Kennedy Schnieders studies handwritten notes during his Study Hall. The quiet environment of the PLTW room is ideal for a concentrating. Photo by Emory Smith
By Emory Smith
As a scholar, studying should be a component of everyday life. Students at Plymouth High School have a variety of personal study habits that help them get through their course load.
Though every class at PHS includes tests, students have their own opinions of which classes are the most challenging and therefore the ones for which they must study for to a greater extent. For Sophomore Mimi Southwell, Spanish and science classes require more studying than language arts classes. She said, “I have to keep studying Spanish to remember what I learned more than other classes.” Along the same lines, Senior Kennedy Schnieders said, “I study the most for my math and science classes. I find the content of those classes the most interesting so I dedicate more time to them. I study the least for classes such as English or History since I don’t find the course load to be as challenging.” Freshman Aliyah Bertrand, however, included Biology, math classes, as well as English in his list of ‘long-study’ classes. Due to students’ individual strengths and weaknesses, study time is divided unequally between particular classes.
Methods of studying vary from student to student; some write, some read, while others watch. Southwell said, “My favorite method is re-writing everything in notes or homework sheets on another paper and then I create my own test.” Comparably, Senior Nadia Baca said, “If I must study, I like to write down everything. For example, I write out all of the steps of math problems that I have trouble with, and I remember how to do the problems easier,” and Sophomore Felicia Dixon said, “I like to take notes and read them.”
Pieces of chocolate are placed on the pages of a textbook. Small incentives, like chocolate, motivate students to continue reading. Photo by Emory Smith
During class, teachers review the material, and often, students are instructed to collaborate on study guides and review games. However, peer studying is not what students seek out after school. Southwell said, “I prefer to study by myself because many people study differently.” While incompatible study habits is the reason that Southwell does not choose to study with friends, Baca and Schnieders agreed that they study individually because their friends would be distracting.
Distracting friends and a distracting atmosphere may reduce a student’s efficiency. To maximize productivity, “quiet” is essential, according to Southwell, Baca, Schnieders, Bertrand, and Dixon. Dixon adds that she prefers a dark room.
Another essential aspect is time. Southwell said, “I probably spend 5 hours each week studying.” Schnieders said, “I would say that at minimum I spend around one hour each night studying. That amount changes from year to year. I know that I easily spent four times that each night of Junior year.” Bertrand said that he studies for one to two hours each week. Dixon said that she studies for seven hours each week.
If these time requirements and efficiency levels are met, students often feel self-assured. Southwell said, “I feel very confident for the test and I’m not nervous [when I study adequately.]” Baca said, “I feel happy when I do study.” Unfortunately, the amount of studying required to feel confident is not always met. When this happens, Southwell feels as if she is “going to fail or make a dumb mistake.” Schnieders reports “feeling slightly concerned that there might be something on a test that I haven’t covered.” Evidently, studying does not only affect a student’s grade, but it also affects a student’s confidence.
Considering study methods, time requirements, and efficiency levels may help students when it comes to studying for ordinary tests, but this information may also make a difference when studying for finals. Southwell said, “When I study for tests I only study what I don’t understand or remember and for finals I study everything that was taught.” Schnieders said, “I tend not to do a lot of studying for regular tests, other than just completing all of my homework. For finals, however, I take a few days before the test and review most assignments and notes from the whole trimester.” Likewise, Bertrand said, “[For] finals you have memorize all that is important.” Studying for tests, finals, and for knowledge may seem stressful, but PHS students are mindful of their personal study habits.