In prior years I did not put a lot of focus on studying. I always wanted to have good grades, and I cared what my marks looked like, but it did not mean as much to me. What I cared about was not making my mom mad, other than that my marks were not shown to anyone else. I always tried and did my best, but the way I look at it so different now. Now, I try my best not to miss any days of school so that I am available in class to listen and learn the information firsthand and ask any question that I may not fully understand. Learning the information and understanding it is so much easier to remember then having to memorize it. I care more about understanding the information so that I can do well on my tests because I see where these marks show up. When I was younger it was just about my report card going home but now it’s on scholarship essays, college applications and so much more. Now, I put more focus on understanding the information not just memorizing it. I used to power memorize before a test and hope I could remember enough whereas now I try to put more focus on getting the information and understanding it so I’m not stressing before a test to memorize it all at once. There are so many ways to get additional information with easy access on my phone to the internet if I don’t fully know what I’m working on I just have to search the information. Where I’m at in my senior year I am taking classes that I like and enjoy, but to be completely honest what I think it really comes down to is the teacher. I find that I learn best when the information is given to me vs having to do all the reading on my own. When the information is taught in a way that I can better understand it less time needs to go into studying it because I already know it. I may just need to refresh myself on the information, but the understanding is already there. Also, when the information is taught in an interesting way then you remember being taught it vs reading and reading.