Student Success Statement

“Disciplining yourself to do what you know is right and important, although difficult, is the highroad to pride, self-esteem, and personal satisfaction.”

-Margaret Thatcher

: A British politician, the longest-serving (1979-1990) Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of the 20^th century

You are satisfied when you do what is right. Even though something is difficult but you know that it is the right thing to do then you should still do it. You will find that after you do it, everything will fall into place. Your self-esteem will boost up in knowing that you did the right thing.  

Balancing High School and Part-Time Work

Part 3

Brad MacGowan, of the Career Center at Newton North High School in Massachusetts, thinks that working can be a valuable part of a student’s life, if taken on responsibly. “You can derive a great deal from working, considerably more than just money,” he says. “In most cases, you can acquire a nice dose of discipline and a whole new set of skills and experiences.” In addition, your supervisor may be willing to write a strong college recommendation for you.

School Comes First

Schoolwork, including homework and studying for tests, should always be your top priority. MacGowan cautions students who do decide to work, “If you are rushing through your assignments… or not studying enough for tests because of work, it’s time to cut back or quit and find a less time-consuming job.”

Grandparents Locked Girl in Bathroom for Six Years

A 50 and 49 year old couple locked up their 3-year-old granddaughter for 6 years.  They kept her in the bathroom and she was only able to go out when she had to go to school. As soon as she got home from school she had to go right back into the bathroom.  She slept on an old cot with a blanket and no pillow. The grandparents were charged with kidnapping and were sent to jail for 5 years. 

Balancing High School and Part-Time Work

Part 1

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/high-school/45266.html

Like many high school students, you may want-or need-to work part time. Working takes a lot of time and energy, though, so before getting a job, make sure that you think about your ability to handle both work and your education.

Important Considerations

You have to weigh a number of factors when deciding whether to take on a part-time job. It’s important to get as much information as possible, so you can figure out what choice makes the more sense for you.

Schedule a meeting with your school counselor to discuss the idea of working. Talk to your counselor and why you want to work and what type of position you’re seeking.

     

Student Success Statement

“If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true, do not say it.”

-Marcus Aurelius

Roman Emperor from 161 AD to 180 AD

You should not do anything that is not right. You should not say anything that is not true. If you do it then it will have a bad impact on your life. It will affect you in a bad way. An example would be lying. When you lie you have to make other lies to cover up that one lie and eventually you’ll get caught up by it. Cheating would be an example of you doing something that is not right. When you cheat you do not achieve or learn anything. You will eventually regret it later on. 

 

Selecting Your Courses

Part 6

Success in AP can also help you in other ways, AP helps you stand out in the admission process and offers the opportunity to learn from some of the most inspiring teachers in the world. Learn more about the AP Program.

For More Help in Choosing Courses

Use College Search to look up a specific college’s academic requirements to be sure you are on track to attend the college of your choice.

If you have concerns about your class schedule or progress in school, set up a meeting with your school counselor, teacher or adviser. There are many resources to help you with this process and with achieving your personal, college and career goals. Without goals, you meander all sorts of directions. Goals give you purpose, direction, enthusiasm, and passion for that which you really desire. Define your goals deliberately, evaluate your goals often and make changes as necessary, work hard to achieve your goals, and continue working hard until you actually do reach your goals.

Student Success Tips

From Edison College

1.  Attend New Student Orientation at the beginning of the Fall or Spring Semester.

2.  GEN 101S, First Year Experience, provides excellent content and resources to be a successful student. It is likely that this class will be part of your first semester.

3.  Be sure to attend all classes, and be on time.

4.  To reduce distractions, sit near the front of the class.

5.  Keep a copy of the syllabus for each class so that you will know what is going on, what you should be doing, and how soon you need to get it done.

6.  Be a good listener. Focus and concentrate on main points.

7.  Take good notes in class, and review your notes within 24 hours. Then, review your notes periodically to help you retain information. Index cards with key information are also a helpful way to review.

8.  Study! To be a successful college student, study at least two hours a week for every hour you spend in class. This is a minimum.

9.   Determine an ideal study space, and plan study time when you are at your best to retain information.

10.                   Maintain a student planner to keep track of important dates and projects.

11.                   Apply additional time management strategies, including planning, setting goals, and prioritizing schoolwork and you additional responsibilities.

12.                   Avoid marathon study periods. Instead, study for short intervals with a break in between. For example, study for 30 minutes, take a 3-minute break, come back review, then repeat the process,

13.                   Get to know other students in your classes for added support and to study together when possible.

14.                   Participate in class, and ask your instructor questions when needed. Meet with them during office hours for additional support and guidance. 

Student Success Statement

“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing.”

-Theodore Roosevelt

At any moment when you can’t decide on which way to go or what decision to make, remember that you should always do the right thing. In any occasion you should always do the right thing. An example would be if you can't decide on what road to take while your driving, take the right road to your destination.

Selecting Your Courses

Part 5

The Arts

Research indicates that students who participate in the arts often do better in school and on standardized tests. The arts help you recognize patterns, Discern differences and similarities, and exercise your mind in unique ways, often outside a traditional classroom setting.

Many colleges require or recommend one or two semesters in the arts. Good choices include studio art, dance, music and drama. Many students have talents and extraordinary abilities in the arts. Students should look within their own repertoire of talents and identify their artistic abilities and take college classes to develop their talents.

Advanced Placement Program (AP)

To be sure you are ready to take on college-level work, enroll in the most challenging courses you can in high school, such as honor or AP course. Research consistently shows that students who score a 3.0 or higher on an AP Exam typically experience greater academic success and college graduation rates than students who don’t take AP.

Work hard in your righteous pursuits, and you will reap the benefits of self-fulfillment and job satisfaction. Don’t take shortcuts just to “get by,” instead, take challenging and difficult roads (courses) and reach higher mountain peaks of achievement.

Student Success Statement

“To know what is right and not do it is the worst cowardice.”

-Confucius

You become the worst kind of coward when you don’t do something right knowing that it is the right thing to do. It makes you look foolish and scared. It wouldn't make sense if you know what the right thing to do is and you decide to do the wrong thing instead. Just make your life easy and do what’s right.

Selecting Your Courses

        Part 4

Social Studies

You can better understand local and world events that are happening now by studying the culture and history that has shaped them. Here is a suggested course plan:

·      U.S. history (two semesters)

·      U.S. government (one semester)

·      World History or geography (one semester)

·      One additional semester in the above or other areas

Foreign Languages

Solid foreign language study shows colleges you’re willing to stretch beyond the basics. Many colleges require at least two years of study in the same foreign language, and some prefer more.

Learning a foreign language can be a challenging but is exciting. Repetition is the key to learning a language, and having conversations with others speaking the same language is the best way to learn this new language. Repetition in a fun way will build your skills thoroughly as you seek to master new languages. 

What are the 3 magic keys to living your life with integrity?

·       Uprightness

·       Honesty

·       Honor

I chose these three because I feel that they are the most important things to living your life with integrity. If you do these three things then you will live a good life. 

Man Returns Stolen Cash to Seattle, Washington Sears 60 years later.

An old man walked into Sears one day and gave a cashier and envelope. When the manager opened it, he realized that there was money and a note inside. The note said that the old man stole about $20-$30 in the late forties which was sixty years ago and wants to return the money. The old man gave Sears $100. The manager thinks that after so many years the old man finally gave back the money because he had the guilt inside him all these years. 

Selecting Your Courses

Part 2

The following subjects and classes are standard fare for success in high school and beyond, whether you plan to attend a four-year or two-year college.

English (Language Arts)

Take English every year. Traditional courses, such as American and English literature, help you improve your writing skills, Reading comprehension and vocabulary.

Math

You need algebra and geometry to succeed on college entrance exams and in college math classes- and in many careers. Take them early on. That way, you’ll be able to enroll in advanced science and math in high school, and show colleges you’re ready for higher-level work.

Most colleges look for students who have taken three years of math in high school. The more competitive ones require or recommend four years. Each school has its own program, but some of the courses typically offered are:

·      Algebra 1

·      Algebra 2

·      Geometry

·      Trigonometry

·      Calculus

‘Tis the Set of the Sail

Ella Wheeler Wilcox 1916

But to every mind there openeth,

Away, and a way, and away.

A high soul climbs the highway,

And the low soul gropes the low,

And in between on the misty flats,

The rest drift to and fro.

But to every man there openeth,

A high way and a low,

And every mind decideth,

The way his soul shall go.

One ship sails East,

And another West,

By the self-same winds that blow,

‘Tis the set of the sails

And not the gales,

That tells the way to go.

Like the winds of the sea

Are the waves of time,

As we journey along through life,

‘Tis the set of the soul,

That determines the goal,

And not the calm or the strife.

Selecting Your Courses

Recommended Classes for College Success

Part 1

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/high-school/33.html

The academic rigor of your high school courses is an important factor in the college admission process. College admission officers see your high school course schedule as a blueprint of your education. They’re looking for a solid foundation of learning that you can build on in college.

To create that foundation, take at least five solid academic classes every semester. Start with the basics and then move on to advanced courses. Challenging yourself is part of what makes school fun; but you need a firm grasp of the fundamentals before going on to more advanced work.

Student Success Statement

“A man without a goal is like a ship without a rudder.”

-Thomas Carlyle

A rudder is what takes the ship places. If you don’t have a goal then you won’t go places. Just like if a ship has no rudder, it won’t go places. You need to set your goals so that you could know where you want to go in life. 

The Power of Study Groups

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/high-school/50432.html

Part 4

Getting the Most Out of a Session

Here are some tips to help your group get the most out of each study session:

·      Decide what you’re going to do in advance.

·      Prepare for the session, so you can make the most of your time together.

·      Take turns teaching, to reinforce your knowledge.

·      Stick to the session topic.

By supplementing your individual study with a study group, you can reinforce what you’ve learned, deepen your understanding of complex concepts, and maybe even make a few new friends.

Remember that a friend is a person who encourages you to do your best and to achieve on a high level, one who pushes you to try a little harder and be a little better. If someone pulls you down the wrong trails of life, then those people are not friends, (they are actually your enemies) and you must avoid them at all cost. Whoever said learning can’t be fun? Learning is enjoyable and exciting when you study with others. 

The Power of Study Groups

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/high-school/50432.html

Part 3

Guidelines for Getting a Group Together

Here are some guidelines for creating and running a study group: How many? Create a group of four to six people. In a larger group, it’s easy for someone to get left out and smaller groups can too easily get off track.

Who? Pick classmates who seem to share your interest in doing well academically. Look for people who stay alert in class, take notes, ask questions and respond to the teacher’s questions. Include someone who understands the material better than you and can explain the concepts and someone who doesn’t understand it as well, to whom you can explain the material.

Where? Hold study group sessions in a place that is free of distractions and that has room to spread out books and notes. How long? Meet for no more than two to three hours at a time. Having a time limit helps the group focus. If you know you only have an hour, you’re more likely to stay on task.

When? Try to meet regularly, on the same day and time each week. Treating the study session as you would other activities helps you to keep to a schedule and ensures that everyone attends.

The Power of Study Groups

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan.high-school/50432.html

Part 2

The Benefits of Study Groups

Group study offers other advantages in addition to gaining a deeper understanding of class material. These include the opportunity to: Reinforce note-taking. If your AP Biology notes are unclear, you can ask a member of your study group to help you fill the gaps. Share talents. Each person brings different strengths, such as organizational skills, the ability to stick to a task or a capacity for memorization.

Cover more ground. Group members may be able to solve a calculus problem together than none would have solved alone. Benefit from your support system. Members often have common goals, such as good grades. Each person’s work affects the other members, which results in making members supportive of one another. Socialize. It’s more fun to study with others; the give-and-take makes it more interesting. And because it’s more fun, you spend more time studying!                                                  

Student Success Statement

Goals

“In life as in football, you won’t go far, unless you know where the goalposts are.”

-Arnold Glasgow

You need to know what you’re going to achieve and go in life. If you don’t then you’ll end up doing nothing with your life. You need to set goals and accomplish them. You won't go far. You need to go the distance. 

The Power of Study Groups

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/high-school/50432.html

Part 1

Working Together Helps Everyone

You may have noticed that when you’re explaining something you've learned to a friend, you begin to understand it better yourself. This happens because, when you explain an idea, you need to think more deeply about it.

The same principle makes study groups useful. Studying with others in a small group is helpful because you:

·      Think out loud.

·      Share ideas.

·      Learn from one another.

In an effective study group, you and other students hash out lessons materials together- explaining concepts, arguing about them, figuring out why one person’s answer differs from another’s- and in the process you most likely learn more than you would have studying by yourself.

Walk the Talk

You need to live by what you say. If you just say it but you never do it then you don’ really mean what you say. You need to live by all of your beliefs. It will guide you to do the right thing. Seek the courage to do the right thing and listen to the little voice in your head.

 

Student Success Statement

“Nobody ever did, or ever will, escape the consequences of his choices.”

-Albert A. Montapert

You should know that if you make a bad decision there will be consequences. So when you do decide to make a wrong choice you should expect a consequence. For example, if you don’t do your homework you should expect to get in trouble by your teacher.  Another example could be if you steal from somewhere expect to have bad karma. 

How to Take on College Studying

Part 3

Do the Reading

You need to do more than just read the chapters you are assigned- you’re expected to understand them thoroughly. Here are some tips:

·      Don’t skim. Read all the material carefully.

·      Break up difficult assignments into sections you can digest- chapters, subsections or even paragraphs.

·      Look up any words that you don’t understand.

·      Pause to think about whether you understand the material; ask questions in class about anything that is unclear.

·      Take notes instead of highlighting-this makes you think through and rephrase the key points.

·      Create a summary sheet of what you learned from each assignment you read.