- Participate in extra curricular activities. Clubs and organizations are great for indulging your interests and honing your talents and skills, as well as meeting new people. ( they also earn brownie points in resume and job applications)
- Take a class you’ve been interested. If Indian philosophy fascinates you, sigh up for the course. Never mind if none of your friends are in the class, or a teacher is reputed to be Attila the Huns reincarnation and the subject wont get you easy A. that still better than looking back one day and regretting a so-so subject over the one you really passionate about.
- Sit down to learn. Pick sit near the front to the teacher and participate in discussions. You’ll be thanking the stars when you get your report card and be glad you did not sit at the back of the classroom to gossip with your friends.
- Make at least one new acquaintance every day and make school life more interesting. Smile at the Bio classmate whom you never get to talk to when you pass each other at the corridors. Attend activities of your organization or club and strike up a conversation with person sitting next to you. Remember the names of the people introduced to you. (Tip: ask them to repeat their names to facilitate recall). Imagine how many people you’d know in year.
- Choose your teachers wisely. Ask upperclassmen for the advice if you can pick your classes/teachers. Make effort to ‘fight’ for the good teachers when signing up. Teachers really make all difference.
- Do your homework. Doing advance readings and exercises and solving problems really give you an edge over your classmates as you develop a more comprehensive understanding of the lesson.
- Stop the manyana habit. Some students claim to work best under pressure. Others say they work only under pressure. Although doing things at the last minute may bring out the best in some, it is really disastrous in the long run. Cramming everyone in a while may be okay—but as a way of life, it’s a no-no. If you can do it today, why wait for tomorrow? You’d have to do it anyway.
- Understand the lesson. Its pointless copying answers without understanding the logic behind them.
- Use your (free) cuts wisely. Just because you have a certain allotted number of cuts, it doesn’t mean you can go crazy cutting classes left and right until you’ve reached your limit. Not only you will miss important lectures but end up with grade of F.
10. Don’t be late. Not only will you distract the rest of the class, but you miss some important points. You’re also likely to miss quizzes given at the beginning of the period.
11. Make use of consultations hours. There’s a reason teachers hold them. Discuss your difficulties with your teachers. Get their approval on topics for final papers, or ask what you need to get a good grade.
12. Strive to stand out from among thousands of students in your school. Excel in what you do. If you’re a good actor, aim for the lead role in a major school play. If you’re an athlete work to win the a medal. If writing is or passion, join the school paper.
13. Look for scholarships and other source of money for schooling. You’re parents will be so glad.
14. Aim for the honor roll. Don’t just settles for a passing grade. When you aim higher, you psych yourself to work harder and you improve your chances to attain your goal.
15. Get adequate sleep. Studies show that poor sleeping habits make concentration in class difficult, leading to low marks. Avoid cramming papers until the wee hours of the morning and stop gabbing on the phone unnecessarily.
16. Prioritize. As s new school year unfolds we suddenly have five million things to do once again. The key is to rank everything in order of importance.
17. Bring only the necessities. Try to have a constant supply of tissue, alcohol/sanitary wash, umbrella, extra shirt (especially if you have a physical education classes) towel in your bag. They help you feel fresh and clean throughout the long school hours and serve as your little saviors in time of crisis.
18. Go for the ‘extra’ mile. If your professor assigned you to read up to chapters three, read till chapter five. If you’ve finished the required reading list, move to the supplementary reading list. Submit requirements as early as you can. If the teacher gives a bonus project, do it. Doing something ‘extra’ is a mark excellence.
19. Choose your group mates wisely. Make sure they’re not freeloaders.
20. Wear comfortable clothes. The last thing you want is to fall flat in the middle of the campus because your shoes tripped you. Or, you don’t want to constantly cover your chest with your hands because your top is cut too low. Remember that you have a long day ahead of you and you don’t want your activities to be restricted.
21. Put money in your locker for those days when you leave your wallet at home.
22. Develop good study habits. As corny as it sounds, good study habits already win half the battle for high marks. Set aside a specific portion of your time for studying. Have a permanent study corner or stay in the school library.
23. Recycle books. Borrow books from older siblings, cousins and friends who have taken the same class. Not only will you save money, but you can make use of their highlighted texts and the little notes they made.
24. Keep a schedule notebook to keep track of tests, deadlines and after-school activities. It also lets you avoid sticky situations, like appearing for an exam on another day or time (usually, too late!).
25. Have fun. Admit it, school is fun despite your moaning and groaning. These are the best days of your life, the days you’ll cherish when you’re old and gray. So enjoy yourself this school year and good luck!
Reference: Melissa Telan and Cheryl Tiu, Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 11, 2003
By: Abigail L. Junio | Teacher I | Mariveles National High School, Poblacion | Mariveles, Bataan
