Lesson Learned by Kaylie

Lesson Learned by Kaylie - June 2019 Scholarship Essay

I looked down at my math quiz, frustrated. I tapped my pencil on the desk, frustrated and panicked, and proceeded to check the time. It was 3:25 p.m., and with five minutes left on the clock, I was still struggling to solve exponential equations with logarithms. Exhausted and exasperated, I sighed, got up from my seat, and turned my quiz in, leaving three questions blank. My teacher glanced at me with a raised eyebrow, confused. I shrugged and made my way back to my seat. Soon after, the bell rang for dismissal, and students filed out of the classroom one by one. I remained in my chair, slumped and defeated. Once everyone else had left, my teacher walked over to me and asked me how I was feeling. I broke down and began to ramble on and on about how I didn’t understand the material, how I’ve been struggling with time management and stress, how I hadn’t been making time to study, and how I hadn’t been getting enough sleep. My teacher sat down next to me and gave me some of the most profound advice that I had ever received.

“Doing the same thing will only yield the same results; you can’t expect things to get better if you keep repeating bad habits. You have to change if you want to see change.” These words opened my eyes. Without even realizing it, I had been trapped in a cycle of stress, procrastination, sleep-deprivation, and exhaustion. I busied myself with an unnecessary amount of extra-curricular clubs and activities and constantly overbooked myself, hardly sparing a moment to breathe. As a result, I would put off homework and assignments until the very last possible minute, and in doing so, my focus and efforts were reduced, resulting in poor quality work and unsatisfactory grades. School became a matter of completion rather than true learning, growth, and enlightenment. I could never concentrate at maximum capacity in class, as I was always tired and unfocused from the nonstop movement and countless late nights. I dragged myself through the day, feeling as if I were useless and had no purpose. Unhappy with how I had been living my life, I decided that I was going to make some changes, no matter how difficult it would be, no matter how many obstacles would arise.

The journey was not easy, and there would be days where I would resort to my old habits. However, once I consistently began to implement my teacher’s advice into my life, my life took a 180-degree turn. I changed my routine. I began to designate a set amount of time for everything that was required of me, and I let go of the frivolous, trivial things. I focused on the clubs and activities that I felt passionate about, devoting my full efforts towards those and letting go of the others that hindered or dulled that passion. I made time for homework. I studied until I was certain that I knew the material through and through. I went to sleep at more reasonable times. I developed healthier and more consistent eating and exercising habits. I spent time with friends but made sure that it was fruitful and wasn’t excessive or detrimental. Everything shifted into place, and clarity and calmness was restored in my life. My grades had substantially improved, I was well rested, and I truly felt happy and healthy, physically and emotionally. Changing my routine had proven beneficial to my academic as well as my social life and self-care. I had finally found a balance, and though my initial intentions were to better my performance academically, I know this advice will help me tackle and overcome the inevitable struggles and hardships that I'll face in and out of the classroom.