What I Know Now by Kennedy

What I Know Now by Kennedy - April 2016 Scholarship Essay

Don’t just memorize, learn. The definition of “learn” is to acquire knowledge. In this day and age, students are worried so much about our grades. We study all night so that as long as we get an A on tomorrow's test, everything's just peachy! Although, what happens to all of that information after the test is over? To most students, the information crammed into your brain slowly oozes out as you await your scores. Then, you move on to the next topic. I have learned throughout the years that simply memorizing what is being taught will leave you ill prepared for future endeavors. Don’t just get by with learning the basics. Don’t just know it for the grade. All the information we are learning now is just a starting point; a foundation for higher education. So, if you only temporarily memorize the fundamentals, you won’t know the basics for later on. This will put you behind because you are having to relearn what has been taught to you.
Also, learning what has been taught doesn’t just apply to school. The lessons, mannerisms, and respect you are taught as a child are amplified even more in importance when you are entering adulthood. The stories we hear about our peers should be taken to heart. The mistakes we’ve seen in real time, and the successes that we have witnessed firsthand, should be learned from. A smart person learns from their actions, but an intelligent person learns from others’ actions as well. These are things we can carry with us forever. We can use this knowledge to shape ourselves and our surroundings. It is good to try and live in the moment, but it is wise to take those moments and do something with them. So don’t just memorize in the moment, but learn along the way.