Oftentimes, students may find themselves struggling with a subject in school. During junior year, I struggled with AP Biology. I have always enjoyed science, but this course was more challenging than I had expected. Since I had previously taken a biology course, I felt this class was appropriate for me. The lessons and curriculum were fairly simple and I felt comfortable with the material the day of our first test – that is, comfortable enough to skip studying. With my first D on a test, I realized I needed to do something right away.
I turned to the basics. I figured that if I reviewed simple biological concepts and processes, I could have a better understanding of the detailed and complex processes my teacher taught us in class. I was right. Starting from the beginning and working my way up to the harder-to-grasp concepts improved my comprehension. In addition, I made it a habit to study frequently, even when there was no upcoming test, so that I wasn’t forgetting any details. I noticed that this consistent studying contributed to my significant grade change, as I was always prepared for class discussions and reviews. To further improve my grade, I made sure to attend every tutoring or review session available to me at my school, which would answer any additional questions I had about the week’s lesson or a particular topic presented in class.
The most important thing was to know that this would take more than just studying every now and then. It was time and energy on my part, coupled with staying focused and dedicated, that enabled me to succeed. It was not going to happen overnight. I was consistent and productive; it would have been futile to study one night for one exam and forget it later on another exam. With regular studying and tutoring sessions, I was able to pass the course and AP test at the end of the school year with ease.
