//WARNING: random multi-paragraph musings approaching…

As my high school years come to a close and I slowly approach college, I’ve recently felt the need to explore alternative ways to organize my life. It started last week, when I began typing up some study guides to help review for finals. I began to wonder- Would I go all digital with my notes in college? Would I become one of those guys who types up notes during lectures, and organizes them for future reference? Honestly- I hope not. While I am amazed by recent advances in note-taking technology, like syncing with Google Docs, wiki pages for sharing notes, etc., I personally feel like I need that pen/pencil to paper action. It helps me connect with what I’m understanding, in a way that using a computer never will. Even if I got some fancy Wacom tablet and digitally scribbled notes into the computer, staring at the computer to study is not something I look forward to.

Additionally, with all the integrals, modeling sketches, formulas, and symbols I use in my Calculus and Physics notes, I’ve started to get annoyed with the lines on notebook paper. Imagine having to enter all of these into a computer! My Calc teacher found a solution- He works out his problems on blank paper. I’m really tempted to try this out. Not only will I no longer be restricted by such thin lines, but the thickness of blank printer paper, for instance, would prevent ink from pens from bleeding through to the next page. How practical is that!

And what would I do with all these class notes once I have finished a course in college? At home, I currently keep a drawer filled with hanging file folders to organize papers for each class. At the end of each year, I hold on to important pages from each class, and store them in plastic containers. Why do I keep such random items like my second AP Calculus AB test? What might be best solution would be to scan in only the most vital notes as PDFs, and drop them away in some folder on my computer or online.

Ah, well. No need to worry about the details of college academia while I’m still trying to study for High School tests. Wait, don’t I have a final exam to review for…..?