Energetic Mornings by Shelby

Energetic Mornings by Shelby - January 2019 Scholarship Essay

Mornings are a blank slate. A fresh start to a new day, where anything can be achieved. Mornings are the time of the day to tackle the most important tasks with a fresh mindset full of energy. I have always been a morning person, I find it far more beneficial to go to sleep earlier and wake up feeling refreshed and ready to start a new day.

In high school, I was always a night owl. I would stay up until the wee hours of the night, although I will admit that I wasn’t very productive during those hours. I found myself getting distracted or tired. Rushing to finish assignments became a nightly routine. This lifestyle wasn’t working for me but it was a cycle that was difficult to change. My junior year of college I was diagnosed with leukemia and everything changed. During this time, I had to learn to manage my time because I was often sick and I couldn’t do my work whenever. I had started chemotherapy and I was on countless medications. My energy level, attention span, and sleep schedule were out of order. I had to find a way to get all of my school work done in the times when I was mentally able to.

I found that mornings were my most productive time of the day. Essays became easier to write, lectures were easier to follow along with. Two months after my bone marrow transplant, I am still following my early morning routine to complete my important tasks. My schedule has created some normalcy during a crazy period of my life.

I am grateful that I had to adjust my lifestyle due to my illness, because I have found a rhythm that works best for me. My grades have improved, I feel more confident in my work, and it leaves my life feeling far more organized. Mornings are the perfect time of the day to be productive. Feeling restored, refreshed, and revived is the best way to tackle a days worth of work.