Recognition versus recollection by Summer

Recognition versus recollection by Summer - July 2016 Scholarship Essay

The majority of high school students have their minds set that learning is boring and putting in a great deal of effort is a nuisance. Teenagers joke with each other about poor grades and poor study habits thinking it is not a big deal. Its understood that high school is important for the sole reason that your work reflects what college you are accepted into. However, in reality high school is like training wheels; approachable and not too difficult but important because it prepares you for the real thing. I learned from my tenth grade Spanish teacher, for the first and only time, that testing is not what high school is all about. The most important lesson, that I wish I would have listened to throughout the rest of my years in high school, is that recollection is more important than recognition.
The action of recollection is defined as the action of remembering something. This can occur by thorough learning and understanding. However, recognition is defined as identifying something as familiar. Psychologically speaking, recognition is the first step of memory and recollection is the second step. During tests, recognition is only helpful because it allows you to use context clues and familiarity to answer questions correctly. However, once that test is over and a student is satisfied with their grade, the information slips from their mind. Being able to recall information portrays true knowledge because it will be ingrained in your memory for a long period of time. This concept is a huge factor that students should understand and teachers should enforce. I did not find this lesson important until now, after my first year of college completed. I should have practiced this concept deeply ever since I learned it because I would have thanked my self in the long run.
I was a pretty good student in high school. I was in AP classes and honors classes. I earned an A- average and was on the honor roll every single quarter during my four-year career. Looking back now, there were many factors that could have upgraded me from a good student to a great student. School always came easy to me, and I never needed to study much to earn my grades. I wasn’t careless but at the same time I wasn’t careful. I was blown into perspective during my first year of college. Having a strong work ethic is the most vital characteristic to have. The concept of recollection versus recognition is just as important in college if not more. To do well a student must perfectly understand all of the material taught to them. Going from being able to use context clues to mastering the material is a huge leap. What allows a person to recollect information is effort. Review sessions, meeting with professors, extra credit assignments, homework and studying takes a lot of time and a lot of commitment. During long study sessions in the library, what always came to my mind was that lesson taught by my tenth grade Spanish teacher.
The reason the human race is so special and so powerful is due to our extremely advanced knowledge. We should want to strengthen this gift instead of cheating ourselves out of it. If teachers would enforce the importance of truly knowing and learning information over passing tests, our education system would be much more successful and rewarding. A good student will receive good grades, but a great student will receive good grades and will continue to flourish with intelligence.