Study Tips for a Successful School Year
Photo by KoolShooters from Pexels.
Sage Osesek
A scrambling and stressful start to a school year is characteristic of high school students. Notes, tests, and homework pile up, procrastination kicks in, and motivation depletes. Especially for incoming freshmen, the first weeks of school are overwhelming to adjust to. Nonetheless, leave your sluggish brain in the summer and use these tips for a successful and fulfilling school year.
The study set-up
Studying can be ineffective when you are sitting at your desk for hours, staring at the same piece of paper, and reading the same sentence for the fourth time. The study set-up is key to making the most of a study session. First, pick an ideal location that works for you. Libraries, coffee shops, and even your bedroom are great places to exercise the mind. If you are at home, I highly recommend lighting a candle and playing classical music. I find that when I force an aesthetic upon studying, it enhances my focus and motivation. While this method is effective for some, a group study session is a better technique for others. Explaining concepts to other people is a helpful way to prove to yourself that you understand the subject. Group discussions also enhance your understanding by introducing unique insight into the subject. As the school year progresses, you will find the study setup that fits your style. Until then, experiment with these techniques to maximize your academic potential!
Note-taking
One of the most vital components of school is note-taking. Many people take sloppy notes, not bothering with detail, aesthetics, or accuracy. However, carefully written notes can make studying and homework not only manageable but enjoyable. Colorful pens are a great investment for students interested in improving their notes. By using different colors for different sections, pens make your notes more organized and aesthetically pleasing. Another strategy that I often employ is to theme your notes with holidays. For instance, the Halloween season is upon us, so Halloween-themed notes would make note-taking remarkably entertaining. Drawing little pumpkins or ghosts alleviates you from monotonous, mind-numbing notes and reminds you that school doesn’t have to be boring if you try to enjoy it.
Test-taking
Everyone hates taking tests. There are always two multiple-choice answers that seem right, and you always pick the wrong one. You suddenly have five minutes left when you thought you still had thirty minutes left. Stress kicks in. However, with careful planning, test-taking doesn’t have to be an awful time. The most important technique is to relax. You know the information; you just have to apply it. Panicking won’t improve anything. If you don’t know the answer to one question, don’t let it waver your confidence. Most underclassmen classes do not have time limits for tests, but it is still important to pay attention to the clock. Developing time management skills is essential for many classes, especially AP classes. The last strategy is one of the most simple yet effective ways to improve your grades. Checking your answers is the most important part of test-taking. If you have extra time, use it. Everyone makes simple mistakes, and there is nothing worse than getting a B instead of an A because you added 3+5 wrong. Always check your answers—even if it is an easy test.
Grades aren’t everything!
Remember that one bad grade will not destroy your grade point average nor will it destroy your future. Everyone has off days, and it’s impossible to be a stellar student for every test. Do not be too harsh on yourself. You can use the bad grade as motivation to improve!
The beginning of the school year is daunting, but you can control your academic path. By finding studying, test-taking, and note-taking strategies that work for you, your grades are doubtless to improve. Good luck with starting the 2023-2024 school year, and remember: you direct your academic outcome!
