Mediocricy and Excellence: a change in behavior by Abigail
Abigailof Kennewick's entry into Varsity Tutor's January 2016 scholarship contest
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Mediocricy and Excellence: a change in behavior by Abigail - January 2016 Scholarship Essay
We are all humans. We all have similar capacities. We can learn, we can grow and we can develop. The excellent and the mediocre are very much alike in these regards. The only distinct difference between the excellent and the mediocre is effort. It takes effort to excel and to overcome obstacles and determination to reach one’s goal. There for it takes effort to rise from mediocrity and become excellent. The motivation to work hard and put forth effort is essential to excelling. Likewise, work is essential to achieve academically. Students need to work for good grades. They need to study, review, and prepare not only for tests but for day-to-day schooling. This New Year I plan to be proactive in my education as I prepare myself intellectually by reviewing important material for each class in advance.
There has been a great deal of research done by psychologists pertaining to memory and cognition. Two prominent psychologists are Geoffrey Miller and Hermann Ebbinghaus. Miller and Ebbinghaus have shown when information is reviewed seven (plus or minus two) times individuals will have better recollection. This is because the more time information is used it will be moved into long-term memory from working (short-term) memory. To reach the magic number seven takes time and effort. By reviewing material in advance to class, I will be increasing the frequency the information is used. This will allow me to be better prepared for class and retain information I learn. The proactive approach to learning will require time and effort but it will allow me to excel in academically.