Youtube isn't Just for Procrastination by Emily

Youtube isn't Just for Procrastination by Emily - May 2016 Scholarship Essay

As a freshman in college I have discovered that I cannot approach academics the same way that I did in high school. I could no longer halfheartedly take notes. I could no longer cram for an hour before a final exam and expect to get an A or a B. I could no longer rely on my teachers, or professors, to hold me accountable for completing my work. In college I discovered that in order to succeed I need to dedicate hours to studying, most often watching videos and creating my own diagrams to explain complicated concepts.
When studying for finals I dedicated much of my time watching videos. I have always been able to retain information best when seeing and hearing what is being presented to me. In high school I was able to remember most concepts that my teachers went over in class. However, the information in my college courses was denser and there was more to know. Therefore, I needed more time to absorb the information I was expected to learn. Knowing that I am a visual and audio learner, I decided to try watching videos on whatever subject I was studying. After trying this out for my General Biology course, my grade improved significantly from the first exam. Watching videos gave me the freedom to pause them to take notes, rewind, skip concepts I already knew or did not need to know, and take breaks whenever I felt the need. This active method of studying helped me stay focused and gave me the freedom to be in charge of my studying.
Other than watching videos, I spent most of my time studying by drawing diagrams. Drawing these diagrams appealed to the visual learning method while also keeping me engaged. I was forced to remember necessary details and understand how each piece contributed to the whole picture. Drawing my own diagrams forced me to understand exactly how a system worked and what would happen if even one piece was missing. This method proved to be the best way for me to promote critical thinking while studying.
Trial and error during my freshman year of college helped me discover which study methods work best for me. Because I am a visual and audio learner, videos helped me remember concepts the most while drawing diagrams assisted me in critical thinking.