Procrastination by Taeghan

Procrastination by Taeghan - January 2016 Scholarship Essay

On January 1st, every single year millions of people around the world are making lists swearing that no matter what, they will abide by that list for the rest of the year. Maybe its going to the gym more often, eating healthier or whatever the case maybe; every year on January 2nd, those lists are usually broken. This year when the ball dropped and it was finally 2016 the first thought in my head was not that of going to the gym or eating better but of procrastination.
Being a high school senior and knowing what it is like, “senioritis” is a legitimate thing. My senioritis took over my sophomore year of high school. Procrastination is a problem living within all of us, whether or not we would like to admit it. I, myself know the limits of my procrastination. I knew my procrastination became a problem during my senior year dual-credit college British-Literature class. As always the professor lectures and goes through the syllabus and of course there is a very large, very important, makes up 75% of your grade research paper due before the end of the semester. Our professor looks at all of us very carefully and tells us, “Do NOT wait until the last minute to write this paper. You will regret it.” Of course, half the class has the “I would never do that” look on their face and the other half most likely wasn’t listening. But I heard, and I had every intention of hitting the books over the three months we had to write it and to get it done early. But time passed, and more time passed; work and other school work got in the way and this ten page paper fell on the back burner.
A week before the paper is due, I still haven’t started. At this time I had been working as a waitress, those 30 hour weeks I was working did not seem to have much time for my research paper; until of course two nights before. I sat down with my two energy drinks, my laptop and my book and wrote until the sun literally came up and still hadn’t completed my assignment. The paper was due at 10 a.m. the next morning, I immediately sprung out of bed and began to write. Alas my ten page research paper was printed out, stapled and ready to be turned in. I had tested my ability to procrastinate to its limit. At that moment I knew this could never happened again, as I walked into class sleepy-eyed and ready to pass out.
Shortly thereafter I finished high school because I graduated a semester early to work and save up as much money as I could for college, and my procrastination problem once again fell on the back burner. When the New Year rolled around and everyone began to make resolutions, I was reminded again of my problem. The New Year was the perfect time for me to make a resolution that I will actually honor.
I went on to make a B+ on the paper, but I swore to myself never again will I wait till the last second. I plan to stop procrastinating and get more work done if not immediately, then shortly thereafter instead of waiting till the last second. I have learned my lesson and believe that with this I can truly become a stronger student not only within my studies but mentally, I can cut back on the tremendous stress that comes with waiting till the last second.