The Art of Note-Taking by Alexandria

The Art of Note-Taking by Alexandria - December 2020 Scholarship Essay

One of my favorite quotes is by the artist, Vincent Van Gogh. It reads, “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” I can appreciate the universal truth behind it; that all things are connected in the world. Unfortunately, Vincent Van Gogh and I are not very connected outside of this quote. I am not an artist by any means, and cannot say that I appreciate art as much as the industry’s fanatics. Although, one thing that everyone can appreciate is a nice, organized, and eye-catching page of notes. This is why my New Year’s resolution for 2021 is to continue improving my ability in note-taking.
Note-taking was difficult for me because of how busy my mind was. The world around me moved so rapidly that focusing on one thing proved quite difficult. I was a professional at making connections to different topics when listening to a lecture, but that also caused me to lose focus on the task at hand. It was far too common for myself to fixate on problems I did not understand, or to get lost in daydreams that were out of this world. When I did focus on my notes, they became a jumbled mess of scribbles and eraser marks. I tried to include every word that the professors said so I was sure I did not miss anything important, but in turn, I was unable to include everything. It was clear that I did not have a very efficient or structured system in place. I knew it was time to change my habits.
The first time I considered improving my notes was during a study session with my friends. I quickly noticed that the friend next to me had beautiful handwriting. It was so beautiful that to this day, I think about how it should be a font for computer programs. My other friends had intricate headings, precise charts, and organized highlighting keys on their note pages. I had lead scratches, incomplete thoughts, and a shameful feeling. They scored better on tests than I did, and they seemed to retain the information that they learned with more ease. These positives pushed me to want to create neat, eye-catching notes, that I would be able to use with ease.
I have improved drastically at note-taking since the day at the studying group. I am a lot more organized, thanks to a binder system, highlighting system, and a stack of stickers on my desk. I use colorful, gel pens to make topics pop. My stickers serve as a reminder that I am doing a good job and that I can keep going. Unique headings clearly label what information will be included on the following page, which helps me save time. I have made leaps and bounds down the right path, but I still have oodles of improvement to make. The road ahead of me is a long one, but I am ready to embrace the challenges that I will face.
In life, everything is connected. My mistakes and triumphs in note-taking have all played important roles in shaping my skill levels of today. At the beginning of my journey, my notes were hideous, to say the least. They were not aiding in my learning, but rather hindering it. With a little inspiration from my friends, I have started to grow into a stronger student. For New Years, I wish that I will continue to grow into the strongest version of myself academically, while never forgetting where I started. One day, I will have the notes that inspire another to start their journey, but until then, I will continue working and continue wishing.