As the month of August begins people all around the world from children to adults are preparing to embark on another year of school. Whether you are attending primary, secondary, or university, the methods and habits that help students to succeed are quite similar. I have attended elementary, middle, and high school in the United States, as well as community college in the USA and university in Finland. I feel that I have a broad perspective of schooling and insight into what makes a great student versus an average one. I myself was never the top student in my class, but I was top 10 at certain points, and I know what practices can help you or your loved ones to succeed in your schooling. 

First and foremost you must be present whilst in school, which means doing a lot of things. To be present in class and lectures, you have to make sure you get a good amount of sleep the night before, eat a good breakfast and lunch, and keep your phone in a place where it will not disturb you. You have to be actively listening and participating in class to ensure that you don’t let your mind wander as well. Another very important point to remind yourself of, is to try your absolute hardest to not procrastinate, particularly when studying for exams or tests. Nobody is able to fully comprehend a subject in a couple of days of studying, so you have to make sure that you already are at least a week before the test day. Furthermore you have to know your teachers and your classes well. What I mean by this is that if you know how the teacher thinks and how they conduct their classes, then you have a much higher chance of performing well. Find out if they like to use tests, projects, group work, etc. and you will be ready to perform at a higher level because you know what to expect. 

Doing well in school is not all about classes as well. You have to make sure that you are living a balanced life that includes social activities, sports or fitness, and leisure or hobbies. It is very easy to burn out in school if all you are concentrating on is studies, because as soon as you hit a roadblock you’ll spiral. You have to make sure that school is not the only important thing in your life, and that your activities outside of school make your hard work worth it. There is no point to working hard in school and succeeding if you do not have a loftier goal in mind. Whether that goal be to secure a good job, start your own company, or do something completely different, school should be an activity that helps you achieve those objectives. 

Keeping all of that in mind, school is not easy for everyone and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Some people have more trouble understanding certain concepts whether that be math, sciences, or language studies, but that doesn’t mean school can’t help you. One of the best features of more advanced schooling is that you can tailor your schedule to include subjects that you are good at and more importantly that interest you. As soon as you enter secondary or high school you are able to begin choosing at least some of the classes in your schedule. This gives you a chance to try new topics that may prove to be what you want to pursue. It really is all about giving yourself the chance to figure out what you enjoy and what you want to accomplish. As long as you are able to do that, then school has been a success, and you should feel very proud of what you were able to accomplish. So as you start this school year make sure to do your best, but most importantly make sure to do what makes you happy and use school to your full advantage.

Good luck!

Alex Endersen | Creative Digital Marketing Intern