Student Teacher by Brigid

Student Teacher by Brigid - January 2014 Scholarship Essay

Throughout our school careers we are taught many different ways to study. From flashcards, to note repetition, to simple rereading the book; many people find their own ways to study because everyone learns differently and our brains are not identical.

When I study I like to teach my peers the material. It reinforces ideas for me and makes me think of ways to say things in my own words. Often when tutoring you find peers who did not understand things the way they are written in the book or how the teacher explained them so I have to figure out new ways to explain concepts so they make sense to more minds. This repetition helps reinforce ideas for me as it is not just words in a textbook anymore, it is real concepts that I understand better from looking at it from different angles.

I have a lot of friends who really favor flashcards and notes and charts, but simply teaching someone helps me understand and remember the material better than anything. I could memorize and spout things back in book definitions, but understanding is more important. I want to learn and help others learn to not become a walking dictionary.