Be Dedicated, Don't Be Cheating Yourself by Kimberly

Be Dedicated, Don't Be Cheating Yourself by Kimberly - May 2016 Scholarship Essay

There are many ways to study for final exams, but sometimes students do not see what other students may see about studying. My roommate and I have different ways to study for the same final exam, Calculus. Her study method was rereading the notes, practicing the problems in the book, and looking at the examples. However, for the most part, she did not understand it as much as she thought she could. Some of the notes and examples that she wanted to understand were a little bit helpful for her because it was on the final exam. Then how I used my method, I did some practiced-problems, sample exams, and did more practiced-problems. I did not like rereading the notes or look at the examples because it was not necessary as much in order to understand the materials. I am saying that if a student really wants to do very well on the final exam, the best way is to be very dedicated with the subject that matters and does not cheat on self by having other people solving it. At some point, having other people solving the problem step-by-step is helpful and a method of learning, but for the most part, the student is not understanding the materials and will not know how to study for the final exams once it is near.
I have two subjects that really matters to me the most, yet I have two different methods for both subjects because one subject feels easier than the other. In Calculus and Physics, it is all the matters of Calculus and Physics in high school. However, I have not taken Physics in high school, so I do not know anything about kinematics equations or rotational methods. For the final exam in Physics, I had to have someone help me understand the materials because I just do not get it. I tried and practiced problems for Physics, but I honestly could not practice it because I cheated on myself by having someone solved the problem for me. If I practice before asking someone for help, I think the materials will be easier to understand and can have my dedication to learn more. Because in Calculus, I normally do not study as much. It takes me about an hour or two to study, then I am finished studying for Calculus. Why? Because it takes me about an hour or two to study, I understand the materials. For the final exam, I was neither anxious nor excited for it because I knew that I would do well on the exam, self-confidence. I had placed my dedication for Calculus and did not ask anyone for help to solve a problem I am struggling. Then when I received my scores for both of the classes, I got an A in Calculus yet a C- in Physics. The overall message is to give self some confidence in learning the materials by yourself until you really need help for a problem, make sure you know what to have and to use before someone else just solve the entire problem for you.