become a genius

I sat a exam that consisted of mostly essays. I counted the number of unique references I included in one hour long essay and it was at least 19 unique references. Thats details of 19 properly referenced studies that I memorised (I actually memorised more but those were the ones relevant to that topic).

I think thats pretty good and worthy of a mention. My next challenge is completing more memory lessons and applying them to the course I am learning now – chemistry which is much more challenging to memorise.

This should probuly be titled knowledge I have actively memorised to retain forever. I will be editing this post to add things as I go along, but it will not be a complete list. Just things I have actively memorised and put on this list. So far the list is small and will be small for a while until I get better at memorising.

Things I have actively memorised:

1) All 50 states of america in alphabetical order

Memory achievements (things just for practice – so not on the above list of things to retain):

1) Memorised a numbered list of 99 random things spending less than six seconds on each item. First time through = 92 out of 99. Second time = 99 out of 99.

2) Memorised a list of 120 random digits and reproduced them perfectly (working on 140 now).

Starting trying to improve my memory. Only at lesson four so far, and I took a break so got rusty. Will update here how it goes. I’ll complete all the lessons to improve my memory then I’ll take another look at this goal and add my next task to complete to try and become a genius. Though I still don’t think intelligence can be adequately quantified, so am unsure about the existance of a category ‘genius’.

Still, I am also sure that in working towards it I will get somewhere. I’m just not sure where that somewhere is yet.

Watching a documentary every night while I eat supper instead of something less educational. I’m really enjoying it, the ones on quantum mechanics are probuly my favourite so far, but I’ve also watched some on biology and chemistry. It really puts the knowledge I have gathered into perspective of the big picture of the topics.

Studying advanced research methods – passed everything but the exam which is looming in a few weeks! Scary.

Starting my final module next month for a post graduate diploma in psychological research methods. Then I get to concentrate even more on science!

Studying for ukcat and gamsat. Gamsat requires science knowledge up to first year of a degree so there is a lot of learning there.

Using a board where I write things I want to memorize and read it through before I go to sleep every night. I usually find by the time I wake up its jammed deeper into my brain than I can manage in a study session.

Then next september I am starting an A-level in chemistry within a year. So have to sit AS and A2 in the same academic year. Actually really looking forward to it.

Hopefully all this will bring me closer to my goal.

Not because there is no such thing as genius – thats a different debate but because even if I became what would be considered a genius I don’t think I would recognise it as being true.

There are IQ tests – I have never had an offical one. However these have proved flawed again and again. In fact I’m really not sure that intelligence can be adequately quantified.

Even if it is not possible I think its a good goal to work towards.