Have you ever wondered what makes a good learner successful? I think I have the answer to the question. A good learner asks questions to understand fully, does his utmost to succeed no matter the barriers, and most of all, realizes that learning itself is more than just getting the higher grade. I will discuss this further in the coming paragraphs as well as reference speeches from well-known sources to reinforce each topic.

The first part of my definition of a good learner- asking questions to understand fully and doing one’s utmost to succeed no matter the barriers- is probably the most important by far. A good learner isn’t afraid of asking; he doesn’t believe in silly questions. A good learner participates in the lesson, makes an effort in all he does, for example tests and homework. He takes notes on what he is taught so he may study them for a future quiz, and the like. Above all, a good learner pursues his education, doesn’t wait for it to come to him.
In a speech President Barack Obama addressed to the students at the Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration school in Philadelphia, he also encourages students there and all over America to ask questions and seek out help from teachers. “ Step out of your comfort zone, don’t be afraid to ask to ask for help”, was one of his remarks. Another was “ You’ve got to instill a sense of excellence in everything you do.... that kind of hard work is absolutely essential to success to success.” “ It’s about giving each and every one of us the chance to fulfill our promise, and to be the best version of ourselves we can be.” The President is absolutely right and I believe these remarks reinforce my definition.

The final part- realizing that learning itself is more than just getting the higher grade- is also an important thing to remember. It is more about the hard work, the feeling of accomplishment when you finish something after exerting the best of your abilities. It is about the satisfaction of gaining more knowledge and enjoying the learning you experiencing. a good learner understands this concept and acts on it, thereby becoming more successful.

Coach John Wooden, an instructor and basketball coach at UCLA, said once in a speech on the difference between winning and success, “ Worthy accomplishments.... in my opinion, not necessarily indicative of success.” He thought up a pyramid based on success, one of the cornerstones being working hard and enjoying what one does, as well as industriousness and enthusiasm. Coach Wooden also emphasized in this speech that it is more than a competition, it is about having something which to aspire. “ Never try to be better than someone else, always learn from others.” This applies to many things aside from education, and supports my thesis further.

In summary, it is very important to be a good learner, and profit thereof from the benefits that will likely affect your life in great ways. A good learner sees learning itself from a new perspective, one where he can actually enjoy working hard rather than simply doing things just because he ‘ has to’. A good learner asks questions to understands fully- by stepping out of his comfort zone- and always does his best despite any barriers. Finally, a good learner understands that the true meaning is really just working hard to gain the knowledge he needs for his future. With this in mind, anyone with a good mindset can become an excelling and enlightened learner.


Citations
Barack Obama, Back To School Speech, 2010
John Wooden, Speech on Success, _?