You don’t have to be an early bird to
leap outta bed when your alarm clock rings, ready and rarin’ to get
to school. You don’t have to be a star student to love your history
class. All you’ve gotta do is dig a little deeper and look a little
harder for the things that make school totally fab. (They’re there,
trust us!)
Get to know your teachers
When you start seeing your math teacher
as a motorcycle-loving guy with a weakness for really bad knock-knock
jokes, you’ll get past the endless word problems he throws at you
and start having fun. Really.
Stop struggling
Can’t figure out how to write a
thesis statement? Stop feeling bad about your poor English grades and
enlist the help of your teacher, a tutor or a friend who writes
really well. You’ll feel like your achieving something, especially
when your grades begin to soar. Go you!
Decorate your locker
Everyone has bad days, but when you can
catch a glimpse of something, anything, that makes you smile, you’ll
be able to boost your spirits in a jiffy. Post some ridic pics of you
and your buds, an inspiring quote or a dry erase tic-tac-toe board.
Make a friend in every class
Seeing a friendly face (and having a
solid partner) every period will make even the toughest class seem
less daunting. Remember, there’s power in numbers.
Revamp your goals
If your New Year’s resolution was to
score all A’s this semester, rethink that goal. Maybe it’s not
practical to turn your borderline B’s into a perfect report card,
but you can master French verb conjugations or totally
dominate your oral presentation in History.
Celebrate small accomplishments
You got a 90 on a quiz in bio? Heck
yeah! Give yourself a pat on the back, tape up your paper in your
locker or over your desk and reward yourself with a treat. You
deserve it.
Find something sensational in every
project
Just ‘cause the Renaissance isn’t
exactly your thing doesn’t mean working on your project has to
stink. If you’re an artist, throw yourself into creating the
coolest tri-fold poster ever. If you love to write, crank out a
top-notch paper. If you love to talk, start making index cards now
for your oral report.
Start trying in gym class
Not everyone is a soccer superstar, but
if you’ve gotta spend half an hour kicking a ball around, why not
actually go for it and hone your skills (and burn off that cookie you
had with lunch) instead of strategically avoiding an actual exercise?
A solid workout causes your body to release endorphins. Endorphins
make you happy. So go for it!
Join a club in an area you want to
improve in
Too often, academic classes are
intended to focus on your strengths rather than improving your
weaknesses. Duck a poor grade in art class and still learn how
to draw a reasonably life-like hand by joining the art club. Or
figure out how to edit a video with the A.V. team.
Pack a truly tasty lunch
Nothing kills your only free period
like a soggy sandwich or a so-greasy-it’s-inedible slice of
cafeteria pizza. Set aside ten minutes in the morning (or the night
before) and put together a meal you’ll be excited to eat when the
lunch bell rings.
Do your homework
Cut down on stress by scheduling a time
for you to complete your homework every day after school. That way,
you won’t be freaking about finishing up your math problems on the
bus or during homeroom, or figuring out a good excuse for why your
lab report is late…again.
Choose topics that excite you
Sure, sometimes Teach tells ya exactly
what to write about or study. But sometimes, the world really is
your oyster. Take advantage of those times by doing a little
preliminary brainstorming and researching if necessary to come up
with an approach to an essay question or project that truly interests
you.
Participate in spirit days
School spirit is infectious—take
part, encourage your friends to follow your lead and we promise
you’ll have a blast.
Run for class president
OK, so maybe you still hate school. Sit
down and think about why you hate it so much. Then toss your hat into
the presidential ring. If you don’t like it, change it, chica!
BY BRITTANY TAYLOR ON 1/25/2012 12:00:00 PM
POSTED IN school, grades, boost your grades, how to make friends at a new school, sport, get through gym class, team spirit, extra curricular, what should I do after school, participate in class, get your act together guide, leadership 101