Sensei Michael

Answer by Richard Muller: I had a graduate student who, as an undergrad at Cornell, had more A+ grades than As -- about 15.  Once I asked him how he did that.  "I use tricks" he said. They all seemed so obvious when he told me, that I'm not sure I can recall all of them.  Below I'll mix in what he said with some of the things I observed in other great students. He said he always read the assignment before lecture, not after. Do that, and you know what to pay most attention to.  You can ask questions about things you didn't understand.  You can't ask a book questions, but you can ask a professor. Moreover, your professor will be impressed that you ask the best questions. Remarkably, it takes no longer to read all the material before class than after class. Visit the professor during office hours.  Some professors will just try to intimidate you into not coming so often; ignore them. Some will be delighted to have visitors.  It is a great opportunity to interact...

In life there are three sensitive matters that drive off friends and relatives fast - evangelism, politics and MLM*. I have seen what happens in the first two, and I suspect will see more of my friends and relatives putting me at arm's length when they realise I am also into the third one too. As a young Christian, I was full of fervour for God and His Kingdom. Words of "Hallelujah!" and "Praise God!" spouted out freely from my lips, and fire and brimstone issued forth in condemnation for those who did not walk in the ways of God. Many years and much life lessons later, I have tempered down as I understood more of what it meant for God to show grace and mercy to sinners like myself. I am grateful for friends and relatives that kept their relationship with me through all these years despite my craziness. The latest election fever had me on the side of the PAP, joining the party and fighting alongside Victor and my fellow comrades, in order to get him elected at A...