Take more time to understand and not just to know. by Faith

Take more time to understand and not just to know. by Faith - July 2025 Scholarship Essay

If I could give one piece of advice to my past self, it would be to take more time to understand and not just to know.
There’s a big difference between having information and understanding something. When I was younger, I felt pressure to take in facts quickly or rush to find the “right” answer. It happened when I was in school, in conversations, or everyday decisions. But over time, I realized that speed doesn’t always mean clarity. I could know something plainly, but still not grasp the deeper meaning.
Understanding takes more than just memory; it means going past quick explanations and being willing to sit with a concept until it makes sense. I’ve learned that when I take the time to explore ideas like technical or emotional ones, I remember them better.
This advice would have helped me use learning and problem-solving with a different mindset. Instead of trying to get it over with, I wish I had slowed down, asked more questions, and been more okay with not understanding something right away. I would have recognized that confusion isn't failure, and it's the first step towards real understanding.
By focusing on comprehension, I’ve also found that I connect better with others. When I truly understand where they’re coming from, I respond in ways that are more thoughtful, respectful, and useful. That’s something I used to overlook because, according to my mom, “understanding isn’t just an internal process. It shapes how I communicate and how I learn from others.”
So if I could go back and share just one piece of advice with my past self, it would be: Don’t rush. Don’t just memorize. Make space to understand.