The Illusion of Neat Notes

Back in school, I always took super tidy notes that they just looked like a textbook. But here's the kicker: I wasn't the one flipping through those notes the most; it was my classmate. 

till one day before exam, my super neat, lovely notes

Back then, I used to think that keeping my notes that way would guarantee my success in school, like, earning teacher's approval. 

I remember that some of them would say something like this: "Make sure your handwriting is neat, or I won't give your assignment a score". 

Not only the teacher, I myself do like the concept of neat handwriting too. So I was enjoy doing it all, creating those notes as neatly as possible. 

But now I realized. What's the point of that? In fact, the reality is, it didn't really help me soak up all the knowledge I should've been getting during my school days. 

I've been burning through time, energy, and focus just to make these neat notes, and when it's time to actually study, I'm already drained. Trying to make my notes look super neat only made me miss out on the actual learning process. 

Now, all I've got left are only "textbook" notes feel, which I don't even know their whereabouts now. Well, they're probably serving as someone's bungkus gorengan by now.. 

at least they're useful for someone

..or not. 

I agree that neat notes might be useful, if the content is something we'll need for life. However, as long as I can read and understand them, it no longer matters to me if they're neat or not. 

After all, the main purpose of taking notes is to remind us of what we've learned, not to be admired like a piece of art. 

Besides, these days, getting the information we need is super easy, unlike back in the day when information was so valuable that we had to keep detailed records in neat way. 

However, when it comes to documenting something entirely new that no one has discovered before, then accuracy and detail, even neatness will become crucial. There's no doubt for it. 

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If only I naturally had a neat handwriting, it wouldn't be an issue. But the reality is.. I don't, and I can't keep up with it anymore. 

Instead, I'd rather have slightly messy notes and focus on what's really important: learning the material and becoming truly knowledgeable.