I put the "Pro" in "Project". by Madeline

I put the "Pro" in "Project". by Madeline - December 2017 Scholarship Essay

There are a lot of things to consider when putting together a project. You need to do research, plan out your schedule, dole out the tasks if it’s a group project, is it a powerpoint? Where will you get the computer/projector?, is it a skit? What props do you need?, is it a speech?, etc., etc., etc. It’s a lot of work, and it can take forever, but there are two things I do that help me get things done, no matter what it is. 1) Stay focused, and 2) lighten up!
It’s easy to get sidetracked when you’re supposed to be doing something. The hardest part is always getting started. But once I get going, and get into a groove, then my mind hits the autopilot button, and it’s (mostly) smooth sailing from there. To accomplish this, I start by setting myself an alarm. When it goes off, I get started. Then I set myself a time limit, usually an hour or two, so I don’t burn out on the first day trying to do as much as I can. I also bribe myself, because who doesn’t love bribes? I’ll say to myself, “OK, if you stick to it, and stay on topic the whole time, then you can watch two episodes of Doctor Who/work on your short story/finish up that drawing you’re working on/melt your brain on the internet for a while.”. The combination of all these tactics usually keeps me on task.
But even if I’m “on task”, that doesn’t necessarily mean that I’m engaged in what I’m doing. “What?” you ask, “how does that work?” Well, being on task means that I’m plugging away, doing what I’m supposed to do, but being engaged means that I’m enjoying it. How do I engage myself? For starters, I pick a topic, or an angle to the pre-set topic, that I like (because it’s no fun writing something boring). Then, I keep a few jokes, fun facts, and witty transitions, in mind. Why? Because depending on the project, that might just be what I need. And if I don’t, then it’s at least something I can think about from time to time to keep me in a good mood. Even if I’m writing an essay on an especially serious topic, I’ll start off light, and kind of casual in order to get you, the reader, engaged, and encourage you to keep reading. Once I’ve pulled you in, I then begin incorporating the more serious, nitty-gritty stuff. So that by the end, you’re left with some very deep, serious, important thoughts.
One more tactic before I go, and this one is specifically for essay-type assignments: think of it as a story. As a writer, one of my favorite things to do is creative writing. Short stories, flash fiction, poetry, you name it! Even if you’re writing an argumentative essay, and giving your opinion on a certain topic, you’re telling the story of what your opinion is, how you came to it, and why. Even if you’re writing a literary analysis essay, you’re telling your interpretation of the story; It’s literally a story about a story! What could be more fun!
In the end, my tactics basically boil down to one thing: being me. I, like most people, work better when I’m focused. I like to keep the mood light and casual because that’s how I act naturally. I always act like myself, and my strategies for school projects reflect that. They are fairly simple, but they get the job done. Or rather, they help ME get the job done. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go watch some Doctor Who, and possibly youtube.