3,285 hours of 2015. by Marisa

3,285 hours of 2015. by Marisa - January 2016 Scholarship Essay

Social media these days is extremely addicting. I realized that my life revolved around scrolling through Twitter and liking Instagram pictures and I know it is much more than that. I know I am not the only one. Other teenagers like myself struggle to get homework done and sleep on time due to their social media addiction. But here’s the thing, social media isn’t what my life should be about. According to CNN on November 3, 2015, “Teens spend 9 hours using media”. Think about that, that is insane. The nine hours teens spend on social media can be used more efficiently. Teens can be spending time with their siblings, reading or studying, and of course being active by spending time outside. In 2015, I probably spent around 9 hours a day on my phone, just by habit. That means I most likely spent a grand total of 3,285 hours on my phone in 2015. I wish I could've spent the 3,285 hours of 2015 doing something more meaningful, but I can only try to improve with the new year.
Now, here is my New Year’s resolution. Although technology can be beneficial to the average student, I feel that I can be a better student by not using social media while I do my homework. In order for me to become a better student, I plan to stop using my phone before I go to bed and when I’m trying to complete homework.
These past few days in 2016 have allowed me to become a better student already. I've stopped using my phone before I go to bed and now I am able to get more sleep for the next day. Not only have I been getting more sleep, but I’ve become more productive with my school work. I always complete my homework, but using my phone less has allowed me to have more free time to relax and to finish my work before midnight. The best thing about my New Year’s resolution so far is that I am more heedful during class. These few benefits so far have encouraged me to continue sticking to my New Year’s resolution.
This simple New Year's resolution has caused me to realize how unimportant social media is to my education. All students are capable of spending less time on their phones. It just takes a deep reflection to realize how important education is over our social media presence. Yes, Snapchat stories are fun to watch, but the stories are not even close to how important my education is to me. My New Year’s resolution will easily push me to become a more involved, focused, and reflective student. And with that, I look forward to the success I will achieve throughout this new year.