At the
beginning of the year, taking AP WORLD History seemed like a never ending
challenge. However, every time that I felt like giving up, I would remember the
reason of why I decide to sign up for the AP course. I decided to take APWH
because I wanted to push myself onto a new experience and grow intellectually. Also,
I chose to take this course because I had heard great things about the class
and the way Mr. Rodriguez taught it. Even though this course was extremely
challenging, it helped me by becoming more organized, to develop a studying
strategy and to manage my time wisely.
Throughput
the year, AP helped me by helping me have more organization. For example, since
the beginning of the year, we as students were expected to maintain a well
organized notebook in order to find out work easily and be able to study for
tests. Keeping a well organized notebook throughout the year really helped me
work on my organization skills and develop a self discipline to be neat. Before
taking AP, I was a much disorganized person and I could never find any of my
work whenever I needed it. However, taking APWH allowed me to make the choice
to become an organized person. Also, another way in which AP helped me become
more organized would be the fact that we made note cards all throughout the
school year. Making note cards helped me develop my organization skills even
more. When making my note cards, I was expected to keep them organized by the
time period and by the chapter in which we discussed the terms. This actually
helped me by forcing me to keep my information organized and neat. Finally,
another way in which 9i maintained my work organized was by having a homework
calendar. The homework calendars that Mr. Rodriguez gave us at the beginning of
each week helped me become more organized with my homework. These calendars
also helped me improve my grade and keep my work up to date.
Another
way in which this AP course helped me was that through this class, I learned
how to study. Before taking AP, I did not have a study method when it was time
for me to take a test. Things such as my notebook helped me study throughout
the year. Also, taking synthesis notes allowed me to write down the main points
from each chapter and study those important topics. Synthesis notes were an
efficient way for me to study hard and efficiently. Taking AP helped me prepare
academically and at home as well. Another thing from this class that allowed me
to create a study plan was having Key Concept packets. Throughout the year we
filled in these packets which then allowed me to have a strategy in which
elements and facts were important for e to learn in order to study for a test
or quiz.
Lastly,
taking APWH enabled me to manage my time more efficiently. At the beginning of
the year, I could not finish homework from all of my classes because I spend
too much time on homework from AP. However, as the year went by, I leaned that
it was possible for me to finish all of my homework in one afternoon. For example,
when Mr. Rodriguez assigned reading for one night, at first I was not able to
read the book in way that I understood what I had read. Later, Mr. Rodriguez
showed us a way in which we could read the book faster. This allowed me to
focus on the main points of the chapter and to save time in order to finish all
of my other s=assignments. Also, during the long breaks, we would receive a
packet that would outline a schedule in which we could complete the homework
and still have time to rest.
As a
freshman, signing up for APWH seemed ridiculous. However, as the year went by, I
realized how this course had benefited me in a ton of ways such as becoming
more organized, helping me develop study plans, and allowing me to manage my
time more efficiently.
