Planning for your Future by Ashlyn

Planning for your Future by Ashlyn - December 2017 Scholarship Essay

Picture a small room, dimly lit by the rising moon and failing lamp, smelling of stale coffee and carb-loaded snacks, and littered with papers that contain failed attempts of a project that should have been started weeks ago. For many students, specifically ones in high school, this is often the scene they are faced with the night before a large project is due. Typically, this often arises when the student either failed to properly prepare, or simply underestimated the amount of time the project would take. To prevent this from happening, high-achieving students usually develop, often through trial-and-error, a system of tackling large projects which allows for maximum time efficiency. As a relatively high-achieving student myself, I’d like to think I have developed a system for planning out my projects that not only ensures the project is completed, but is very flexible with the busy schedule students have: a planner.
When students hear the word, “Planner”, they often envision an elementary school classroom where their teacher would force them to fill in notebook-sized planners, lest they receive a “yellow mark” for not doing their homework. Because of this memory, planners are often regarded as either childish, monotonous, or simply unnecessary. On the other hand, if students do try to become more organized, the first medium they look for is one based on technology, like the calendar on their laptop or even the “Notes” app on their iPhone. However, according to a recent study, conducted by the journal Psychology Science, using pen and paper instead of technology has been proven to boost memory and the ability to retain important information. Therefore, it can be concluded that a physical planner is more efficient for the student rather than relying on technological reminders.
Due to the fact that planners are the most efficient way of keeping information organized, the next task at hand is actually dividing the project into sections that are completed at various times. For instance, by doing one part of the project on a certain weekend, and the next part the following weekend, the student will feel less overwhelmed and more motivated to produce the highest-quality material. Studies have been shown that if the student uses this method to complete their project, it will be an overall more relaxed process and therefore less stressing for the student.
By following these general guidelines, a project does not seem like so much of a monster. As students progress throughout secondary school and into college, they will need a system in order to ensure they are completing all necessary components for the project. Without having their previous support system, college students usually fall behind in projects. With a planner, the transition into self-reliance will be much easier, and therefore the student will be successful.