As the first half of the third quarter draws to the end, many students feel overwhelmed and stressed because their grades are not where they want them to be. Although this may be discouraging, there are many strategies you can use to help you meet your goals by the end of the school year!

 

For starters, many students tend to set goals that are unrealistic and vague. Setting unrealistic goals will ultimately do more harm than good, which will make you less likely to meet them. This can lead to a vicious cycle of burnout and stress because your goals will seem virtually impossible to achieve, ultimately leading to lower grades. 

 

Instead, try setting clear, attainable goals such as “I want to raise my math grade by 5 points this quarter” instead of saying “I want to do better in math this quarter”. Having a clear goal in sight will help motivate you and give you direction.

 

“Setting clear and realistic goals helps me with my grades because it's like an outline,” Junior Aubreigh Duckworth said. “It helps me remember what I need to do and when I need to do it to be successful and achieve my goals.”

 

Many students also tend to not ask for help from teachers or fellow classmates when they don’t understand something. Many students, including myself, are often nervous to ask for help simply because they are afraid others will think that they are “dumb”, or everyone else understands it, so there is no point in asking for help. But this simply isn’t the case! 

 

Most of the time, many students have the same questions, and are just too afraid to ask for help just like you are. Teachers are also there to help students learn, so don’t be afraid to ask for help. One question could help 10 students!

 

Another common pitfall is pulling all-nighters. Although it’s tempting and may seem productive, you should try your hardest to never pull an all-nighter. Pulling an all-nighter can hurt your memory and concentration! To help retain everything that you learned during the day at school and while studying, you should aim to get 7-10 hours of sleep each night to help keep your mind fresh and sharp.

 

Lastly, make sure that you celebrate all of your achievements– no matter how small they may seem. Did you get an A on a test that was on a really difficult topic? Or did you manage to not check your phone during your study session? Celebrating these wins will help keep you motivated for the rest of the semester, setting you up for success!!

 

“Rewarding myself for raising my AP pre calc grade to an A motivates me to do well because it makes me feel better about myself and my accomplishments,” Junior Heather Monge-Ceciliano said.

 

The second semester is a fresh start with new opportunities. Adopting these study habits will help you achieve your academic goals, and with staying organized. Good luck, and happy studying!