How to learn for yourself?

One of the hardest challenges I have faced is self-doubt. There are so many times I don’t trust myself when I should have. I would often not speak up and get in my own head, but usually, my intuition is right. In order to feel fully confident, I would always have to check the text.

There are so many times I regret not trusting myself. So, I started incorporating these small strategies into my life. It has been a learning process, as with everything in life, but overall I am proud of how much I have grown. So, are you ready to learn for yourself? This is a great step into becoming a lifelong learner.

Take Classes You’re Interested In: You probably have heard this tip a lot, but it is very important. Although not every class will be fun if you have a choice to choose something you are passionate about, then do it. You don’t want to choose a career/field in something that does not excite you.

Ask Questions: Part of learning is to ask questions. Listen well, and ask questions. It is especially important to ask questions when you are struggling and missed a problem. Learn from your mistakes. But you can also ask questions about a larger picture. For example, when I am working on a class, I will research topics not solely related to the class. It is important to indulge your curiosity.

Take better, more simplified notes: If you are anything like me, you probably are guilty of copying notes down verbatim, but you should not. In Geometry, my teacher practically forced us to abbreviate our notes, which helped me so much. You don’t want to look back at a large page of notes, instead, you want a brief summary of the topic.

Read for comprehension: Who’s guilty of rereading a paragraph over multiple times or skimming because you don’t understand? C’mon, I know that all of you have done that at least once, myself included. You need to read for comprehension though. If you pretend you understand the text but don’t, you may get lost further on. It is good to reread, if needed, but do not reread to the point where you believe you understand the topic, but you truly don’t.

Highlight/write to the main idea (of each paragraph): When studying for the SAT, I came across this technique of highlighting/writing the main idea of each paragraph in the margin. This builds comprehension and shows that you can formulate your own idea of what the text is trying to get across. So, mark up the paper, if you can, or take out a sheet of notebook paper and jot down notes.

Fake Interest: This is another tip I learned while studying for the SAT. Fake interest in what you are reading. Even in a subject we are passionate about, there comes a time when we have to read something so boring, that we would prefer to watch paint dry. So, you have to fake interest. Your mind is a powerful tool, so tell yourself “This is going to be good” or “I am excited to learn about this”. Trick yourself into believing that it is entertaining.

Take charge of your learning: All of the tips listed above will not be achievable if you do not take charge of your learning. You are responsible for your knowledge. No one can force you to learn. Take responsibility and truly want to learn. The schools have a standardized method. You take notes, maybe have an activity, then a test. They do not try to teach directly towards you and your needs.

Instead of learning for school, learn for yourself.

Keep in mind, change will not happen overnight. You need to take the steps to start learning. The school is a standardized system, they are not out to help you, just the masses of students. Learn for yourself and become a lifelong learner.

*All images used are in the public domain. Credit to: Element5 Digital on Unsplash for cover photo*