I
have had a major memory problem since childhood, affecting all
areas of my life - for instance it took me five months to remember
my wifes name after we first met (even after we were engaged!).
I averaged between 40-60% in my exams, passing only two subjects
School Certificates. Upon leaving school and entering a trade,
I had to resit a number of my trade exams, just scrapping through
them.
In 1990 I entered a fully accredited college in The United States
(North Central Accreditation - acknowledged by virtually any university
anywhere in the world) to study psychology. I found the same problems
reoccurring in my mid-term exams. I chose mnemonics as the subject
for a required research paper, and thus began the development
of my own memory systems. By the end of the semester, I was Acing
many of my classes, got on the Deans list (top 10 per cent
at university), and due to the grades I was obtaining, 95% of
the next years tuition was covered by grants. Yet I put
in a fraction of the effort I had put into the trade exams.
Due to outside reasons (most notably the birth of my first child)
I never completed my studies there, but upon return to and when
the opportunity arose here, I returned to school here New Zealand
to complete the American degree. My average class mark has again
been in the 90s or high 80s.
My fascination with mnemonics continued, along with my deep desire
to help others learn what I had discovered. This led me to researching
learning styles and other study techniques, in the hope of enabling
as many people as possible to reach their previously unrecognized
potential.
This system is not a quick fix and it initially requires
an effort to master the techniques involved. But it is my sincere
hope that you will persevere and benefit as much as I have.
Chris Pudney