Is it that important? Do I really need to study? When will I have time to do the things I want? I asked myself these same questions. I didn’t think it was that important, I didn’t think I needed to do it, and I didn’t think I would have time for the things I wanted.
When I was in middle and high school I believed that studying wasn’t all that important. I rarely ever did it, I laughed at the people who did, and I seemed to manage pretty well without doing it. Could I have made better grades and learned more in high school? Maybe, maybe not, who can tell now? The “what seemed to take forever” school day lasted six and a half hours! By the end of the day I was exhausted, agitated, and my brain was “fried.” When the bell rang at 3:35 in the afternoon, my day only continued as I was off to a grueling track practice for two and a half hours. I was ready to get out and have fun with my friends and do the things that I enjoyed. I had it in my mind that since I was in school all day, I didn’t need to waste more of my already minimal time doing work at home. I needed a break or I was going to go insane! Even at times, I told myself I was going to do my homework. Then my friends asked me to go out with them, so guess what I did? Yes, I went out with them and didn’t do my work.
Studying takes time and patience, and time is something not everyone has a lot of. It‘s difficult for someone to change their schedule around, but it‘s very important to do so. I know I would have rather been out having fun, but I needed to realize that my work was more important. It’s very crucial to make time and organize a schedule and stick with it. It’s best for someone to do so in the earlier years of their life, otherwise it will be more difficult for them to manage in college where it all counts and when a decision is made about a career.
Some people may not agree with me. They may think that going out and having fun is an important social need for themselves, and indeed it is, but they have to look at the big picture. They need to realize that an education is the best thing to do in order to be successful in the future. I am not saying friends aren’t important, but I do believe studying should come first. It’s not going to take up all of someone’s time, there will still be plenty of time for them to do the things they enjoy. What about all the time that’s being wasted watching TV, talking on the phone, or just laying around? Could that be a good time to do something more constructive such as homework or studying? I believe so! If I could go back and change some of my study habits, I would. I always used to be lazy and lay around the house doing absolutely nothing.
If this time is used wisely then good and positive things will happen. From experience in college, I found that when I didn’t waste my time and got the things done that I needed to do, I felt good about myself. Instead of being stressed out about it, I had this warm fuzzy-feeling inside as if I were doing something right. It’s not an easy thing to do, but who said life was easy? It will pay off in the long run though.
So when the time comes to think and make choices about the future, I hope people realize the more important things in life. The things that are going to determine whether or not they’ll be making lots of money. Don’t follow in the same footsteps as I did when I was in high school. It took me a long time to realize this, but now I know what’s best. Take advantage of studying, don’t do it just because it’s important, do it because it’s enjoyable as well. In the end, it’s well worth it.