Finals are here, and students everywhere are glued to their Google Chromebooks, frantically trying to ace their exams. But a new study suggests that all this modern tech might be doing more harm than good—students who jot down notes with pen and paper actually remember more than their laptop-using peers. So, let’s take a trip down memory lane and explore how we tackled studying in the ’80s. Spoiler alert: we had it pretty good!
Our Papers Were Tucked in Trapper Keepers
This wasn’t just a binder; it was a badge of honor. Everyone recognized your unique Trapper Keeper, adorned with vibrant colors or designs that screamed ’80s flair—think hot rods and neon palm trees.
We Held Epic Study Sessions—On the Phone
Forget GroupMe! We had that one friend with a party line, allowing three friends to huddle around the phone—because let’s be real, at least one of you had to know how to solve quadratic equations.
We Dominated the Local Library
After a quick touch-up with Revlon’s Silver City Pink lipstick (because priorities), we hit the library to scour the card catalog for research topics, often ending up distracted by the occasional make-out session in the stacks—definitely more fun than Googling!
Passing Notes: A Crafty Art
Can you recall the thrill of sneaking a note across the classroom? The trust involved was monumental. Sure, most notes revolved around crushes, but every so often, you’d get a gem with answers about the Thirty Years’ War—which was a total win.
Wite-Out Was Our Best Friend
Without Wite-Out, I’d probably still be stuck in ninth grade, endlessly trying to perfect my essay on A Separate Peace, all because my teacher insisted on black felt-tip pens and penalized misspellings.
Studying with a Side of Entertainment
We crammed our vocab words while watching Dirty Dancing, Santa Barbara, or the MTV Top 20 Countdown. Screen time? Nobody was counting; we were just living our best lives.
Our Unique Cursive Styles
Once we escaped the iron grip of our third-grade teachers, we crafted our own personalized cursive. If you were anything like me, your i’s were dotted with hearts, making note-taking a little more enjoyable—even if my hand ached afterward.
School Supplies Galore
We had index cards in every size, highlighters, dividers, erasable pens, protractors—you name it! We practically kept the local CVS afloat with our school supply needs.
This nostalgic look back at studying in the ’80s reminds us of simpler times, before the internet took over. If you’re curious about modern-day parenting and home insemination topics, be sure to check out our other posts for helpful insights, including this excellent resource on various treatments for pregnancy.
In summary, studying back in the ’80s was a unique blend of creativity, camaraderie, and a dash of chaos, all without the distractions of today’s technology.