How Hard It Was for Me to Study

Why do I have to work so much? Why do I go to college? These are questions I constantly ask myself. I work more than sixty hours a week as a caretaker to pay my bills and tuition for college. I go to Baton Rouge Community College so I can become successful in life. I am constantly asking questions and posing problems to solve. Questioning and posing problems are a way of thinking; it helps find an answer or solution to a problem.

It helps fill in the blanks between what I know and what I don’t know. This habit of mind has been especially helpful in my academic life, as it has helped me become a better student. I will continue to use this habit of mind to further my education and to solve problems in every day life. Questioning and posing problems came naturally to me. Growing up my dad often told me stories about myself when I was younger.

“What’s that? Why?” He swears these were my first words. I would ask him those questions about everything, but most frequently about the pager attached to the band of his jeans.

“What’s that? Why is it green? What does it do?” I asked him so many questions about that pager and he answered every question. My dad had the most influence on this habit of mind. He has always told me to ask questions if I didn’t understand something. I’ve always been a curious person and continue to ask questions daily.

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Why is writing and English paper so hard? How can I become a billionaire overnight? What can I do to better myself and my education? I have never really been fond of school and as I grew older, I wouldn’t ask as many questions because I didn’t want to seem “dumb” for not understanding something.

I was a C average student in high school because of this terrible mindset. As I sat in my Algebra II class, my math teacher, Mr. Kahn, explained problems on the chalkboard. I noticed everyone else seemed to have the material already etched into their brain, while I sat quietly in the back of the classroom confused beyond belief. Later that evening I asked my dad to help me with my math homework. He helped me as best as he could, but I still didn’t understand some of it and was afraid to ask for more help. My first college experience wasn’t so great either because of this flaw I developed. I have always wanted to work in the medical field. So, after two years of being out of school I was pushed by my mom to try nursing school. It was hard and I ended up failing. I should have asked more questions and been more focused in class, then maybe I would already have a degree.

I didn’t return to college for another three years. I have learned from my mistakes and now I am constantly asking questions and posing problems in order to understand a situation better. If I don’t understand something I will communicate with my teachers in class or through office hour meetings. I am now in a different college and doing fantastic in all my classes because of this habit of mind. Now, I’m not afraid to ask questions and I’m more engaged and attentive in classroom discussions. With this habit of mind also comes Responding with Wonderment and Awe. Once I figure out a problem, I am amazed at how I got there, whether it be a personal problem or mathematical equation. While I do enjoy asking questions and learning new things, I do also enjoy figuring things out for myself. To summarize the intelligence of responding with wonderment and awe, in the words of Albert Einstein “‘The most beautiful experience in the world is the experience of the mysterious.’” (qtd. in Costa, sec.12) Life can be mysterious and confusing, but I can ensure that my future will be outstanding, and I refuse to accept anything less.

I will get accepted into the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program. I will earn my degree through hard work and dedication. I will graduate. I plan to achieve my goals in life and my education by using this habit of mind. I refuse to believe that asking a question or being curious is “dumb”. Asking questions and creating problems is one of the easiest ways to find an answer. As I reflect on my life thus far, questioning and posing problems has helped me tremendously along the way. I am better at solving difficult problems that I face. I’ve learned that I am skilled in math since I have been using this method of thinking more frequently. As said in the article “Habits of Mind: Strategies for Disciplined Choice Making”, “Effective problem solvers know how to ask questions to fill in the gaps between what they know and what they don’t know. Effective questioners are inclined to ask a range of questions” (Costa, sec. 7).