When the Coffee is Still Hot by Brandon

When the Coffee is Still Hot by Brandon - January 2019 Scholarship Essay

Mornings have always been the optimal time for me to be productive. The smell of a fresh pot of coffee still lingers in the air and my morning shower has me refreshed and ready to accomplish everything on my list. Even if I was up late the night before at work or finishing up an assignment at the last minute I still find myself awake and ready to go no later than eight in the morning. This is one of the best traits that I have carried into college life; it has led to a cleaner and better-organized lifestyle. I procrastinate less and my daily tasks do not seem so rough. Every day for the past two years has started off with a made bed and a hot cup of black coffee. This morning ritual has been the game changer in how I approach my studies and my responsibilities as an adult. I am a morning person because it is when I am the most prepared and because it allows me to create an organized structure that I can follow until it is time for me to sleep. Being a functioning adult in the morning sets me apart as a college student because on a daily basis I have already accomplished more than my peers by the time they even wake up.
I am a morning person first and foremost because that is when I am functioning the best. It makes sense for me to burn through the mornings; I use my time more efficiently and I am likely to get a lot more done without trying to take a break every five minutes. After my coffee and shower, I am alert and refreshed and in that state of mind, I am able to approach assignments and my studies in new and creative manners that make retaining the material easier and usually more entertaining. I am able to experiment with new study methods such as different note-taking strategies, organizing study groups or arranging meetups with my classmates to tutor them before our next exam. I am more prepared for my exams and projects because if I come across anything I do not know or need help understanding the prompt I am able to reach the professors during their office hours that day. More often than not, I will receive last-minute text messages from classmates and friends who need help deciphering the assignment before it is due because they missed the last call for the professor’s office hours. With being prepared, I have been able to distinguish myself as a committed student to my professors and have made myself a valuable resource to my classmates. This has earned me the ability to call on other classmates when I need help and has made me an honest example for the professors. If I say something is confusing or it doesn’t make sense to the professors, they believe me and know that I am not just trying to get an extension for an assignment.
Beyond preparedness, being a morning person allows me the benefit of setting an organized structure for the day. Following my coffee and hot shower, I start the day by cleaning my room and making my bed. This creates a clean and organized environment for me to work in and also promotes the theme of an organized day. I follow this up with going through my planner and organizing my tasks for the day based on their priority, difficulty and the availability of information needed to complete these tasks. The morning is the time that I can think clearest and this allows me to structure the day in the most efficient and productive way. This method of organizing has helped me create a sound structure to my college life and is integral for staying ahead of deadlines and maintaining my personal obligations.
Being a morning person in college is definitely a rare trait, at least by the observations I have made of my friends, but it is because of this trait that I have created a daily recipe for success that I am able to follow. My ability to capitalize on my awareness and organizational capabilities in the mornings has helped me to achieve my goals of academic success and it has also helped me craft a work ethic that extends beyond my studies and promotes a strong work life as well. It may have been my internal clock that made me a morning person, but I have grown into this and it has made me a better student and employee than I ever was in high school. I will continue to follow my morning routine and I will continue to drive forward in all aspects of my life.