Why Teaching is the Best way to Learn by Ash

Why Teaching is the Best way to Learn by Ash - January 2014 Scholarship Essay

Since Middle School, counselors and teachers have constantly been introducing me to new methods of studying and test-prep. I’ve always been academically gifted, and, finding school pretty easy, I never really did a lot of studying for tests, let alone pay attention to the different techniques they kept trying to introduce. As I began to enter AP classes, I realized what large mistake I had made. School was finally challenging for me, but I had no idea how to study and get through it.

Even though I was struggling myself, others in my class still thought of me as someone to go to for help. Often in and out of class I found myself helping fellow students understand subjects I was sometimes barely grasping myself. As I was doing this, I found that through teaching I better comprehended the subject myself. When I had to explain something to others, not only did it help me remember it, but it also forced me to think about the topic from a new perspective. More often this new perspective was the one that made the light-bulb go off, and gave me the “aha moment.” Many times I’ve been talking through a question on a worksheet with another student, and thought to myself hey! Why I didn’t see this earlier, it makes so much sense! There were also instances when people asked me for help on something I was clueless about. Then, we had the opportunity to look it up together and explain it to each other; we were, in a sense, both teachers.

So now when I study for quizzes and tests, if I ever come across something I struggle with, I attempt to put myself in the shoes of a teacher. I try to explain the topic as best I can, making comparisons and using other techniques I’ve observed my own teachers doing. With this I never have to worry about cramming, flash cards, or other study methods that I haven’t found particularly useful. I know all I have to do is switch roles, and I’ll be able to get through just about any topic.