For my self-study, I chose to show the space that I study in, which is usually my couch. I like that it is in the common space of my apartment, so I’m able to be surrounded by my roommates and other background noise. I like to set up all my school stuff- textbooks, notebook, laptop, pen and highlighters, all around me. Then I’ll usually put my headphones on and play music so that I can completely focus on what I’m working on.  

By using the lasso tool in photoshop, I was able to select my body and make it more transparent, in order to represent how I feel when I study. I like to be a part of what’s actively going on around me, but at the same time, there’s a feeling of isolation. I also upped the saturation so that the whole photo looked very green, which feels very calming to me.  

I really liked the idea behind this project and being able to analyze how I study, and what factors go into being able to successfully study. A lot of what I do is so subconscious, so by breaking down my study habits I can see what works for me, that may not work for somebody else. You’re also learning about yourself at the same time, and I think that can be very important for someone in high school. By thinking about how they study and understanding what works for them, students can benefit in the future. It would be especially interesting to have students create a self(stud)ie every year or so, that way they can see what stays the same or what changes about their environment and how they study successfully.