Changing Study Habits
Responsive Decision Making TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS
During my sophomore year, I was undecided if I wanted to pursue a Biology degree and go to medical school or instead pursue a Social Welfare degree to work with individuals with disabilities. Biology 180 was a prerequisite for both degrees so I figured I would use that opportunity to decide where my true passion is and which field I could see myself devoting a lifetime to. At the same time, I was taking a Sociology class on current social problems such as juvenile incarceration, poverty, and homelessness to see how I liked a class about social justice issues.
At the end of the quarter, I received a 2.0 in Biology. This was the worst grade I’ve ever received, especially in college. For my entire life, I had thought of myself as a good student so earning such a low grade was a devastating blow. I found it interesting, however, that for the class I took focusing on social problems I received a 3.6. The next quarter I decided to take more classes focused on social justice and began preparing for the prerequisites to apply to the University of Washington’s School of Social Work. I was so motivated with my school work and finally felt that since I had decided on a major my studies had a purpose. I became so devoted to the idea of becoming a better student that I earned a 3.67 the next quarter and for the first time during my undergraduate career I made it on to the Dean’s List.
Tasks Accomplished
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Earned my first 4.0 in a class since starting at UW in a class on Literature and Social Differences.
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I made it on to the Dean’s List for the first time since starting college.
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I finally made a firm decision on what I would like my studies to include during my education at UW and felt confident that I made the right choice.
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I actively worked throughout the quarter to improve my study habits and my organization skills which were both crucial reasons why I was able to excel so well that quarter.
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
--Dr. Seuss
Competencies Gained
My future planning was a large motivator for me during this time. I feel incredibly privileged to be able to attend the University of Washington and I felt it was necessary to make my studies go towards something great. After receiving such a low grade in Biology, I was determined to never do so poorly in a class again. The next quarter, I was more motivated to do my coursework and actually attend all of my classes. I planned my schedule better and made it so that I was finishing assignments hours before the deadline, not minutes. Since I had started taking more classes that would set me up for the Social Welfare program, I was much more invested in my classes and found their content to be interesting because it was related to what I am passionate about.
Motivation
Evaluation
During this process, I really had to evaluate myself as a student and what I wanted to receive from my education. After receiving such a low grade, I knew that there was more I could do to improve my grades such as being more organized, being consistent with doing the readings, and devoting time to get my homework done. I also had to figure out what I wanted from my time here at UW. I knew that I didn’t want to pursue a major that I had no passion for, because I didn’t want to graduate and feel like I wasted four years on a degree that would make me more successful, rather than truly happy. With this, it became much easier for me to stick with my choice to apply to the School of Social Work because I feel that the content matters and I am more motivated to learn more and invest myself in the curriculum.
Self-Development
Thinking of myself as a good student for majority of my life and then receiving such a low grade made me realize that I needed to change something. I realized that I was not as organized as I wanted to be and I didn’t spend enough time devoted to my studies. As a full time student and employee who is trying to spend time with my friends and family, it is difficult to find the balance between juggling everything. I believe this quarter I started taking my experience at college much more seriously. I realized I am not just going to college, but I am paying so much money to pursue an education that I find worthwhile. I started using a bullet journal where I could really plan out my week and see what needed to be done, what could wait until the next day, and get an overall feel for my schedule for the week. With this tool, I was much less stressed out because I had a better understanding of what needed to be done and what my week would look like.
Receiving Feedback
With this development, it was absolutely crucial that once I received my grade that I was able to do something productive with it. When I received my grade report for that quarter, I could have just assumed that it was the professor who was a harsh grader and that was why I didn’t succeed. However, I feel it was necessary to acknowledge that it was my own actions that caused me to receive such a poor grade, not my professors. If I would not have done this, it’s likely that I would have continued my same bad habits because I would never have taken the responsibility for my grades.
Resiliency
Responsibility for Personal Behavior
I find it important that I used this experience as an opportunity to make myself a better student. I could have easily become discouraged about my grades, feel that there was nothing I could have done to prevent it, and continue the same bad study habits. However, instead, I bounced back and used this as a learning opportunity rather than viewing it as a major setback. I believe this positive outlook on the situation is one of the biggest reasons why I was able to dedicate myself to my classes and become a Dean’s List recipient the next quarter.
Through this experience, I also had to take into account that it was my own personal doings that caused me to receive a 2.0 in Biology. It was not the professors for being unable to teach it, but the fact that I was not interested in the material so I wouldn’t spend time to do my homework or fully study for any of the exams. This required me to critically think about myself as a student and be honest with what I needed to change in order to do better next time.
Looking Forward
This experience helped me to solidify my choice of which major I would like to pursue through my undergraduate career. Throughout this process I realized how important it was to redefine my idea of success. Since being accepted to UW, it was expected that I pursue a career in the STEM field because that is what this society finds to be successful. However, I realized that wasn’t where my heart was and made the firm decision that I would rather spend my life doing what I’m passionate about rather than just making money. I also realized how much more dedicated and motivated I was towards my classes when they related to social justice issues and human rights rather than just science. With this, it was easy for me to make the decision to pursue a degree in Social Welfare where I will eventually support individuals with disabilities within our society. Being a leader is about being accountable. These principles helped to shape my own leadership skills because it showed me that nothing will change unless you diligently work to make action.
