This Library Talk goes out to all my brother and sister underachievers. I was accidentally admitted to a well-known private university after my guidance counselor — totally unbidden — made up a story about me. Actually, I think she probably confused something I said and it turned into a moving story which, in reality, was completely imaginary. Not one to reject such good fortune, I matriculated to said private university. It wasn’t long before I realized that I would have to get better at school or I wasn’t going to make it.
The key to becoming a better student is concentration — and here is how the library can help. Don’t study, research or write papers in your dorm room or apartment. Instead, come to the library. We have tables and rooms throughout where you can spread out your papers. There are few distractions. Plus the library is a nice, new building.
Modern media — television, the Internet and computer games — impair an important part of yourself that will emerge once you disconnect from these bad influences. You will be amazed at your latent powers of concentration and innate abilities. Don’t let modern media take your life away from you. Because that’s what it does.
What do you do if your day, like mine always seemed to do, doesn’t start until 10:30 p.m. or so? There is a 24-hour study room on the side of the library. You can get in with your ID card. Bring some change or use your ID Bucs for Cokes or candy bars out of the snack machines. Stay away from the hot drink machine though, unless you prefer your tea flavored with traces of beef soup! There’s even a smoking room in one place where you can take a break with your portable hookah. If it’s really late, you can call campus security from the phone box and have someone escort you home.
By the way, I graduated from college in four years with a (very) hard-won 3.0 GPA.

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