Zoning in to the New Year by Nicole

Zoning in to the New Year by Nicole - January 2016 Scholarship Essay

Distractions. They are everywhere. On a college campus it is extremely difficult to get in the zone and complete the tremendous amounts of work that you have all at once. To bring in the New Year, my resolution is simply to stay focused. Focused on my current work, and focused on my future goals. I am a very self-disciplined, self-dependent, and self-motivated student. Pushing myself to work at my highest capability is something that I take much pride in. I accredit myself with being a perfectionist, which at times has its downsides, encourages me to strive for greatness and never settle for less than my best. Although I have always handled my responsibilities with diligence and precision, there are still many instances in which I find myself easily distracted. However in order to become a better student, I will need to improve my attentiveness and focus on my priorities.
To improve my grade point average I will need to develop better study habits. My first step will be to position myself in environments that are more conducive to learning. As opposed to studying or trying to complete homework assignments in my dorm room like I had done last semester, I will make more of an effort to go to the library, classrooms, or other quiet study areas. By changing my working surroundings I believe I will be able to accomplish a lot more. In a dorm room there are numerous distractions that make it difficult to focus on what needs to get done. By taking myself out of that chaotic situation I will increase my productivity and retain greater amounts of information.
Aside from the environment in which I choose to study, I will also need to take away distractions that I often bring along with me. My cell phone and my laptop constantly cause me to divert my attention to things not as important as my workload. To improve my focus I will need to only use my laptop when it is absolutely necessary for research and other assignments. I will handwrite all of my notes, as well as papers and essays until it is time to type a final draft. As far as my phone goes, I will keep my phone in my dorm room when I take trips to the library. With no electronic distractions I will be able to complete my work in a more timely matter.
Focus is a major component in accomplishing my goals. Becoming a better student seems just a small portion of my future aspirations, yet this is not the case. My performance as a student now will greatly impact where I stand in the future, and as long as I continue to remain focused, I know that I will be able to achieve my dreams.