Chuck Has a Plan by Charlie

Chuck Has a Plan by Charlie - September 2026 Scholarship Essay

My name is Charlie, but if you spend enough time around my family, you’ll probably hear someone call me Chuck. I have two older brothers to thank for that. Growing up with them taught me a lot of things: how to compete, how to speak up for myself, and, most importantly, how to plan ahead.

For example, if I want to actually eat my French fries, I’ve learned not to leave them unattended around my brothers. Some lessons come earlier than others.

Planning ahead has also become the study strategy that has made the biggest difference for me in school.

I plan backwards.

Between varsity basketball, varsity lacrosse, and band, I’ve learned that “study when I have time” isn’t much of a plan. There is always another game, practice, rehearsal, assignment, or something unexpected waiting to take that time.

Instead, I start with the date of a test or a deadline and work backwards. I look at what I need to know, how many days I have, and what the schedule looks like. Then I divide the work into smaller pieces and decide when I going to do each one.

If I have a game the night before a test, I don’t pretend to come home afterwards and suddenly become productive. I adjust the plan and get more done earlier.

That sounds simple, but has changed the way I study. Instead of cramming everything into one night, I can focus on one section at a time. I know what I need to accomplish each day, and I can walk into a test prepared instead of hoping I remembered everything.

Planning backwards also helps when things don’t go according to plan. If practice runs late or an assignment takes longer than expected, I haven’t lost my only opportunity to study. I built myself some room.

The strategy works because it fits my life. I don’t have unlimited free time, and I don’t expect my schedule to suddenly become less busy. I have learned to work with the time I actually have rather than the time I wish I had.

That lesson started long before high school. When you grow up with older brothers, you learn pretty quickly that if there something you really want, you should probably have a plan.

Especially if it’s French fries!