Remember all that stuff about study groups?  Super important.  Do that.  But I’m also going to suggest going beyond the simple study group and shooting for something a little more radical.

Why’s that?   Here’s a scenario (tell me it isn’t eerily familiar):

You’re minding your own business, trying to remember all the contraindications for abdominal massage, when suddenly, gunslinging Procrastination in his black hat shows up and threatens to shoot you all to pieces unless you agree to make him pancakes with chocolate chips RIGHT NOW.  Or maybe your nemesis is Procrastination’s second cousin Perfectionism.  Perhaps you’re dealing with a real-life bully, and her imaginary sidekicks, Frustration and Self-Doubt.  You’re the Sheriff of your education, but you need assistance.  So you call in your Study Posse.

The Study Posse Defined

The Study Posse contains all the elements inherent in a study group.  You definitely need to get together on a regular basis and study together.  The main added ingredient is subtle, but important:

The Study Posse Law:

Everyone in your Study Posse must actually, genuinely like one another, and want all the other members to succeed, and be willing to kick some bad-habit backside to ensure that this happens.  Period.

The members of your Study Posse (from as few as two to as many as you can fit comfortably around a table at your favorite cafe) could be responsible for such diverse functions as

  • cheerleading
  • finding out how each member learns best
  • taking notes for one another during absences
  • carpooling
  • celebrating/commiserating
  • sharing resources
  • whip-cracking (used sparingly, and only when necessary)
  • providing cupcakes on exam nights

You could have a wonderful, idyllic class where everyone is “Hello!” and helpfulness and light, in which the entire class provides this sort of stuff for one another.  I do, and it’s pretty awesome.  Our class email list always awash with chapter outlines, continuing education opportunities, questions, answers, freak-outs, love, and helpful hints.  The post-exam karaoke habit has become a much-loved welcome tradition.  But when I’m REALLY bummed, stumped, or needing a trigger point released, I don’t waste time with our (lovely!) phone tree. I call my study posse first.

You may think that this is the nature of your study group already.  But have you communicated this vision to the other members?  Not everyone is an interpersonal genius.  Sometimes, folks appreciate having the nature of their relationships outlined in plain speech.  Sometimes, folks don’t even realize that you consider them part of your group!  No kidding there.  Some people (like me!) can be pretty darn dense.

Got thoughts about your study posse?  Not sure about how help your loose conglomeration of friends evolve into something more useful and amazing? Go ahead and leave a comment!

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