Academic Success Proposal

Sophie Garcia

Deana Nall

English 1312

9 February 2021

This is my Academic Success Proposal, this paper will go over my strengths and weaknesses and some solutions to stop procrastination. There is also information on why students procrastinate and the real reason behind it.

Academic Success Proposal

                College is the beginning of our careers and the most important years of our education. During these times, we learn the necessities we must have to begin our new lives. Often, things get in the way of our goals. It could be procrastination, a busy work life, mental struggles, or a global pandemic. In my case, I have struggled with procrastination and anxiety. I procrastinate the most with major assignments and tend to stress myself out until the upcoming due date. When beginning my first semester of college, I had promised myself that I would have all A’s and B’s throughout my entire college experience. Although I have kept my promise, procrastinating assignments will not always be effective when maintaining a successful career in my education. Procrastination can restrict my potential and undermine my career.          

                In a study done by Edutopia, approximately 80-95% of students procrastinate their coursework and 50% of students procrastinate consistently (Terada 1). There was also a study done that found procrastination was associated with lower grade levels and found it led to higher stress levels, anxiety, depression, and fatigue (Terada 1).  So why do students do this? The reasons related to procrastination say that most students engage in procrastinating because they fear failure and are confused about the steps to the assignment.

    So, what are the possible solutions to this problem? I found that setting aside a time and place to complete assignments was beneficial to me. Also keeping a to-do list nearby is helpful. I often find some assignments overwhelming and confusing which have also caused me to procrastinate. An article in ‘’Mind Tools’’ mentions a 2011 book called ‘’The Procrastination Cure’’ by Jeffery Combs. He suggested tackling tasks in 15-minute bursts to create an action plan which will make student’s assignments more organized, instead of doing the whole assignment in one setting. This will give a sense of achievement and will make you feel more positive while completing the assignment. (Combs 1)

    I could also start cutting back time hanging out with friends and begin research a week or two before the assignment is due. A week before the assignment is due, I could begin writing the rough draft and turn the assignment in early. This will give me the amount of time I need to make sure my essays are organized and reach their full protentional.  I will have plenty of information to add into the essay and it will flow a lot better than previous assignments. By doing this, I could really excel in my education and lower my stress levels. This will allow me to keep my grades up and help balance school and work. Procrastination is an incredibly stressful habit that is difficult to break, and it affects many students, especially college students. When attempting to make these solutions work, I could also use the decision-making tools found in the article listed below. This will be greatly beneficial to me for future assignments.