Romanticize the HECK out of it by Bailey

Romanticize the HECK out of it by Bailey - September 2026 Scholarship Essay

The study strategy I would use to support academic success and productivity isn't an official strategy, but a combination of several. The internet would call it Romanticizing, or viewing something in an idealized way. I applied this ideal to my study sessions and saw a world of difference. Through this, I created the prettiest, most aesthetic environment for my work sessions. Always full of fun drinks, smooth jazz, ambient lighting, and a candle.
Like many other students, I often found it hard to focus while trying to complete schoolwork in my room. The number of distractions was almost uncountable. There was always laundry to fold, rooms to clean, and I cannot forget the pull of a good show. So I decided to take myself out of that environment. If I minimized the usual distractions and changed up the normal, I knew I would be able to get so much more done.
To create this environment that I could romanticize, I would dress in nicer clothes, go to a local coffee shop, order something nice, and get to work. It was in these shops that I would arrange my space with a Pomodoro timer and color-coded notes so that I could pretend that I was the best student ever. Soon I wasn’t pretending, and I found myself being more productive than ever. The essay flowed, and the calculus questions almost solved themselves. I understood the true meaning of “look good, feel good, do good.”