Learn to Learn by Madison

Learn to Learn by Madison - July 2016 Scholarship Essay

“Your mind is like a closet, and you have to learn how to organize the clothes that go in so you can find them” (Lolly Wilson). Learning to learn is the most important lesson I ever learned from a teacher. When I started freshman year, I met the teacher who would change the way I looked at school forever. Mrs. Lolly Wilson taught biology primarily, but she taught me so much more in the course of two years with her, biology and anatomy. As we neared the end of the year in biology, Mrs. Lolly taught me the most important lesson I have ever learned from a teacher-learning how to learn. She gave a lesson in how your mind is similar to a closet and you have to learn how to efficiently take things in and organize them so you can access them later. Mrs. Lolly taught me that nothing is unimportant or worth forgetting.
This lesson that she taught me freshman year has carried over into every year since. Whenever I approach a class I do not particularly enjoy now, instead of getting frustrated about not learning something I do not think is applicable, I see that any information is valuable. It does not matter if I enjoy the material immensely, what matters is that I am learning and I store the information efficiently in my mind. Mrs. Lolly taught me that there is never an appropriate time to forget or throw away any information. She told me that even though she is one of the most knowledgeable person I know, she continues to search for new things to learn. She taught me that I should always have an attitude of learning and seeking new information.
Because of Mrs. Lolly, my approach and attitude to life has changed. She taught me more than just biology and anatomy. She taught me to work hard to excel. She taught me to dream big and aim high. She was the first teacher to really believe in me and show me I could do more than just get by in school. Mrs. Lolly taught me the most important lesson I have learned from a teacher-how to learn.