I'm a newly initiated EA, and am feeling a little overwhelmed with the memorization I need to accomplish (the OB). Any tips, other than just good old-fashioned "saying it over and over and over". Thanks!! Ed
A few of the Brothers that have posted on here said one thing in common: try to watch as many degrees as possible. That is some very good advice, but the downside is that you might be in a smaller lodge that doesn't have very many EAs going on. So that really leaves you with just working with your Instructor. Brother Tomasball listed a few really good ideas to help out with that.
The only things I can really add, is to just not let it overwhelm you. When you are repeating things, believe it or not they will stick with you. Just stay as relaxed as possible and not focus on being "overwhelmed". That takes away from your focus of retaining the stuff. You are learning something really new and unfamiliar, and even the method of learning it is unfamiliar. It just takes a little bit to get adjusted to it, but you will come around. Especially with the next degrees. You will see a LOT of similarities in the degrees. I'm not saying that you will see the same things in each degree, but there are some stuff in the other degrees that will remind you of the previous degrees and that will help out in those.
But with you just going through the EA, just keep your head up and you will make it through it. Don't let it get overwhelming. Take your time with it. I don't know your situation or how long you have been working on stuff, but I assume since you said your "newly initiate" you still have plenty of time to get your work turned in. How often do you meet with your Instructor? If you are able to and the Instructor is, maybe you can meet an extra time a week or something. If there is something that you don't understand, which there should several, be sure to ask your Instructor what those things mean. Having an understanding of those things and what they mean will help you remember those particular parts of your work.
Good luck with it all, bro. You will do just fine. Remember, there have been LOADS of men that have went this route and done the same things you are going through right now. Don't let the work overwhelm you at all. Even being overwhelmed you can get it all done. I have faith in you and I'm sure the rest of the Brothers on here have faith as well
Keep us posted how it all goes along!