Put Down the Phone by Amanda

Put Down the Phone by Amanda - January 2016 Scholarship Essay

Ding! Ding! Ding! My phone blows up with notifications that I just HAVE to answer! With each message I send, picture I post, and status I update, my schoolwork slowly falls behind me, like my shadow on a sunny day. "I promise I will do my homework right after I read who Justin Bieber is now dating," I think to myself, knowing fully that my homework will not get done. However, my New Year's resolution that will help me become a better student in 2016 is to put down my phone.

I have gotten into the negative habit of putting my phone before my schoolwork, but that must change in 2016. Everyday, I am used to constantly snap chatting, tweeting, and staying updated with the latest celebrity breakups and makeups; however, in the midst of my technology addiction, I find myself drifting from having motivation to get all of my work done well in a timely manner. I "reward" myself with an hour of technology after finishing only five calculus problems when in the past I would never think of stopping for a "technology break" in the middle of doing my homework. I know that I am not the only student struggling with a technology addiction in today's society; as more and more teens spend time on social media, grades are slipping, nights are getting shorter, and motivation is at an all time low. If I resolve to put down my phone, I believe that my motivation will increase, and I will be more productive. I will not only be resolving to help myself, but hopefully my peers will witness my resolution in action and try it for themselves.

If I put my phone down in 2016, I will become a stronger, more devoted student than I was before. Despite the compulsion to check social media, concentrating on my schoolwork will have better long-term effects for me as a student. I will carry my dedication and hard-work into college and beyond, which are strong skills to have. The celebrities, photos, and statuses will still be there after my calculus problems, so I believe that I can become a stronger student by putting down my phone.