Color-Coordinate! by Cassidy

Color-Coordinate! by Cassidy - January 2014 Scholarship Essay

For someone who used to find studying to be a menial, ineffective, and mind-numbing task, I believe that I am qualified to offer advice to those, like me, who want desperately to retain the information that they have spent the entirety of their unit working on, in order to achieve a grade that they are proud of. I have struggled with this feat like many, and when I came upon a certain method of studying some time ago, I was relieved of the tension and dread that studying can inflict upon its victims. And I believe that by using this tactic, you are more suited to take that test than before.

It is important when searching for study tactics, to take into account your learning style--nothing is more futile than trying to force yourself to study facts and dates and key words when you have no drive or no interest in the scratches in front of you. For my learning style in particular, I am more effective when I am able to look through my past notes and assignments in chronological order--completely doused in color! I often start with the earliest notes, and end with the latest. I will spend my time reading and rereading my pages of summaries, color-coordinated based on importance, due dates, or any other category that strikes me as essential at the time. In this way, I am able to bypass pieces of lessons that are not important, and focus mainly on the pieces that are. This saves a significant amount of time, because I am not draining it all on just locating my information--I can find it within a few seconds and fill my head with vital information within minutes.

Studying is no longer the huge chore that it has been my entire life. I am effective, confident, and strong in my note taking, mainly because I know that in my methods I'll be able to attain a grade I am proud of. Color-coordinating my notes has been a life-saver, and I suggest this method to anyone who has struggled with studying in the past.