The seven habits of highly effective students

Isaac Calon

It may not be the toughest situation a person will face in life, but being a student is challenging. For many students, the most important decisions at school are often social in nature: who to be friends with, who to date, how far to go in a relationship, how often and how much to drink, and what to do in one's spare time. The importance placed on these matters is so overwhelming that the reason for going to school can become obscured.

Make no mistake—students go to school to learn. This is sometimes instilled, but more often hammered, into reluctant students until the meaning is lost. Only when a student begins to have an idea of what career he or she wants does education become truly relevant. Grades matter, and despite the obvious irrelevance of trigonometry to becoming a writer, a student will likely need that math mark to go where he or she wants to go.

Although I do not always earn the highest grades, I know that the following suggestions, based on my own experiences as a student, will help others to reach their potential inside and outside the classroom.

  1. Be Punctual—Punctuality applies to arriving in class on time. Teachers dislike interruptions because students shift their focus to the student arriving late. Punctuality applies also to handing in assignments on time. Teachers often deduct marks for assignments that are handed in late.
  2. Ask Questions—­Although students hear this in every class, few students heed the advice. Just remember, it's likely that many other students in class don't understand everything about the topic. Students should get into the habit of asking questions about the topic and related topics.
  3. Review Material Every Day—This is one of the most constructive habits that a student can adopt because reviewing material reduces the pressure of surprise quizzes, classroom discussions and exams. The review need not take hours; simply reviewing material covered that day is beneficial.
  4. Rest and Eat—­Everyone needs a good night's sleep and to eat properly every day. A tired and hungry student does not concentrate on his or her studies. The key is to get adequate rest on a regular basis. (This varies according to the person, but it is generally agreed by health practitioners that a person needs seven to nine hours of sleep per night.) It is also unwise to sleep for 14 hours a night on weekends and then revert to six hours per night during the week—this throws a person's circadian rhythm (specifically sleeping pattern) out of whack while playing havoc with one's metabolism. Well-rested and well-fed students have less trouble getting out of bed in the morning, absorbing material and staying awake in class.
  5. Organization—This subject covers many things, but the important points are "naming everything" (with a date and appropriate title) and "remembering assignments." Most schools sell organizers, which are practical for recording assignments and their due dates.
  6. Prioritize—Now here's a challenge. This calls on students to review what is due and to gauge how much time will be needed to get the work done. It's wise to plan ahead. Students who have plans for the weekend should do extra work during the week. Students need to learn to look at the big picture.
  7. Develop a Positive Attitude—There is no one way to have a good attitude. Students don't have to be all smiles and cheer nor do they have to like all their teachers or fellow students, but they need to respect each another.