Planners: Every Student's Closest Companion by Austin

Planners: Every Student's Closest Companion by Austin - November 2014 Scholarship Essay

Get a planner.

As a freshman, one is surrounded by two beautiful things: Time and opportunity. You have four years to gather as many resources and memories as possible. There will be clubs to join and eventually gain a position in, if you are politically inclined. There will be activities every week to engage in. Above all else, there will be academia to attend to in the form of homework, tests, and essays. Further, one is quite likely to set meetings with professors and advisors. Be sure to engage in that - Professors are always happy to see a student come in to discuss anything from shared interests to course material. Some of my best conversations with professors have been about everything from internet memes to theoretical psychology.

All of this requires a good scheduling tool. Planners are the bees-knees when it comes to trying to assemble all of the things going on into one accessible area of reference. If you are really effective, you will snag one with a calendar that breaks every day down into a twenty-four hour list. Of course, simply having a planner is not the only thing I would advise doing. Master the art of scheduling.

As you get more involved it can become a bit messy. My own planner is riddled with sticky notes and doodles. Sometimes I forget a meeting, sometimes I forget something to write down. Ultimately, however, I remember to put all the puzzle pieces together in a way that helps me remember what all I have to cram into a day. Start slow, then build up.

Some individuals might not be inclined towards heavy involvement with a campus. I think that is fair at first, but definitely work through it if you can. The more involved you are, the more connections you make. Networking is a cornerstone of our society, especially in academics. It can help you make friends, start a business network, and so many other things. People are what move things forward and it is good to know a lot of people.

At the same time, however, you are increasing your knowledge base. Speaking in a practical sense, this allows an individual to craft a stellar resume. Add to the list of extracurricular activities one meeting at a time, one project at a time. It is far more rewarding, emotionally, to have a slew of things to do. I love putting a weekly to-do list in my planner. At the end of the week, when I complete it, there is a rush of freedom and excitement. There is a certain heavenly bliss to saying, "Wow. I actually did all of that".

Ultimately a planner is just a start. Honestly speaking, however, I could not do all the things I do in a day without being able to map it out. I have a good memory, but my little companion makes it all far easier to keep track of. I will echo this though: Get involved, but take your time. As a freshman you have a lot of life to see. Do not blind yourself with the addictions and vices of our time. Make a difference within yourself and make a mark in the campus you are involved with. Trust me, it really pays off practically, emotionally, and sometimes even spiritually.