Doing What Works!

       Study habits are very important during this time in my life. In college, its very important to succeed in your classes as well as extra curricular activities meaning study habits are very important. Especially since I do want to pursue a career in the medical field, during medical school studying is going to take up most of my time. 

As of right now my study habits can definitely improve. Usually a day or two before a test, I will start to read the material and highlight the most important key points in the book. And of course, I always attend class. It has worked alright as of right now. I can make better studying habits and make sure I can do the best that I can on my exams. One of the first methods that I can use is the 3R method. To remember the information more effectively and usefully I can read, recite, and then review to make sure that I understand. After using the 3R method, I would organize my material and I will make sure to merge the notes that I took in class and the ones that I can recall the best from reading my textbooks. According to the article Effect of Quality and Quantity of Study on Student Grades, organizing your class notes and material is the most effective out of organizing, reading, and and reviewing. Another way that I can make my organizing more effective, is to use an effective note taking technique. One of my preferred note taking techniques is the Cornell Note-Taking method, it allows each section to have headings and subheadings, the note taking section on the side can be used to elaborate on more information and pull all the information together. 

I feel that the note-taking method, 3R method and organizing techniques will help me be a lot more efficient during my studying and especially when it comes to finally taking my exams.

    

UCF vs. Akron

We won our first game of the season! 38-7

My Academic Journey!

Luz Ramirez

Professor Olga Bedoya

SLS 1501

3 September 2013

My Academic Story

One of my proudest moments as a student was in my junior year of high school. I has spent so much time preparing and studying for my three Advanced Placement exams for Biology, English Composition and United States History. I had spent hours a day reviewing and studying until the week came, the week that I had to take my AP exams. By the time that this day arrived, I felt I was prepared to pass all of my AP exams. I walked into my tests and I did my best. I was proud of myself at how much I was able to study. Not only was that the only successful thing that happened, but when my scores arrived at my house on July 1st, 2012, I had passed all my Advanced Placement test. That was another accomplishment that I felt was worth it just by putting in a little more effort and time. By passing my tests, I got to receive college credit! Last but not least, a few months later I also received another letter in the mail from College Board. I apparently had gotten an AP Scholar Award just for passing my three Advanced Placement tests. I feel like I accomplished many things, just by putting a little more effort than I usually do. On top of studying for my exams and passing them, I got college credit and also got recognized nationally for doing so!

Although, did this not come at all with ease. One of the biggest challenges I had, was the fact that I had a very big family. Studying was hard because there were always things going on around the house. I have five brothers and sisters, both younger and older. Having time to do my homework and study was very difficult because there was always someone crying or someone needed help. There was never any peace and quiet in my house to study or have my own time. There were many times where I had to sacrifice doing extracurricular activities for school to babysit my younger siblings or when I had to not participate in after-school sports because my parents just did not have the time to drive me around. I feel that this motivated me a lot to go to college away from home, because I felt that with the stress of college I would not have been able to do well enough in school. In high school, I simply just stayed up a little later so that I could try to get some extra studying, but I do not think that would have been the case in college. 

Another challenge that I had was learning how to become a better writer. In high school, I was never a good writer. I just really did not enjoy writing for english or any class. Every time my teacher assigned a project that I had to write a paper, I dreaded it. I learned that I have to start writing about things that I enjoy and if I the topic I’m writing about is not something I enjoy, try to at least make it more interesting. I spent hours trying to write my papers, but I would just be stuck on my first line. After learning how to apply what I enjoy to my writing, I definitely improved in my writing skills and other areas of school as well. 

One of the last academic challenges I had, was being able to score high enough on my ACT and SAT to get into college. I had never really been a good test taker either, so in my junior year of high school I decided to get my first tutor. I never had really needed a tutor because my grades were good in school, but I just felt that I needed a tutor to help me out with my college entrance exams. I had gotten a tutor to help me with test taking strategies and ways to beat the tests. I also spent more than enough time reviewing and taking practice exams. With this hard work, I ended up getting high scores on my exams and getting into college!

  The challenges I mentioned above, taught me how to work under stress and motivate me for college. I felt like if I worked so hard during high school, why should i just stop working now that I’m in college. After I got into college, I just got more motivated to get good grades and to continue on. I feel that I have many challenges that I have faced throughout my academic journey, but I have succeeded to prove that I can get through the hard times and the good times too. 

After having been in college for two weeks now. I’d say its pretty good. I like having the independence from my parents and having some time for myself since I have so many siblings. Its a little hard to find the time to do all my school work, but I think I have done alright up until now. Three of favorite memories in college would have to be going to my first football game, meeting new friends and people that have so many different interests, and also seeing people that I knew from middle school, that I haven’t seen for years. I really enjoyed spending time with many different people, it teaches you how to learn new things. It is a really exciting thing. The only thing I would change for next semester, is to get myself more organized. I have all my school work scattered everywhere. I need to start using an agenda and having all my things in order before the next semester starts. Overall, I feel like I have had a good academic journey and first week of college. Go Knights!

Go Knights!