any questions you have. They may bump up your grade if you are on the cusp.
5. Sleep well. Stay active so you are tired at night. Good sleep equals good grades. Avoid the all-nighters because they don’t help you retain the information.
6. Forget the flash cards. Here you only memorize terms. In recording your notes you get the full picture and the meaning that is attached to the terms.
7. Use stress management techniques when stressed out. Progressive Relaxation is a godsend.
8. If you feel like giving up, give up. Then in 15 minutes jump back in and get the job done.
9. Monitor your attitude. If you are upset, frustrated, or rushed, you won’t take in any information. Calm down, drink some water, and set the intention to enjoy yourself.
10. Water. Drink plenty of water. My doctor says to drink half your weight in ounces. This has been shown to increase your IQ.

What is important to understand is that once you make the commitment to go to school, take it seriously. This isn’t middle or high school where you can give the minimum and get by. What is great about universities is you have made the choice to be there. Plus, in higher education, the teachers treat you like a real person and education can make a huge impact on the rest of your life.

Challenge yourself. Put your all into it and you may be shocked by the rewards. I sure did.