As the school year progresses, many freshmen have come to the conclusion that they must put forth more effort in order to make the year count. With the struggle of honors classes, workloads, and a need for strong dedication, Osbourn’s freshmen are ready to put their best foot forward and show what they are capable of. At the start of the new year, many freshmen were faced with a struggle to adjust to the Osbourn classes and how workloads were piled on students. Those who struggled with the first few marking periods must find a way to make this last semester count, but how? Well, to solve those problems, we must acknowledge them first.
“I used to turn in some of my assignments late, which is a bad habit- it could cost me some grades,” said freshman Diego Chagolla. This seems to be a major problem with many students, as many could have reasons to turn in assignments late, whether it be procrastination or having a very busy and full schedule. One example is shown by freshman Camilla, who stated, “My biggest distraction is my home life, simply coming home and having chores to do or having to go places with my mom on important errands can take us a whole day. Or even taking care of my niece and nephews. It’s all time-consuming from my school work.”
Time management also seems to be a large obstacle when it comes to grades. Heavy workloads from specific classes and maybe balancing extracurricular activities like sports or clubs can be a huge part of the struggle to get work submitted. “I struggle a lot with time management. Especially in the first marking period. Doing a sport after school and also having to keep up with all of Mr. Nejame’s work made it super hard to adjust to a new environment. The second quarter, I was just always really tired, and I struggled a lot in understanding certain classes and topics like algebra, giving me less motivation to want to do my work,” said Malia Spriggs. While after-school activities may be a great experience and can be a way for students to escape the stressful pressure of school, they also seem to be a cause of the school life stress, taking serious dedication and a balance between the two.
From the inside of the classroom, there may be many distractions. It may be loud classmates, friends, or trying to get work done from another class. These can all be setbacks and may be another cause as to why some students may be so behind in specific classes despite the material not being hard. “When I have an upcoming test, I always want to make sure I study for it and not forget the subjects we’re going to have in it, which at times makes me forget what I’m doing and gets me off track in other classes. Zoning out, on the other hand, just happens when I’m thinking of what to do after school. For example, how much time should I spend on a game or doing something else and how much time I should spend doing homework.”
Despite the many struggles of students in the building, the majority of students, struggling or not, share the same goal of wanting to succeed in their classes. Jade Cedeno shares some of her tips for struggling students, consisting of how she remains successful as the year progresses. “My advice is to make sure to review every day and focus when the teacher is speaking so you can even learn more information than just the notes.” While this may seem obvious, this is a very essential part of passing classes; without review and a good habit of attention to detail, it’s hard to be successful. “I try to complete assignments as soon as possible, I make sure to review and process notes, I make sure to study extra hard on topics or questions I have trouble with,” stated Jade. It seems the easiest way to be successful is to try to manage each topic evenly and put more time and effort into what you struggle with instead of focusing on the less relevant and little issues that aren’t helpful to your study.
While a heavy workload and out-of-school plans or activities may put you at a disadvantage, it’s important to not give up and continue pushing through the year. Many students put themselves down in the dumps and feel unmotivated after seeing a poor grade, but that will only drag you deeper. Be sure to ask for help and advice, and follow through with your assignments and hard work. The struggle of schoolwork can be stressful, but with dedication and determination, you’re off to finishing the school year with flying colors.
What are YOUR tips for success in your classes? Tell us in the comments!
