Becoming a Successful Student

Succeeding in school can be easy for some, but for those who struggle and don’t believe in themselves it can be a long road to understand how to become successful in school and even life. There are plenty of methods people use to become a better student, let’s focus on reading, writing and time management. By hitting these points we will break down how a student turns his academic life around and succeed in the classroom.
Listening to your professor for four hours and taking down notes can be effective, but have you ever heard that reading everyday can help you expand vocabulary, comprehend new situations and become smarter? Finding an hour of your schedule to sit in a quiet place and read a book a month can help you advance your thought process. Read the chapter summary, and don’t just jump in to the book with out an understanding of it. As you begin reading, take notes and understand what the author is interpreting, it is a great technique to acquire. According to Emory University, located in Georgia, reading a novel improves brain function, and flared up parts of the brain where the receptivity of language is located. “the purpose of reading is to connect the ideas on the page to what you already know.” (Martin, pg. 7).
Note taking is one of the most important things you can do in a class, unless you record the lecture of a professor. Notes lets you comeback to a certain point and re read what was being said. Writing down things helps you remember more effectively than typing on your computer. Even if you’re only recording your thoughts, it can be a helpful exercise to be done and improve on your memory and brain activity. When an exam comes around, you are able to bring up those topics written in your pad, and reading them will help you comprehend harder topics. “lack of concentration is like lack of fuel. Without concentration, the mind has little power” (Martin, 9).
Warren Buffet once said, “You’ve gotta keep control of your time, and you can’t unless you say no. You can’t let people set your agenda in life” Commit to your goal! If you want to finish school or start a new job somewhere, then you should do it. Creating daily checklist will help you keep track of your performance. Keeping track of your schedule will give you an understanding of propriety and what needs to be done first before having leisure time for yourself. Procrastination can eat you alive when it comes to getting assessments and work done, so create an effective schedule that will keep you in line. “No student is likely to be successful within the sphere of academia unless there is a concerted attempt to address study on a continual basis. Study may not always be full of joy and excitement but the end result will bring much satisfaction” (Mclroy, pg. 51)
Take these methods in consideration and you will become a successful student. I will not promise you that it will happen in a day, a week, or a month, because it takes years for someone to become organized and self motivated to reaching these goals. If you are someone who has the mindset of achieving then you will reach that goal that you set for yourself.

Sources http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/10/the-power-of-writing-thin_n_165675.html http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/219553

Donald Martin,. (2003) How to be a successful student, second edition, 7.

David Mclroy, (2003) Studying at University: How to be a Successful Student.