The Movement Method by Anntonette

The Movement Method by Anntonette - January 2014 Scholarship Essay

Throughout my high school and college career, my methods of studying have been anything but effective. It was extremely difficult for me to buckle down and focus in on one specific topic. This usually resulted in test scores that were lower than they should have been which left me feeling frustrated and hopeless.

It was the middle of my first semester as a freshman in college that I discovered my most effective method of studying. I was lounging around with a few friends from class as we were all trying to prepare ourselves for a rather important exam that was coming up. The information seemed to come naturally to these fellow classmates of mine and this only heightened my anxiety about the test. I stood up and began pacing around the room, listening in as questions were asked and answered. They directed a question towards me and I stopped my pacing. I stood there racking my brain for the answer. Finally I shrugged and my friend gave me the answer. I began to pace again, this time with more anxious energy. I knew the answer! But why couldn’t I recall it just then?

My roommate told us to take a mental break for five minutes and began to play her music. I was still standing, so I began to twirl around and dance to the music. This lightened the mood in the room and soon we were back to spouting off questions from our notebooks, the music still playing in the background. Once again it was my turn to give an answer. Without missing a beat I spun around and gave my friend the answer to the question he had asked me. This was my first correct answer of the night. I continued on with my dancing until it was once again my turn. He asked me a question involving a specific date and I stopped in my tracks. I began to rack my brain…but nothing came to me. As I was about to admit defeat he told me to start dancing again. I began to dance, thinking to myself how silly it was when suddenly I remembered the date. My friends clapped for me and a following question was asked. I answered that question while skipping around the room. The rest of that night consisted of me dancing while studying for that exam.

The following week after a few more nights of studying in that manner, I sat down to take that exam. While I was still nervous, I did not feel the sense of complete hopelessness that I usually felt while taking a test. I completed that test with more ease than any other test I had taken previously.

This was how I discovered my most effective method of studying. The key to a successful study session for me consists of the following: I must go to class, pay attention to what my professor is saying, take detailed notes, and finish off by studying while dancing. Movement is my trick. I am a kinesthetic learner and I learn best by dancing when studying for my classes.