The Secrets of a Sane and Successful Student by Vennela

The Secrets of a Sane and Successful Student by Vennela - November 2020 Scholarship Essay

Having been a student for many years, I have been presented with subjects that I marveled at, subjects that I struggled with, and even some subjects that I could just sit back, relax and breeze right through. But despite the many courses I have taken over my lifetime, I found that the most valuable part of my education came from a Critical Thinking class I took in middle school. Now, the fact that I took the class during my less formative years in school might beg the question of if the class actually was as valuable as I state, but I can offer some solid rebuttal to the fact that the course really did set me up for success for the rest of my life. In that very Critical Thinking class I was not only introduced to the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Stephen Covey but also encouraged to become a more creative individual. The curriculum was set up in a way that supported our non-traditional interests and broke the confines of typical career fields. The course, rather than silencing our interests, fostered them. As a result of this, I not only learned how to better manage myself and stay motivated but was also given the opportunity to enjoy my hobbies.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens book that was used in this course truly revolutionized the way I approached difficult situations from then onwards. Not only had it helped me become a better student and person, but even a better advocate for myself and my needs. As someone who currently deals with very intense workloads that are extremely stressful and anxiety-inducing in my engineering major, this course truly did give me the physical and mental tools I needed to best handle any situation at hand. Like any other college student, I can truthfully say that I find myself in panicked and anxiety-ridden states far too usually. Often, when things get so overwhelming, it gets exceedingly difficult to stay grounded and not fall into a depressive episode over the overhaul needed to make it through the coursework at hand. Especially during times of disorientation and inability to clearly process my next steps, the 7 habits from the book helped me work through the confusion. From setting achievable goals that would help me stay positive to reasonably organizing my time, I have been able to take care of myself and my mental health. With the number of courses I still need to take and the responsibility on my shoulder increasing with every step in my education, I can now confidently say I am well and able to prioritize everything in my life, to where I can continue to set targets in broader senses and plan ahead in ways I am comfortable with handling complete schedules. In all, learning to set goals and manage my time, has encouraged me to be more progressive and successful in my day, and I am grateful for the 7 Habits I was taught in my Critical Thinking class.

Now, the Critical Thinking course also allowed me to delve further into my imagination with brain teasers and artistic assignments that encouraged me to test my normal thinking and push the boundaries of my creativity. By realizing that my approach is not always the only way there is to achieve a solution, I was able to become more perceptive to others as well. As someone who loves puzzles and appreciates the various directions in which I could achieve the same result, the class helped me embrace more diverse thought processes and motivate others to do the same. With such critical thinking tools, I became more encouraged than ever to take the time to consider different perspectives on the subject and to be open to new ideas. Thanks to this part of the course, my desire to stimulate my imagination was empowered and it inspired me to be more open-minded, understanding and accepting.

All this came back to me recently given the Covid-19 pandemic because, with the quarantine and online-school, my mind has idled without much face-to-face interaction. It has thus been imperative that I use these abilities to stay calm, optimistic, and open-minded every day. As I saw my mental health waiver, I knew it was important that I remained focused. So, I decided to organize my to-do list by setting deadlines so I could better handle my time, make changes, and recall any commitments I had. And as far as the creative side goes, with the encouragement and self-confidence I grew with this course I was even able to take on new hobbies like sewing and crocheting. Hence, Critical Thinking was such a valuable part of my education as it kept me occupied and thriving during these difficult times.

Thus, I can truly say that of all subjects I have taken, Critical Thinking will by far have a more ever-lasting effect on me because it taught me how to handle myself in school and life. By helping me alleviate through stressful courses, teaching me how to stay positive and take care of my mental health, and pushing me to embrace my individuality and passions, it is truly such an important class to me. It helped me become the student and person I am today, and both the course and my teacher are something I will be forever thankful for.