On Organization by Austin

On Organization by Austin - April 2016 Scholarship Essay

Throughout my four years of high school, the one thing that has haunted my academic career has been disorganization. I have never once used a folder, binder, notebook or planner correctly. To younger students, I would say to keep yourself organized, you can't remember it all on your own.

Even simply having folders for every class and using them consistently will help to keep your grades up. You can't expect to know where every paper that gets handed to you is, and some may simply be consumed by the hungry void of your backpack if you don't keep track of them. Write due dates down, that way you know how to plan out your studying and homework and fun. It sucks to do, but it sucks even more to regret not doing it.

I noticed throughout my years in high school that having to keep everyone else in the class waiting as you shuffle through papers for five minutes is, in fact, rather embarrassing. By not organizing your materials, you waste not only your classmates’ and teachers’ time, but also your own. Once, I had to write up an email to send to the costumes department of our theater program detailing costume pieces I needed to put on a show. I had thought I had the list of costumes in my backpack, ready to be read and formatted after maybe a few minutes of shuffling, but I had instead left it on my desk at home. I had forgotten to put it in a folder or binder or do anything at all with it, and in doing so sent out my email late anything and forced the costumes head to look for clothes just 30 minutes before the class had to load up and go perform.

I'd tell younger students to be kind to themselves and their minds and just bother to organize their materials. You will have plenty of stress to deal with in the course of those four wonderful years, do yourself a favor and organize.