The six different classes that make up a high school student’s schedule are all different in subject and curriculum material. You can argue that your math class is easier than your AP History class, or that your AP English is much more difficult than your honors chemistry class. The reality is that the difficulty of each subject and class definitely varies from student to student as you might be strongest in one area, while your seat partner may find it challenging. You cannot control whether you are naturally good at solving math problems, or if you can easily write a five page essay in one sitting, as these are independent variables that are custom to each individual student. You cannot focus on what is out of your control, but you can always improve the factors you can control. The dependent variable I am referring to is putting effort toward studying for the classes you may be weaker in. You may find the subject of science challenging, but by productive studying and review, you can do well on quizzes and tests.
As easy as it sounds, studying is not exactly a walk in the park as you must avoid all distractions, and find an environment for maximum focus. For many, studying in their bedroom or in their house is perfectly fine, but for others, it is quite impossible to find a period of time of peace and quiet. If you are like me, with two loud brothers, it is rather tough to review for classes when your sibling is yelling down the hall. I find myself searching for study spots around the area of Torrance that minimize interruptions so I can do work peacefully and effectively. This experience of your own personal space not being adequate to find success in class is normal among high school and college students. Fortunately, certain locations make reading over notes and completing assignments easier.
The Torrance City is quite large, holding great spots for a student to get work done. For Elise Martinez (2028) she enjoys studying in the newly remodeled Starbucks in the Rolling Hills Plaza. “ The Starbucks near AMC is easy to focus on because they just remodeled the inside to neutral colors and new furniture, making it comfortable while you need to focus.” While Starbucks is a very common spot for students, there are many more niche locations for one to be productive. For Kane Martinez (2028), he finds that a good place is “Torrance Bakery because you can get a fun snack while you sit outside in the quiet.” Martinez (2028) focuses on the food factor as well as the nature around the seating area, creating a great environment for his academic improvement. Another local favorite is the Enclave, more specifically the Nook Cafe. The Enclave is a small plaza of many different restaurants where there are many calming shaded seating areas where you will always see MacBooks and books laid out. I personally enjoy this hidden plaza because seeing others focused is even more motivation to be productive. The Enclave is rather new as it has gained popularity with all of the quality restaurants and shops.
Finding a good location to open up your computer and notebook is just as important as actually reviewing, as it will determine your distractions and motivation. Let News-torch know what YOUR favorite study spots are and leave it in the comments!