From an adult learner to a new college student by Kevan

From an adult learner to a new college student by Kevan - April 2016 Scholarship Essay

As an adult learner with two bachelor degrees, I feel as though I’ve learned much about attending college and doing well. Some of the things I’ve learned have to do with classes themselves, such as understanding what type of professor you have and how to best follow their methods of teaching. Others have to do with myself and my own habits and tendencies, and how to best take advantage of my own personal strengths and minimize the effects of my weaknesses. After much thought on the topic, I can easily Identify one thing I’ve learned from each of these categories that has most affected my ability to succeed in the classes that I take.
I can easily say that the most useful thing I’ve learned about how to succeed in a college setting is focused on myself and my own study habits. I imagine this should come as no surprise, as it is much easier to understand yourself and change your entire studying schedule and structure then it is to focus on the myriad of classes and teachers that will cross your path as a student. In fact, I must say that, my own personal recommendation aside, the best advice I can give is to really analyze yourself closely. If you are able to find the things that work for you and emphasize them… and likewise identify the things that don’t work for you and avoid them, you can make the most you possibly can of every minute you spend on schoolwork and studying. In my case, the most important thing to remember is to always be aware of myself and my own mental and physical condition before spending time studying and working. All night study binges are a common occurrence amongst college students… and if these work for you that is awesome. I, however, quickly realized that if I am overly tired or unable to focus for any other reason, that its better if I not even study at all and take a break before attempting to do so. If I try to push myself past the point where my focus begins to slip, I end up wasting time staring blankly at book pages, or stuck on a particular part of a paper or homework assignment I’m working on. Rather than waste all that time staring blankly at something that you aren’t going to retain anyway… why not take a short 30 to 60-minute break to collect yourself and return to the studying a little bit fresher for it?
As for attempting to gain mastery in specific classes, my advice may seem trite and cliché, but the best recommendation I’ve always been able to make is to get to know your teachers well. If you spend time actually talking to and interacting with your instructors, you can often receive advice on how to best succeed in their classes. In my experience, teachers are all too willing to give studying tips, extra suggestions for practice exercise, and even supplementary materials to aid you in your efforts to succeed in their class. This is because almost every teacher genuinely wants their students to succeed, and are willing to go the extra mile to help students who want to go the extra mile themselves. So suck up your pride, go shake your teacher’s hand, and then ask what is the best way to go about studying for their class. You might be pleasantly surprised with the answers and help you receive.
To be sure, there are many different ways to study and learn. No two students are exactly the same… everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. Everyone has things they hate to do and things they love to do. Some people love reading and taking notes, others love a healthy stack of flash cards, and yet others prefer those late night study binges with classmates and friends. One last recommendation I could possibly make to a new college student is to simply not allow yourself to be stuck in a rut with your study and work habits. If you feel like you are banging your head against the wall, it’s because you probably are. Back away from that wall, look for that alternate path that leads you around it, and see how it feels beneath your feet. Remember, Albert Einstein’s definition of Insanity was doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. You won’t improve your outcomes if you aren’t willing to step outside your comfort zone and try new things when the old things aren’t working anymore.