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A story about a first-year student struggling to keep up with their school work. <\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"2d000b88-c84f-4d01-aa3f-c878f390c5a3"},"title":"Beware: Quicksand ahead! by Ifeoluwa Onilude"},{"content":{"params":{"text":"

Quicksand as we know is not able to support weight, and so the ground gives way. If one mistakenly gets in, you find yourself struggling to get out, but as one struggles with it, you will find that the sand keeps giving way and one keeps sinking. The more you struggle, the more you sink. The best thing is to gather yourself, and be strategic about getting out (there's a science to it, something about quicksand being denser than water and when you stop struggling, you eventually float. It can be escaped by slow movement of the legs, one needs to be calm and you'll be out in no time. It's even better when there's external help to help you navigate getting out. This was exactly how my wicked problem felt. My first semester and I had to take about 6 courses. Before I realized what was happening, I had tons of homework to do for classes I didn't even have a thorough understanding of. Besides, I had all those other administrative parts of being a new student to attend to. Then, I had to be solely responsible for myself, cook my meals, etc. In my mind, I am like I thought they said uni was fun??? LOL! As I struggled to sort of eventually catch up in one area or course, another area threw me in deeper. I couldn't meet up with the deadlines, I wasn't even gaining any knowledge because I couldn't go through my notes again, it felt like I was truly sinking. The more I struggled, the deeper I sank. It felt like I was everywhere, and nowhere, trying to catch up with going for all the physical classes..whew. That was something else. I even missed some classes, because I didn't even understand what was going on anymore.<\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"0601d8bc-c168-44f1-892b-5c876a3190d3"},"title":"The Wicked Problem"},{"content":{"params":{"text":"

So a number of things helped me through this. First off, I unplugged from everything academics-related for a few days, to gather my thoughts, strategize, and come up with a plan. I believe having a plan sort of stops that overwhelming feeling or feeling of being lost or helpless, it helps one to feel like they are in charge, you can try it and see. Applies across all walks of life, not only academics. So, I had to get my control back, be in charge. Then I began executing my plans ruthlessly. It was like a do or die affair. Eat or be eaten. I spoke to senior colleagues on coping mechanisms, which majorly boiled down to teamwork. Studying in groups\/having a study partner. So I worked hard to build beneficial friendships that would spur me to academic success. I learnt to ask for help, a lot. Especially from my colleagues who seemingly were doing better, for instance, in those courses I was struggling with. I registered with tutors who could help out. I also prioritized my courses, the higher the course unit, the higher the priority, and time spent on it. I'd rather have an A in a 4 units course, and get a C in the 2 units course than having it the other way round. I had a timetable, a rough one though, because I don't like to feel boxed in, so the time table was really flexible but it put some sort of structure to my activities and time. I also made out time to play and let my hair down. I repeat this cycle every time I start to feel overwhelmed. Overtime, I found that the overwhelming feeling comes when one feels like they have lost control of that part of their life. I graduated as the 2nd best student, so I guess this helped me.<\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"f6ddbe7b-f758-4ace-9ba0-1db2d94b4796"},"title":"Finding a Solution"},{"content":{"params":{"text":"

The approach to a wicked problem is not to be nice to the problem, but to dish out the wickedness in full measure back to the wicked problem. Deal ruthlessly with the problem as it has dealt ruthlessly with you. Be determined that your academic success is priority and everything in the way must go. One day, almost midway through my first semester, I said to myself, I need to know this thing or go back home worse after spending all this time and energy. Ain't no way...Not today, procrastination! (or whatever the situation was) and that sort of propelled me and pushed me forward. So sometimes, when I get to a roadblock sort of, I say to myself No, no, no, not today! (now that there's a new name- wicked problem) it's Not today, wicked problem! hahaha. Do whatever it is you need to do, to get ahead.<\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"ccabe9b8-4ee9-40f8-a0d5-db6b8a87f257"},"title":"Final Thoughts"},{"content":{"params":{"text":"

Onilude, I. (2021, October 6). Beware: Quicksand ahead!<\/em> Liberated Learners. https:\/\/wicked.liberatedlearner.ca\/learner\/beware-quicksand-ahead\/<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","subContentId":"770aae9b-a72a-4ce1-94f5-626f1f701bfa","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"}},"title":"APA Reference"}],"hTag":"h2"}

Beware: Quicksand ahead!

Liam Peart