Getting Ready Ahead of Time for School Helps Set You Up For Success
By Courtney White, Stride Career Prep Success Coach
It’s back to school time! Hopefully, you’ve had all summer to recharge and prepare yourself. If you’re like many, perhaps you’re still in summer mode. Taking a bit of time to create a plan for the new school year can be a huge factor in propelling you towards success. Here are some tips to help:
Determine what a successful school year looks like for you
Does this mean earning all A’s? Joining a new club? Showing up on time each day? Whatever success looks like for you, identify these goals and create a plan to achieve them. If you’re not sure, think about a person you know who has embodied the qualities you hope to achieve. What habits do they have? What steps do they take? Once you have established what success looks like for you, you can remind yourself what to strive towards every day.
Get organized to find success
Start your new school year fresh, by organizing your workspace. Ensure you have a dedicated work station, where you can easily access all of your supplies, homework, and other materials. Use a planner to keep track of important due dates and assignments. Create a schedule for yourself by specifically setting time for your coursework and breaks. Organizing your space will give you a feeling of accomplishment and create good habits that will elevate you towards success.
Learn for growth, not just your GPA
When you view school as a personal enrichment tool, rather than an obligation, you reap benefits beyond just good grades. Try to really engage and interact with your teachers, asking questions and picking their brain on the subjects you’re studying. Even if you don’t love a particular subject, being actively involved in class can expand your horizons and introduce new perspectives.
Be active outside of the classroom to generate success
Taking on projects, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, or other pursuits outside of school will help enrich your overall year. In addition to connecting you with your peers, and contributing to your positive social development, it will give you better overall health. It will also allow you to explore your non-academic interests. And, if you want to learn more about how to build stronger school communities, check out Stride’s podcast on the subject here.
Consider a coach to help orient you towards success
Student mentors and success coaches can be a great resource. Starting the school year with your end goal in mind will help you stay focused, and get the most out of your classes and non-academic projects. Coaches can really help with this. If you are a student at a Stride tuition-free public school, student success coaches are available to you absolutely free!
No matter what success looks like to you, it can be accomplished with careful planning and taking specific actions. To get even more tips to help you with the upcoming school year, check out Stride’s 4 Tips To Help Transition Back To School article. And, welcome to the new academic year!
