Memorization struggles by Scarlett

Memorization struggles by Scarlett - September 2026 Scholarship Essay

I've always struggled with memorizing things, so I’ll rewrite the most important information word for word rather than in my own words. I’ll write without a break, so sometimes I would stay up late. At first I did very well, but over time I realized that this method didn’t work because the words I studied would be rewritten to sound different on the test. So I failed many times because I just studied to memorize, not to learn. I didn’t retain the information I just learned, so I changed my method. Whenever I have an exam coming up, I often start by studying for a short amount of time, and then, over time, I layer it with new improvements to minimize distractions, such as adding noise-canceling headphones, studying in a room for two hours, or even playing instrumental music in the background to make it enjoyable. This method of starting small and progressing every day toward my ultimate goal of passing a class has been so helpful. But I don't always achieve it because I don't study enough or manage my time as efficiently as I should. So I changed things again.

You won’t find the right study method until you've tried them all. But in the end, the best way to learn something is to engage with the content until you can explain it to someone or just say it out loud in simple terms that you understand. So you're not trying to memorize what you've read, but rather trying to explain it. This will help you see whether or not you actually understand it. If you can't explain it yet, you don't understand it properly.

Start breaking up your content into small sections and try to understand the main idea of what you are reading; you don't have to understand every word. Try adding past papers to your study routine. This will help you become familiar with subject-specific terms, and that will make it easier to answer questions in tests and exams. If you can, try finding resources that explain the content more easily, so that you understand the main idea. Also, very important to take breaks after 1 hour so you give your brain time to process what you just covered. This will help you avoid burnout.

Overall, there are many different methods out there to help, so it may take you a few bad grades to realize which study method works best for you.