By Amber Veytia/reporter
As soon as students entered the Time Management seminar on NE Campus Sept. 3, they were greeted by Pink Floyd’s song “Time.”
Andrew Hollinger, NE Campus history instructor, asked the audience if anyone knew of a more modern song that referenced time. One student suggested DJ Aligator’s “Close to You,” which Hollinger did not seem impressed with after playing a minute of the song. Hollinger quickly shifted back to Pink Floyd.
Hollinger’s presentation was part of a series of morning breakout sessions during the 2010 NE Campus Orientation to College: Access and Engagement.
One student entering the room was NE student Brooke Wagoner, who said she wanted to learn tips on time management.
“I’m horrible at keeping to [a schedule] and am trying to get better,” she said.
Student Rachel Orfield stated the bottom line for many students.
“Everybody can learn to manage time better,” she said.
Hollinger encouraged students to engage in time management by setting up schedules and calendars and explained why time management is beneficial for students.
Hollinger said time is literally one’s most valuable asset.
“Many people think money is your most valuable asset,” he said. “But if you spend all your money, you can make more. You cannot make more time.”
Hollinger, a retired Army officer and IBM alumnus, has published three novels as well as publishing The Racing Post, a magazine geared toward bicycle enthusiasts. He said having excellent time management skills has allowed him to be successful and told the students that college is important for future success.
“Straight A’s here will predict success in life,” he said.
Hollinger said students should set reasonably optimistic goals while using and exploiting the resources available to students.
If students have access to a writing resource center or a science lab full of tutors and field professionals, they should take full advantage of that resource to help build their own success, he said.
Several students said they felt more motivated to begin some sort of time management plan and stick to it.
“I am bad about procrastination, and this definitely gave me motivation to get organized,” said Bailey Robinson.
Student Jeff Campbell laughed and said he attended to “get a signature for some extra credit in a class” but left with a renewed excitement for managing time more effectively to achieve more and get more out of life.
