Isolation and Energy by Chelsea

Isolation and Energy by Chelsea - January 2014 Scholarship Essay

My study process begins a few weeks out from testing day. I like to be prepared and organized, this way stress will not deter the mental energy I need to be sharp while taking the test. I believe that studying and preparing for a test is the hard part; actually taking the test is easy. This mentality helps me to remain calm and focused during that hour or two of testing.

A few weeks out I like to be somewhere in the community, like a Starbucks or café, writing out notes and making notecards. These tasks do not require all of my focus, so the chatter of people around me feeds the energy and motivation I need. I am even able to take a mental break and people watch for a minute or two whenever I feel like. Generally I do not like studying with other people, although at this point in my study phase I will agree to study with some of my classmates.

The next phase of my study cycle happens a week out from the test. I begin to dial in my focus of study, reading my notes and going through notecards at least twice a day. This is when I really begin committing principles to memory and making connections with the material. About three days out I enter isolation while studying. This setting may be in the quite rooms of the school library or in my own room at home. There is no music, and often times I put earplugs in to block out any unwanted noise.

The night before a test I make sure to get at least eight hours of sleep. In the morning I eat breakfast and have some coffee while reviewing key points in my notes. I allow my brain to relax and focus about a half hour away from the test, which means no more reviewing. Then, I enter the testing room calm and collected, ready to tackle yet another academic test of knowledge.