Just Do It theme of academic speech
by Nathan Key, reporter

    “Just Do It” is not just a sports theme; it should be a theme of motivation, a NE academic advisor said last week.

   Dressed in all black, with a rubber rat tied to her back, Sonja Butler came in Halloween attire to lead a Success Workshop on communication and motivation.

   Butler said 55 percent of communication is nonverbal and 38 percent is in the tone used. Only 7 percent is actually verbal communication.

   “The goal of communication is to be assertive, not aggressive,” she said. “Know what it is you want to ask.”

   The point is to communicate one’s wants with others, whether it be friends, family, co-workers or professors, Butler said.

   Butler got students involved in the discussion of assertiveness.

   “Just because you ask for something doesn’t mean you’ll get it. But at least you asserted your wants,” she said.

   Her presentation included examples of bad communication. A student attending the workshop asked why truth is on the list of bad communication.

   “Be real careful about truth when it comes to touchy subjects. Sometimes the truth can be hurtful,” she said.

   Butler also said students should watch out for other people’s feelings when they answer tough questions.

   As Butler blended communication with motivation, she talked about setting goals in school and meeting those goals with desired results. Communicating with professors about what is expected for each assignment is one way to achieve those goals.

   “There is a space between where you are when you set a goal, and where the goal is. Psychologists call this space ‘the crap-gap,’” she said.

   Butler said students need to know that learning is a key element in setting and meeting goals.

   “Learn about your own learning style,” she said.

   Susie Carranza, academic advisor and academic retention coordinator, helped Butler with the workshop. Carranza described how she found a learning style that best suited her and helped her meet her goals.

   Both advisors offered suggestions on study habits that can be helpful to students trying to meet their goals.

   Butler said learning is up to the individual. The individual is responsible, is in control and has the ability.

   “We haven’t found a cure for laziness,” she said.

   “Find anything to help you succeed; that’s motivation.”

   Butler gave each person a sample test of perceptual learning style. After answering some questions, a person can learn what style is best to use when learning. According to Butler, by knowing their learning style, students can grasp new information easier from the habit of learning.

   “Motivation is what gets it going; the habit is what keeps it going,” she said. “We never ever stop learning.”

   Butler offered evidence that learning never stops.

   “I have to learn the names of new musical groups all the time because I realized that Diana Ross wasn’t number one anymore,” she said.