Caterpillars by Lucy

Caterpillars by Lucy - December 2024 Scholarship Essay

“Let's learn about the eye!”. I was not quite expecting my psychology teacher to ever say that. And oh my, I really wish she didn’t. I love my psychology class very much and I am very passionate about one day having a career as a therapist. However, I feel that it is extremely difficult to truly understand a concept if I do not have any sort of interest in it, specifically learning about the eye.
My class spent about 2 weeks covering the structure of the eye and how it works to receive visual stimuli and then partner with the brain to perceive it. Even typing this is boring. Yet while in class I do understand that the eye is a part of the curriculum and to succeed on the AP Test I must respectfully learn the material. This is where I began to struggle. I just was not able to make sense of how the eye turns light waves into a sensation. I worked with my classmates on assignments. I asked my teacher questions. Nonetheless, nothing was working.
Not until I began to turn the challenging topic into a caterpillar. Obviously I do not mean literally. Through the use of a mnemonic I developed “CPLR” or caterpillar out of the steps it takes for light to enter the eye. Light waves hit the cornea, then pupil, then lens, and finally the retina. Now I still find learning about the eye less than desirable but I am able to understand it. I did this all by combining facts I need to know with a memorable word.
Moreover, I repeated the action of coming up with mnemonics for all steps it takes for light waves to become a sensation. I was able to overcome my challenge and now I have a tool I can apply to any subject.