The Year of the Studious by Anthony

The Year of the Studious by Anthony - January 2016 Scholarship Essay

The start of the New Year brings about the beginning of a new semester. The new semester is a fresh start for students, including myself, to reflect and improve on past semester’s grades. One way I am becoming a better student in 2016 is by building on my study habits. My first course of action will be to prioritize studying. Instead of getting home from school and hopping on Netflix for a few hours, I plan on hitting the books while that day’s lessons are still fresh in my head. By reading the chapters in the textbook that we covered in class and doing the exercises that corresponds to the chapters, I will feel completely prepared when I come into class the next day. Making flashcards of important definitions and key concepts is another tool I will utilize to improve my study habits. Diverting time to reviewing my flashcards and the textbook every night will certainly help me achieve the A’s I yearn for in my classes.
Another new way for me to grasp the material is creating study sessions at local coffee shops with my classmates for upcoming exams. We will use the time to discuss problems we are having in class, also for homework time where everyone focuses on their needs specifically and ask questions. The study session seems like a great way to meet and collaborate with new classmates, a crucial skill I will need for when it comes time for college next fall. The average class size at my high school is upwards to 30 students, large class sizes make it difficult for teachers to assess the individual needs of each and every student. Study sessions, I would like to keep under 10 classmates, will give us the more personalized environment where we can assist each other’s problems. This allows us to bond together into friendships that will survive after graduation in May. Smaller learning environments ties into after school aid teachers offer for some of my classes. For instance, the course work for my AP Biology class is grueling, sometimes overwhelming. My teacher holds after school study sessions every Monday that I will be attending this semester to help me understand the material. The smaller after school session is where my teacher has time for me to ask for assistance and get to know me personally, my likes, my dislikes and the most optimal way for me to learn.
People consistently make New Year resolutions, and far too often they begin to forget those resolutions. What is different about mine is that I will continuously motivate myself. I’ve decided to treat myself every time I receive the grade I was shooting for on a test, either to dinner or a movie. The key to success is to stay motivated. Building on my study habits will inevitably bring success I long for.