Habit Becomes Routine Becomes Success by Caroline

Habit Becomes Routine Becomes Success by Caroline - February 2026 Scholarship Essay

When I started high school almost four years ago, I knew that I wanted to do more than just go to class. I wanted to challenge myself and see if I had different interests that I hadn't even discovered. I wanted to see what clubs or activities existed that I didn't even know were available to me. I also knew that if I was going to be more involved at high school, I would have to organize my school work so that I didn't miss assignments, classwork, or information from my teachers.
I created a habit for myself that every day since my freshman year, when I get up and before I go to school, I check my email and Google Classroom to make sure there are not any new notes or emails that I have to complete before going to school. I repeat this at the end of the day before I go to bed. I didn't know the habits of teachers and when they were assigning work, or wanted something completed. What happened for me was that I had created a habit which became part of my daily routine. It sounded simple in my mind, and has been something that ultimately paid off for me.
What I discovered was occasionally a teacher would email something that would be for extra credit that was just part of those assignments after class. None of us in class were penalized if we didn't see the extra credit, but my teachers were creating a little bit of extra incentive for getting work done on time, for double checking our work and assignments, and also giving that little bit of extra work. My teachers also took notice that I made this little habit part of my daily routine.
This work also has paid off over the years. I have been able to maintain a 92 average in school while taking high level, honors, and AP classes. My organization and habits also have allowed me to join different clubs, while also doing two activities that I love - singing and cheerleading. I couldn't have served as President of our local Tri M Music Honor Society or Captain of my cheerleading team without organization in my school work. It has all lead to success in and out of the classroom.