The Common Good

Considering that we are now embarking on the second semester of our academic year, it is worth thinking about approaches to ensure that we succeed.

Studying towards obtaining a degree in a university is a competitive environment where it often seems as though the best course of action is to go it alone in order to keep a leverage above all others who might do better than you academically. This lone-wolf approach works for some, but not so well for many others.

In his book, The Tyranny of Merit, Michael Sandel asks the question, “What has become of the common good?” The Common Good is a simple idea; that all efforts in a society must be directed towards the benefit of nit only ourselves, but also our neighbours because the success of others benefits us too. Applied to the rigorous life of studying, this holds true. We know for instance that the best way to learn and to help information we’ve studied stick to our brains is through collaboration and “teaching” our peers what we know, and them in turn doing the same for us.

It’s why group studying works so effectively. Of course, this is considering that you have a peer and study group of people who are as dedicated to the mission of graduating as you are.

So what to do in applying the common good as a tool to doing better in the second semester than we did in the first?

1- Find like-minded peers who are as committed to graduating (because we must begin with the end in mind) as you are,

2- Share whatever techniques worked for you and decide upon a collective approach,

3- Do not discard individual studying, rather use it to ensure that you are a competent study partner,

4- Contribute. Teach. Learn.

One of the most undervalued aspects of the University experience is the networks you build that can help you in future. So be strategic and use this as an opportunity to elevate your study regiment for the second semester, whilst simultaneously building a network.

Moreover, you’ll be living up to the principle of the Common Good.