In last Sunday, Sept. 21 newspaper, columnist Marissa Heffernan expressed her views on the dying art of memorization. Let me just say how glad I am she brought that topic up. As a student, I often listen to students complain to the teacher how they don’t remember what we learned last class. Some of this is lack of effort. It isn’t like they don’t either have the technology or the physical materials to take notes.

In my opinion, it is the student’s responsibility to do what they can to retain and maintain the information they are given. I feel as if students of this generation feel they don’t have to remember certain things because something or someone will do it for them. Some of it also has to do with the way some teachers teach. I’ve found that I have personally learned better when we took notes as a class and had group discussions instead of having a paper put down in front me telling me to do a web quest, and answer the questions without any engagement from the teacher at all.

For people like myself who are involved in theater and music, memorization is key. In marching band, for example, we are required to memorize at least 10 minutes of music and 50-60 sets of drills, as well as remembering proper marching technique and posture. In the end, it is the individual’s responsibility to make sure they know what they need to be successful.

Being able to memorize things and retain information is an act of self-empowerment because, instead of having to rely on that textbook, that iPhone, that sheet of music, that one smart kid in class, all you have to do is rely on your brain and yourself. As teenagers, most of us want to be seen as more independent and responsible young adults instead of children. So, if we can gain a little independence by depending on our own memory instead of someone else’s, why don’t we try a little harder to practice our memorization skills?

Katie Spagnolo, Old Orchard Beach

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