The Study Marathon by Miles

The Study Marathon by Miles - January 2014 Scholarship Essay

Studying, or the act of learning specific material beforehand so that one may hopefully perform well on some academic assignment, becomes a serious thorn in the sides of many students across the world as they either fail to study well or study at all. However, most everyone sympathizes a tad bit when they see a fellow student struggling. Just the word “study” can bring shivers down anxious spines as one reminisces about endless nights filled to the brim with tedium and flashcards. Studying, however necessary, kind of bites. I can almost compare the process to knocking my head against the wall for a time; both studying and this random act of silliness dull my senses and drain my sanity all the same. However, I managed to succeed in school, luckily, due to how I gradually studied throughout the school day as well as more seriously after my classes finished. I used a “study marathon,” so to speak.

One little step in my marathon of studying, which one wants to take if one wants to succeed in the cutthroat environment that is the school system involves simple memorization throughout the day. Whenever the day gives brief time to relax, such as a lunch period, one can memorize or look through the easy things and leave the heavy material for later in the day. Simple vocabulary or short answers from a worksheet require arguably less brain power than other work. I have learned that just skimming over the easily-digestible things, specifically during the day when my mind has sharpened, can help me remember what I need to remember to survive the harrowing classes of chemistry and English. In addition, the little breaks throughout the day are brief enough to force one to keep focused yet undemanding enough to allow the mind to absorb and accept information. Sure, this may look like “multitasking,” which those fancy scientists with their doctorates and horn-rimmed glasses claim cannot possibly be pulled off by human beings. Yet, I disagree, since one does not strain their brain, at least consciously, while contemplating how funny life can be in between classes.

After the day at school ends, and one finds themselves without anything left to do besides study and, ironically, millions of more enjoyable activities, I found that a steady stream of study-then-reward works more so than a short burst of cramming that leads to ditching completely. This last leg of the “marathon” will take some sprinting, but it does involve tantalizing rest as well as helpful procedure. Consistent increments forty-five minutes to an hour of concentration on tougher information, with little ten to fifteen minute breaks in between for rest, have personally helped me not only learn but to also keep motivated. The little breaks make the study period seem a lot more, if I may say, endurable. In the eyes of, say, an athlete ready to work out to the point of pain, little short bursts of heavy weights might appear more enjoyable and quicker than a drawn-out, uninterrupted endurance routine. If one studied the simple data during the day, then, even with the breaks, one may be able to study the tougher material for longer and possibly finish studying earlier. I would call early escape – well, early completion –the best “carrot-on-a-stick.” Well, more like “gold-bar-on-a-stick.”

In the end, my personal experiences showed me that the key to moderately-acceptable studying did not rely so much on specific method. In my opinion, it all lies in the time taken to absorb material, regardless of whether one uses flashcards or the help of an extra person. If one takes between a week to four days until an upcoming exam or project, the gradual and relaxed yet constant studying of easy material in the day and challenging material later will give exposure as well as confidence. For me, and many other students, a large part of the struggle when taking tests or completing other assignments involves the mentality: If a student has studied, yet has not become all that familiar with what they study, then the nerves and the unfamiliarity may devastate one’s memories. Just quick bursts of memorization without whole comprehension may not be wise. In my own life, if I was not exactly confident in what I just studied, anxiety could literally spark a cruel fire to all I knew and burn everything away, leaving me alone as the sweaty, trembling, and clueless wreck that I was. Figuratively speaking.

So, all in all, the most beneficial study technique that I have learned involves taking full advantage of available time, constantly and consistently studying every day, and setting aside time to break up the studying. Not only does one study the material adequately, one also becomes accustomed and familiar to the material, making them a quasi-guru that can yank the information. With my simplistic technique, one can truly study and prepare for the daemonic academic forces that may charge with full force. However, one uses facts about geography and biographical information on medieval poets to thwart exams instead of holy water and the likes.