My New Year's Resolution Towards Becoming a Better Student by Samantha

My New Year's Resolution Towards Becoming a Better Student by Samantha - January 2016 Scholarship Essay

It’s impossible to scroll through any social media site that isn’t filled with people updating their statuses with the caption, “New year, new me!” on January first. After seeing these posts repeatedly, you have to think to yourself, “Why haven’t I made a New Year’s resolution yet? What will I change about myself?” Of course, we all want to be happier, healthier, and make the most of the new year, but it’s important not to get caught up in the idea of dropping everything to change overnight. A smaller resolution can create a “domino effect” that leads to a larger accomplishment. This New Year’s, I want to become a better student. At first it doesn’t seem easy trying to improve the same type of grades I’ve had for years, but breaking this down into a smaller resolution will keep me motivated towards achievement.
First, I evaluated how I perform academically on a daily basis. Am I taking enough notes in class? Do I go above and beyond with my projects? I realized that although I was cooperating willingly in the classroom, I wasn’t putting as much effort as I could into my classroom participation. I take notes, arrive prepared, and pay attention to my lessons, but I hardly prove to my teachers that I am doing this by engaging myself in the lessons. I discovered a problem that can be worked on, and I created steps towards the solution. To reach my goal, I had to establish a real plan. I made the decision to answer or ask questions at least four times a day in school. This way, I will not feel pressured to find something to ask when I know the material in one class, but I am still engaging myself at school overall. Not only this, but my participation grade at the end of each marking period will go up. This can also increase my GPA and my confidence towards my schoolwork.
At first, raising my hand at least four times a day in school doesn’t seem like much of a New Year’s resolution. It appears to be a very simple task. However, class participation does have a large effect on becoming a better student. Having good grades and good participation will make me a more well-rounded student in the classroom. Hopefully, I can use this to my advantage with my next big goal in life- to be accepted into a good college.