The Beauty of Studying by Mariana

The Beauty of Studying by Mariana - March 2023 Scholarship Essay

If Elementary school Mariana would have been asked “What do you do to make academic learning fun and enjoyable?” she would have a perplexed look on her face because I disliked studying. Having gone through high school heavily influenced by the use of technology and social media, I was able to use it to my advantage by making studying enjoyable and more efficient. If you were to ask me today how I make learning fun, my answer would be “I make my notes look as pleasing as possible with colorful pictures and diagrams”. I also enjoy practicing the art of calligraphy and drawing. What better way to put both those skills to use in a way that makes learning better for my learning style. One person who has greatly impacted my education and learning style is Jasmine Shao, a YouTuber who goes under the pseudonym of Studyquill. Jasmine has helped me see that studying doesn’t have to be a messy, complicated process of just re-reading some boring notes that were quickly jotted down in class while simultaneously trying to keep up with a professor’s lecture. Studying, the backbone of education, can be so much more enriching than that. It’s an activity that, if done properly can be fun and allows you to explore your creativity, while reinforcing important concepts.
As I previously mentioned, when I was younger I dreaded going to school, doing homework, and studying. I knew that it was important to put in effort into studying because my goal was to go to a good high school, however I hadn’t fully found a true genuine liking for education, I saw it as a chore. Back then I thought the highest grades I could achieve were class averages. However, looking back I realize it was because I was forgetful of assignments, my terrible study habits of briefly skimming notes, and a lack of understanding how to keep my school work organized. Thus, before my freshman year I looked up tips on how to prepare for a new school year and that’s how my journey towards learning to develop my learning style began.
I discovered Ms. Shao’s YouTube channel while researching how to become a well rounded student, one with great organization, excellent study habits, and a healthy work-life balance (good time management). I realized then, that being organized and well equipped with study tools would greatly benefit me and I would have a higher chance of being successful in pursuing a job in the medical field. After seeing how successful of a student she was, it inspired me to become like her. After some trial and error during my first two years, I became confident that I had nailed down the basics of organization and calligraphy to best suit my needs. During my spare time during the summer I would practice my penmanship and calligraphy, in hopes to use it when I’d return to school the following year. I had also started to properly use a planner and I’d personalize it to my liking. The first time around, I would go months forgetting to check my planner. Nowadays, I look at it daily, as I rely on it for important tasks/dates, weekly goals, and monthly reflections.
Overall, it’s certain that Ms. Shao’s influence on my education was truly a positive one full of growth, maturity, and a discovery of my creative passions. I have since grown to be ecstatic to learn and return to school to further my education. I now regularly watch influencers whose main goal is to share their knowledge on furthering their education and becoming a better person. I can not wait to start my college experience and further my own education so that one day I may work in the ever-learning field, the medical field.