Making School Easy for Yourself
by Prin Dumas

"Use your head!"  You cringe as the teacher points out in front of the class how you didn't understand something she taught.  You turn red.

School is simple.

It is a rich experience of learning your boundaries, challening them, and raising your limits.  So, why is it stressful?  It would seem logical that the professional lawyer with an 80-hour work week has a tad more stress than you do.  Then again, you do have to be in school early and listen, all day, to a bunch of adults. 

Where do bad grades come from?
Your lack of effort.  It is rare that a teacher is full of blame for a bad grade.  Even the most unfair and poor educator has a textbook to fall back on and that's where you come in.  Read.  No one said everything had to be explained to you in order for you to get an A.  Don't use a poor instructor as an excuse to jeopardize your academic record.  Too hard?  Work harder!

Too tired during the week?
Sleep, honey.  It's really not that difficult to get off of the phone, stop the texting, knock off the disruptive AIMing, and simply get to work.  Lacking sleep is not "cool."  It can make you sick and completely unproductive.  Prioritize yourself.

Negative adults?
So maybe you're not Einstein, does this mean that you will not succeed in life?  Hardly!  Be your own cheerleader, even if your grades are low and your parents are pressuring you.  The reality is that your effort is mental.  You need to focus on the best you can do, not what others tell you that you cannot do.

Enjoy the process of paying attention in class, even if you are bored to tears.  Paying attention in class means that you will spend less time after class studying and reading.  You will only review materials.  Re-read notes on a daily basis.  Keep information fresh. 

Stop answering the phone in class.
Stop asking others to do work for you.
Stop copying or letting others copy.
Stop taking naps or working on personal things during class time.

Remember, school is a relationship you have with a teacher, a book, a class, and a subject.  Make the most of it by doing your part to deserve your grades!