Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah

Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah - January 2014 Scholarship Essay

Studying is all about repetition. When I know a subject inside-out, I can take a test with pure confidence knowing I will succeed. For me, math is the easiest. I will practice with a plethora of problems until it becomes second nature. I do not need to think what step I will take next; I inherently know what subsequent steps to take.

For other subjects, the key is to take notes on the important points and re-read the notes until they are no longer needed. For instance, I will look at a broad topic on my notes (i.e. Keynesian economics) and before I glance at the rest of my notes, I will mentally try to remember everything I can on the topic (i.e. John Maynard Keynes, 1936, short run output and aggregate demand, recessions, etc.). After I have exhausted my knowledge on the subject, I will read my notes to view any details I missed. I will then focus on relating the broad topic with the details I could not initially recall. I repeat this until I can recite my notes from memory. I feel the highest level of achievement when I reached the point where I can teach others the subject.

This technique helped me succeed as an undergrad, especially during the dreaded finals week. Repetitively studying and memorizing the subjects allowed me to enter my tests confidently. When I feel confident entering a test and do not have fear of what will be asked, I perform better. Just like sports, practice and repetition make perfect. This studying method helped me gain dual undergrad degrees and will propel me in the future as I pursue an MBA. Even post-college, studying never stops. In many careers, in order to become certified as a professional, one will have to take a test or series of tests validating their specialized knowledge on various subjects. I will continue to use my go-to study techniques to excel in my chosen career path and become successful.