The Editors
Regardless of whether you are a freshman who has just transitioned from middle school or an upperclassman preparing for the next level in education, keeping your GPA up is difficult. Every year, the material gets more complicated and teachers demand more from their students. The trick is managing your time and knowing what works for you. Be sure to complete all homework assignments and studying as soon as possible. Procrastination is the enemy of studious students. Unfortunately, many students find themselves constantly battling this temptation. Working with friends that have trouble with this may prove to be beneficial for all of you. You can make a competition out of this: whoever goes the longest period of time without a missing assignment wins whatever prize the group previously decided on. If you would prefer to work alone, however, there are many ways you can manage your time efficiently. One option may be to dedicate a specific amount of time each night to every class. Whether you have homework for that class or not you should spend that designated time reviewing notes or studying the material. However, if you find yourself tiring out easily then you should also set aside some time for a break, meals, showers or anything else you may need to do.
If you find that your grades are slipping because you do not understand the material, you can hire a tutor, ask a teacher for extra help or give yourself more time to study and practice the course work. Remember that the key to success in academics is to understand the material in a way that is relatable to your own life; you need to make sense of everything your teacher discusses. If you are a “book-smart” student then you need to know that learning things just for “the test” is only half of the equation. Retaining that information for future exams, classes and life experiences is vital. Studying is very personal and no two people study the same way. You have to find a rhythm and stick to it in order to succeed in education.