It's Not You, It's Your Study Habits
A Shift in Perspective
Three weeks into the semester, I told myself, “Wow, I am not good at this class.” I had never stopped to think about how I learn best, so I was doing what I had always done. I read the textbook, rewrote my notes, highlighted key terms, and stayed up late.
I convinced myself that the more time I spent studying, the better my chances of getting a decent grade. When my exam grades came back, my heart sank. My grades did not match the effort I had put in. It was frustrating and a bit discouraging.
Marketing is not a class where memorizing definitions will get you far. You can know every term and still struggle to apply those ideas to real situations. That disconnect made me realize that the issue was not my ability but how I was approaching the class.
Learning by Doing
Everything changed when the course shifted from memorizing definitions to working through problems. Tools like MyLab Marketing and Mini Sims forced me to engage with the material rather than just read it. Instead of recognizing concepts, I had to use them, which made a bigger difference than I expected.
Mini Sims were the most helpful because they felt realistic. I was placed in scenarios where I had to make real-life decisions and see the impact of those choices. At first, I second-guessed myself, but being able to test my reasoning without the pressure of receiving a grade made me feel more confident.
It helped me understand why the thought process behind choosing a strategy is so important. I was no longer just memorizing the terms. I started thinking like someone making effective marketing decisions.
A Lesson in Learning
Marketing ended up being one of the classes that taught me the most about how I learn. It showed me the value of interactive tools, especially in courses where real-world situations matter. I stopped dreading assignments and started to see them as opportunities to test my understanding.
If there is one thing I could tell other students, it is this: If a class feels impossible, take a moment to reflect before blaming yourself. Sometimes the problem is not you, even when it feels like there’s no one else to blame.
Sometimes you just need a different approach. Once I figured that out, classes that had seemed impossible stopped feeling overwhelming and started feeling achievable.
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