Hello students. It is time to return to school. Review and follow the tips below to help you succeed personally and academically.
- Create a daily routine and stick to it
Part of being successful in any endeavor is being organized and doing things in a consistent manner. The pursuit of educational excellence is no different. You should create a daily routine, a schedule, that will help you stay organized and then execute it. A good daily routine cuts down on distractions and will help you stay focused.
- Communicate your schedule
You should communicate your schedule to your parents, family and friends, etc. You want the people involved in your life to be aware of your schedule and to support you in your effort to stay organized and consistent as you pursue educational excellence.
- Set goals — Challenge yourself
As you start a new school year, you should set goals and challenge yourself to get better. For example, if you were making the honor roll, then your goal should be to make the high honor roll. You should write down your goals and review them frequently, at least once a week, to ensure you stay on track to meet them. A person that writes down their goals and reviews them frequently is more likely to accomplish them than a person that does not write them down.
- Stay ahead as long as you can
You want to start the school year in a strong position and to hit the ground running. If you start off strong, it is much easier to stay on track and achieve your goals. You will also want to take good notes, read, study, do your homework, do well on quizzes and tests and take advantage of any opportunities to earn extra credit.
- Check in with your guidance counselor
Guidance counselors are important in that they assist you in your course selection and help you navigate the path to graduation. They also assist you in researching college and career paths. Therefore, you must be proactive in meeting with your guidance counselor.
- Get engaged — Participate and ask questions
You need to be present in school and actively engaged. Consequently, you should sit in the front of the class, ask intelligent questions, and participate in the class discussions. You should get involved in student government or extracurricular activities. The students that are pursuing educational excellence make their positive presence known by their intellect, character, leadership, scholarship and engagement.
- Make A Study Plan
Your study plan should include time for performing the following tasks: reading, studying, and doing homework. Your study plan should also keep track of the important deadlines for the following tasks: homework, quizzes and tests. Having a good study plan will assist you in performing well academically.
- Create a quiet and comfortable study space
You will find it easier to read, study and do your homework when you are not distracted. Therefore, you should create a study environment that allows you to read, study and concentrate without distractions.
- Find healthy ways to manage stress
Students lead stressful lives and have all kinds of demands on them: family, friends, school, work, social media, etc. Consequently, it is imperative you schedule time to find healthy ways to manage the stress these demands create. For example, exercising, taking walks, and limiting social media interaction will help you to lower your stress level and stay healthy.
- Take time to rest and sleep
Taking time to rest and sleep may sound simple, but it is sometimes difficult given the stressful lives that we lead. It is critical you take the time to rest, get some sleep and recharge your batteries. It is hard if not impossible for you to be the best version of yourself when you are rest broken and do not have the appropriate amount of rest and downtime.
If you have questions or need assistance academically, please contact the Center for Leadership Development for assistance at https://cldinc.org/tutoring/.
Joe N. Zachery is the director of the “Derica Rice and Robin Nelson Rice” college prep institute.
