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by Taiquan Robinson

How to Become a Better Student

At the beginning of every school year, we all intend to start strong. However, those intentions often go down the drain as our organization, time management, and rest deteriorate. How are we supposed to stay on top of our school work, have some time to ourselves, and get enough sleep? Hopefully, some of these tips will help you this school year. First of all, it’s extremely important to maintain quality organization as you jump into this new quarter. The Wisco Student Services Office advises everyone to have a planner in order to keep track of assignments. Willamette University agrees that all students should keep a planner or calor working in a quiet space. The Wisco Student Services office suggests that students should contact teachers ahead of time if you will be missing class. Also, ask teachers questions before an assignment is due. These steps can allow you to work on assignments throughout the time it is assigned, so that you don’t have to rush at the end. It will also allow you to stay on top of your school work, especially if you are absent.

by Kirstin Neuwirth

endar to keep track of time and assignments. This will help you prioritize when to complete assignments and accomplish goals that you might have. Along with that, the University of Kansas suggests making a schedule for the day and planning when to do certain assignments. Furthermore, you should make sure your work area and notes are organized in order to efficiently complete your school work. Next, it is hard to balance both school, extra-curriculars, family, and maybe even a job, so it is key to have time management skills. The first step, according to Purdue University, is to identify things that are wasting your time and avoid them. This may mean putting your phone in a different room Lastly, Dartmouth suggests setting up a schedule for the day and rewarding yourself especially after completing difficult assignments or a long

by Ryan Parker

Everyone reading this has made an excuse for his/her behavior at some point. It seems practically impossible for a bad situation or predicament to arise without giving a reason why it occurred. It’s human nature to rationalize or shift the blame away from oneself. Isn’t this exactly what Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden after they sinned? Everyone wants a reason for why something bad happens, but no one wants to be that reason themselves. Unfortunately, when a problem comes up, there are times when the person that problem afflicts is the same with who caused it. Certainly this happens in school just as often as anywhere else. Younger people seem particularly prone to giving excuses. When a young child breaks something, he/she may say someone else broke it. If they get into a fight, each person might claim the other person started it. Why do you think the story of a child claiming the dog ate the homework not only exists, but persists? Simply put, some children can have difficulty taking their share of the blame for something, which is to be expected. Most high schoolers don’t often regale insane tales about how something that they caused happened, but they still may try and explain why something unfavorable occurred. For instance, a student may say he/she was late to class because the walk was a long distance when in actuality, the person simply wanted to speak with their friends about something and lost track of time. Another example is that a student may say the homework was completed, but simply forgot to turn it in; therefore, no points should be docked from the overall score because the assignment was completed on time. In reality this individual may know he/ she simply forgot to do the work. Why is this done? Would it not make more sense to be honest and simply admit one’s mistake as opposed to making a false rationalization that won’t alleviate the consequences of the mistake? The concept of the excuse is, at its core, logically unsound. Yet, excuses are constantly made and will continue to be made for as long as people are flawed--meaning they will be made for as long as people exist. The most we can do, as a student body, is to own up to our mistakes, and move forward from there, whatever the consequences may be. We earn the blame for our own actions and inaction, and to say that we don’t is an excuse in and of itself.

If this is something that is a problem, for you, pray about it. Prayer can lead to repentance and a changed heart and attitude.

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study session. The most important idea is to not procrastinate-- stay on top of your assignments. Finally, everyone is always saying that high schoolers need sleep, but it is impossible to get enough with everything going on. Harvard says that at least 8 hours of sleep each nigh is essential in order to be a good student, because without it, your concentration and memory suffer. This means that sleep deprivation is even worse for students. Without proper reset, students will have a difficult time learning and remembering things, especially on tests. Luckily, Dartmouth is here again with some tips for sleep. They say that you should keep a regular sleep schedule, avoid caffeine before bed, take care of worries before sleep (prayer helps with this), and wake up early as opposed to staying up late. Harvard also says that you should avoid electronics before bed and have a wind-down routine to get into the sleep mood. Getting enough sleep is important for students. Being a good student is hard work, but the effort pays off. Not only will good grades get you into good colleges but they will also allow you to feel the success you earned. Get enough sleep, manage your time, and stay organized. You will be glad you did.