Student Success Statement

Student Success Statement

“It is our duty to concentrate all our influence to make popular that which is sound and good, and (to make) unpopular that which is unsound (and not good).”

-Joseph Smith

Reflection: This statement is so true. It is our obligation to influence people to do what’s right. Choosing the right should be popular, everyone should make that their duty. It is our responsibility to focus on doing the right things. When someone is in school their job is to succeed, that should be popular among everyone, ditching, cursing, and not paying attention should be unpopular to the world. We need to embrace choosing the right and make all the evil things unpopular. 

Successful Students 9

Successful Students

9

9. . . . don’t cram for exams. Successful students know that divided periods of study are more effective than cram sessions, and they practice it.

            If there is one thing that study skills specialists agree on, it is that distributed study is better than massed, late-night, last-ditch efforts known as cramming. You’ll learn more, remember more, and earn a higher grade by studying in four, one hour-a-night sessions for Friday’s exam than studying for four hours straight on Thursday night. Short, concentrated preparatory efforts are more efficient and rewarding than wasteful, inattentive, last moment marathons. Yet, so many students fail to learn this lesson and end up repeating it over and over again until it becomes a wasteful habit. Not too clever, huh?

When you cram, you are taking the shortcut, and shortcuts never produce any real worthwhile results. Also, when you take shortcuts, you feel rather rotten knowing that you could have done better but didn’t. Shortcuts cut you short. You can’t plant watermelon seeds and harvest fresh watermelons the next day. It takes time. Cramming for a test or project and expecting to harvest and eat fresh watermelon the next day. Plus cramming for a test or project doesn’t help you academically, so why even do it. Plan ahead, prepare ahead. Give yourself plenty of days and weeks to prepare for upcoming accountability opportunities.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!

Student Success Satement

Student Success Statement

“What’s right isn’t always popular. What’s popular isn’t always right.”

-Howard Cosell

Reflection: This statement is so true. Some rights things that people do aren’t always popular. Some things that are popular are not right. People have to do what’s right no matter if it’s not popular. Don’t focus on fame focus on yourself.

Successful Students 7-8

Successful Students

7-8

7. . . . understand that actions affect learning. Successful students know their personal behavior affect feelings and emotions which in turn can affect learning.

       If you can act in a certain way that normally produces particular feelings, you will begin to experience those feelings. Act like you’re bored, and you’ll become bored. Act like you’re bored, and you’ll become bored. Act like you’re disinterested, and you’ll become disinterested. So the next time you have trouble concentrating in the classroom, “act” like an interested person: lean forward, place your feet flat on the floor, maintain eye contact with the professor, nod occasionally, take notes, and ask questions. Not only will you benefit directly from your actions, your classmates and professor may also get more excited and enthusiastic.

8. . . . talk about what they’re learning. Successful students get to know something well enough that they can put it into words. Talking about something, with friends or classmates, is not only good for checking whether or not you know something, it’s a proven learning tool. Transferring ideas into words provides the most direct path for moving knowledge from short-term to long-term memory. You really don’t “know” material until you can put it into words. So, next time you study, don’t do it silently. Talk about notes, problems, readings, etc. with friends, recite to a chair, organize an oral study group, pretend you’re teaching your peers. “Talk-learning” produces a whole host of memory traces that result in more learning.

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Reflection

Reflection: All high school students should graduate. There shouldn’t be an excuse for somebody not to graduate. Everyone is legible to graduate, you just have to work hard and do the right things. When someone graduates they have the pleasure of receiving that diploma and have the pleasure to tell everyone that they made it. When someone doesn’t graduate they will have pain. They will be in pain seeing all their friends graduating but not them. They will be in pain telling themselves they could’ve been up there graduating. 

Successful Students 5-6

Successful Students

5-6

5. Don’t sit in the back of the room. Successful students minimize classroom distractions that interfere with learning.

       Students want the best seat available for their entertainment dollars, but willingly seek the worst seat for their educational dollars. Students who sit in the back cannot possibly be their professor’s teammate (see no.4). Why do they expose themselves to the temptations of inactive classroom experiences and distractions of all the people between them and their instructor? Of course, we know they chose the back of the classroom because they seek invisibility of anonymity, both of which are antithetical to efficient and effective learning. If you are trying not to be part of the class, why, then, are you wasting your time? Push your hot buttons, is there something else you should be doing with your time?

6. . . . take good notes. Successful students take notes that are understandable and organized, and review them often.

       Why put something into your notes you don’t understand? Ask the questions not that are necessary to make your notes meaningful at some later time. A short review of your notes while the material is still fresh on your mind helps you to learn more. The more you learn then, the less you’ll have to learn later and the less time it will take because you won’t have to include some deciphering time, also. The whole purpose of taking notes is to use them, and use them often. The more you see them, the more they improve.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!

Student Success Statement

Student Success Statement

“The time is always right to do what is right.”

-Martin Luther King Jr.

Reflection: This statement is so true. It is saying that it’s never too late to choose the right. Time is always right as long as you’re going to make the right decisions and actions.

Successful Students 3-4

Successful Students

3-4

3. . . . ask questions. Successful students ask questions to provide the quickest route between ignorance and knowledge. In addition to securing knowledge you seek, asking questions has at least two other extremely important benefits. The process helps you pay attention to your professor and helps your professor pay attention to you! Think about it. If you want something, go after it. Get the answer now, or fail a question later. There are no foolish questions, only foolish silence. It’s your choice.

4. . . . learn that a student and a professor make a team. Most instructors want exactly what you want: they would like for you to learn the material in their respective classes and earn a good grade.

        Successful students reflect well on the efforts of any teacher; if you have learned your material, the instructor takes some justifiable pride in teaching. Join forces with your instructor, they are not an enemy, you share the same interests, the same goals-in short, and your teammates. Get to know your professor. You’re the most valuable players on the same team. Your jobs are to work together for mutual success. Neither wishes to chalk up a losing season. Be a team player.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT

Student Success Statement

Student Success Statement

“I know only that what is moral is what you feel good after and what is immortal is what you feel bad after.”

-Ernest Hemingway

Reflection: This statement is saying that every time you choose the right you feel good and every time you do something wrong you feel bad. Doing what’s right will make you happy. Doing what’s wrong will load you up with regret. So choose the right so you can have a clear conscience. 

Successful Students 1-2

Successful Students

1-2

Successful students exhibit a combination of successful attitudes and behaviors as well as intellectual capacity. Successful students…

1.   Are responsible and active. Successful students get involved in their studies, accept responsibility for their own education, and are active participants in it! Responsibility means control. It’s the difference between leading and being led. Your own efforts control your grade, you earn the glory or deserve the blame, you make the choice. Active classroom participation improves grades without increasing study time. You can sit there, act bored, daydream, or sleep. Or, you can actively listen, think, question, and take notes like someone in charge of their learning experience. Either option costs one period. However, the former method will require a large degree of additional work outside of class to achieve the same degree of learning the latter provides at one sitting. The choice is yours.

2.  Have educational goals. Successful students have legitimate goals and are motivated by what they represent in terms of career aspirations and life’s desires.

Ask yourself these questions: What am I doing here? Why have I chosen to be sitting here now? Is there some better place I could be? What does my presence here mean to me? Answers to these questions represent your “Hot Buttons” and are, without a doubt, the most important factors in your success as a college student. If you’re educational goals are truly yours, not someone else’s, they will motivate a vital and positive academic attitude. If you are familiar with what these hot buttons represent and refer to them often, especially when you tire of being a student, nothing can stop you: if you aren’t and don’t, everything can and will!

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!

Student Success Statement

Student Success Statement

“My strength is as the strength of ten because my heart is pure.”

-        Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Reflection: This quote is stating that an individual can have more strength than others because of his actions. If you do what your heart tells you then you will be a happy person with no regrets. You will have a clear conscious and a bright future. Your best strength is to choose the right.

Study for Multiple Exams Part 3

Study for Multiple Exams

Part 3

English, math, foreign language tips: Practice—especially foreign language. It is hard to succeed in a foreign language class if you are just showing and doing the work. But if you are in your room and look at objects and try to say them in the language you are learning it actually helps. Or if you send a simple text to a friend think about it, can you translate that to German or Spanish? These are the little things that will help.

Here are my final words of wisdom for students who want to get better grades in college: Time management and organization are critical key factors to success in college. And never be afraid to go ask your teacher for help. They have office hours for a reason- use them!

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Summary & Reflection

Summary: In Tennessee they have competitions of walking horses. The organization found out that McConnell a trainer for rich owners was torturing horses in order for them to walk a certain way. He will now have to face a federal indictment.

Reflection: I think this man is insane. I don’t understand how he can do that to those innocent animals. He chose to do the wrong. He cheated in order to win. He will now have to pay the consequences for committing such cruelty.

Study for Multiple Exams Part 2

Study for Multiple Exams

Part 2

My strategies for written assignments: Everyone has their own writing styles. I generally come up with an idea and do massive amounts of research before I ever think about writing. I then organize my research then sometimes prepare an outline before actually writing. I always print out the paper and come back to it the next day and reread it. That is the easiest way for me to catch my own mistakes. I have to give my eyes a break from it, and if I just wrote it I think it looks perfect. But if I look at it a day later I almost always find grammatical errors or phrases and sentences I just want to reword.

How I succeed in team projects: Never assume someone is doing what they are supposed to be doing. Have regular meetings and have each member show their work, not just give you or the group their word for it.

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Study for Multiple Exams Part 1

Study for Multiple Exams

                                              Part 1

How I study for multiple exams, deal with multiple projects: Really it is my time management that I explained above. If I see I have multiple things due or to study for all at the same time I spread out my time beforehand. For example, if I have a test Monday, and 2 tests Tuesday then I will study for my Monday test Thursday and part of Friday. Start studying for my next test on the second half of Friday and part of Saturday, then my second Tuesday test on Saturday as well and part of Sunday. Then Sunday night I can review for my Monday test because I already studied for it. When that test is over I can begin reviewing for the other tests. My overall study method: I try to break it up over several days or at least two. I get bogged down if I try to pull an all nighter. How I’ve overcome an initial bad grade: If I received a low grade I probably knew it was coming because I didn’t prepare properly or I didn’t use the right study habit for that class. I usually try to go over what I did wrong and sometime discuss with the teacher what I can do differently on the next exam or what they suggest I do for studying for the next exam.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!

Student Success Statement

Student Success Statement

“Seek to do good and you will find that happiness will run after you.”

James Freeman Clarke

Reflection: This statement is so true. The only way to find happiness is to do what’s right. When you do the right things you feel great. When you choose the right you will never have any regrets or feel depressed of what you did. When you decide to not do drugs you feel proud of yourself because you live above the influence. Also if you choose the right and do good in school then you will become a successful and happy person in the future. 

Sarah's Academic Success Story Part 2

Sarah’s Academic Success Story

Part 2

My test study method: I have different strategies for different types of tests or subjects. For me, any type of math is exceptionally difficult so I had to spend extra time on that. I would go back through the homework problems focusing on the problems that I had extra difficulty on. Many times I would ask the teacher for any additional study materials they could provide. If it was a class that required memorization or applying concepts I would create a sort of study guide for myself many times focusing on what were key focal points in the class. If I knew there were going to be essays I would try to take the terms and apply them to an example or create different questions on the concepts focused on throughout the semester.

My time management secret: I always always always carry a planner with me. I even use different color highlights to show what each event on my calendar is for. For example, pink is personal, yellow is school, orange is work, blue is for appointments, and green is for my sorority. Although I use white-out frequently, I can see in bright yellow that if I have the project for finance due on Tuesday. I need to start working on it on [the previous] Wednesday so I can just get it done. My friends have always been amazed at how early I get things accomplished but that is really all I do.

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Summary & Reflection

Summary: American Idol’s contestant, “Jermaine Jones” was disqualified for having a criminal history. Jermaine was arrested and charged with two crimes, one of which was violent in 2011. Jermaine was disloyal to the “idol” producers leaving them no choice but to eliminate him from the American Idol.

Reflection: Jermaine Jones chose the wrong. He decided to be dishonest about his past. He lied about his criminal record therefore he will pay the consequences of being eliminated from American Idol. Jermaine should’ve never lied, he should’ve told the people who he really is from the beginning. 

Sarah's Academic Success Story

Sarah’s Academic Success Story

Part 1

Time management became a key factor in my study skills for college. In high school, there were times I was able to study for an hour or two the night before a test and get away with it. This was not the case in college. I made sure in college I was prepared for each class. Sometimes that meant writing out the terms for the chapter we read (even if when it isn't required) to better understand them. That way when the midterm or test comes around I was able to understand what I was studying. I started taking excellent notes in class in college. I may have done this in high school, but in college I started typing up the notes after class. This helped me remember what I just went over in class then when I had a test one week later I was more likely to remember then as well.

My overall study method: Structured. One thing I learned was I had to adapt or change my study method according to the class. I couldn't study for a Religion Class the same way I studied for a Finance class. But making sure I had enough time to study for each class – even if it meant carrying a planner with me at all times was a big part of my success.

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Define EXCEL arithmetic Operators

Define EXCEL arithmetic Operators

+ Addition

-Subtraction

*Multiplication

/Division

^Power or Exponent

Student Success Statement

Student Success Statement

“There is no set path, just follow your heart.”

-Anon

Reflection: This quote is saying that you should follow your heart because it will make you go the right way. There is no other path that can make you do the right things. When you do something that comes from your heart I guarantee you won’t regret it.

Work Together Part 3

Work Together

Part 3

Here are my final words of wisdom for students who want to get better grades in college: A big thing that not many will say is to ask for help if you needed it. It’s not a bad thing to not understand, it’s a bad thing if you don’t do anything about it. Plan your time out so you are completing everything that needs to get done and leave time to double check. Write things down and have good time management skills. Ask for help is probably the biggest thing I can say though. If you don’t understand, go to office hours or find a classmate that does understand and is willing to help you. If you try hard, it will come to you. I find myself thinking that I would have to try harder to fail than I try to succeed. It is something that is within me to succeed. If that is not who you are, then hopefully things that I have done can show you that success is something that is amazing to find! Good luck!

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!

Work Together Part 2

Work Together

Part 2

English, math, foreign language, tips: For math, all I can say is do the problems assigned. It is the only way to practice and that’s really all it is for math. It’s the same for chemistry; if you do the practice problems you will understand the material so much better because those subjects are not just memorization like history, you need to be able to apply what you have learned in practical situations. As for English, I am no longer taking it, but I would say to leave yourself plenty of time to write essays and papers. They take time to get all the information out of your head and onto the page, so don’t leave them until the last second.

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Work Together Part 1

Work Together

Part 1

I can and will work as part of the team as long as everyone in the team is willing to do his work. I don’t like having to pick up the slack, but I will if I know that my grade will be harmed otherwise. My greatest academic success was in my first semester when I had to write a 10-12 page research paper. It was the longest paper I had ever been assigned and I was a little scared. Also, it was the first paper where they were like, here you go, just write about something, I had to argue in favor of or against something, but it could be anything from the sky is blue to hypnotism. I wrote mine on hypnotism. I worked on this paper for weeks and weeks. Every night I would be doing research or writing. I put so much effort into this paper. It ended up just under 12 pages but it was full on information. I turned it in and when I got it back a week or so later, I had received the first A+ of my college career. All my hard work paid off because I got the grade I deserved. I was really happy and proud of myself.

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Student Success Statement

Student Success Statement

“Try a little harder to be a little better.”

-Gordon B. Hinckley

Reflection: This quote is saying that you need to give it your best in order to improve. If you don’t give it all you got then you won’t get the whole result. Give it your best so you can find success.

You Can Succeed Everyday Part 2

You Can Succeed Everyday

Part 2

My strategies for written assignments: I try to outline before I write because otherwise I forget what I’m supposed to be talking about. I try not to leave them for the last minute because then I just goof up all the work. A lot of times I just write what I feel. Teachers like your opinion and if you can find something from a magazine or book that relates to your life, they like it even more because it allows you to take ownership of your work. I write things that I want others to read: not things that I have to write because the teacher said so.

How I succeed in team projects: personally, I do not like working on group projects, especially the ones I worked on in high school. However, when it is required to work as a group I try to lead. I like taking the lead because then I know that my grade will be a good one. I do well in school, I always have and I don’t plan on changing that anytime soon, so when I need to work with people who maybe don’t care as much as I do, or they have more time to waste on things other than the project, I try to be in charge. That way I know that things are going to get done on time and that I am going to get a good grade. If I am working in a group of people who all want to work, then it is a different story.

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Summary & Reflection

Summary: Tiger Woods the billionaire golfer ignores his half-brother. He neglects his little half-brother, who is suffering from multiple sclerosis and is in the edge of losing his house. Being unable to work has made Kevin Woods reach out to Tiger for assistance.

Reflection: I think Tiger Woods is making a wrong decision by choosing to ignore his little half-brother. He has so much money, I don’t understand why he can’t help him out financially. What’s sad is that he can’t even give his little half-brother a call asking him if he’s okay or something. If I was Tiger Woods I would definitely help him out, one because he’s my bro and second because he is a billionaire so it wouldn’t hurt him waste money.

You Can Succeed Every Day Part 1

You Can Succeed Every Day

Part 1

My overall study method: I break up studying over several days and over the course of the evening and day. Cramming never works for me I try not to do it. I will have longer sessions on nights before big tests, but I never stay up much later than normal before tests. I know that if I take the test tired the next day I will not do as well as if I was rested.

How I've overcome an initial bad grade: I usually look over the test or paper to see what I did that the teacher did not want. Basically, I do not stress out about grades that much because for me they are not worth getting really upset about. I do well because I know that I know the material. However, if I do get a bad grade, or one lower than I expected, I make sure that the next time a test is coming I study even more so that I won’t be surprised by the questions.

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Student Success Statement

Student Success Statement

“I shall pass through this life but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness I can show, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall never pass this way again.”

-         Etienne de Grellet

Reflection: This statement is trying to say that you only live once. You should act like each day is the last day of your life. Make the most out of it because you only have one particular time to do what’s right.

Effective Study Methods Part 3

Effective Study Methods

Part 3

How I deal with multiple projects/tests: When I have more than one test or project, I break up my studying. I will study for one test for 30 minutes or so and then switch to the other one. If there is some part of a project that I know will not take me very long, I will do it when I don’t have much time. If I am really in a crunch for time on a specific day, I will study for one test in the morning and the other in the afternoon or at night. By breaking up the studying into different sections, I feel like I get much more done. Cram sessions do not work for me. I need to study something for a shorter period of time more often for it to sink in.

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Effective Study Methods Part 2

Effective Study Methods

Part 2

My time management secret: My secret is to use time wisely. I know that on certain days I do not have time to run errands or hang out with friends even. Each minute of each day is used for something. One thing that works really well for me is to write everything down. I mean everything. I write down if I am going to email people, write letters, or study. It works for me to have a planner that goes by the day and shows me what I am going to be doing every day. Knowing what I have to do every day helps me plan out my week and my days, if I know that I don’t have time on Tuesday, I will try to get more things done on Monday or Sunday. I plan ahead, especially if I am going to be on the road for volleyball. When I am on the road, I bring my books and read on the bus/plane/hotel room. Missing class is killer to make up from, but if you are upfront with your professors, they are usually nice about having to turn things in late or not being in classes.

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What i did over my break

I didn’t do much over my break, however it was fun. The best part of it was that I didn’t have to wake up early the next day and I had the chance to sleep at whatever time I wanted. Every day I would go to sleep like at 3:00am and I would wake up like at 12:00pm.  A day that I had a lot of fun was when I went to speed zone. I love driving go karts. I also loved celebrating Christmas with my family, there were so many foods to eat that I didn’t even know where to start. I think I gained weight because of Christmas and New Year’s.

Effective Study Methods Part 1

Effective Study Methods

Part 1

My test study method: When it comes time to study for the test, I usually start 2-3 days before the test. I go through my notes and make flashcards on what was important for those sections, paying special attention to what the teacher said would be on the test if there was a review session. Also, I go through the book and read the inset stories and add to my flashcards. If there are practice problems or online assignments or old tests, I use those to help me study for the test as well. Once the test is over, I keep the flashcards so that I have them for the next test or for the final. Flashcards are a marvelous learning tool. The key to remembering something is to repeat it numerous times-spaced rehearsal. If you forget something, it is because you haven’t repeated it enough times for an extended period of time. Repetition is a law of learning; therefore, to learn and remember, to recall, it is mandatory that you repeat over and over the things you desire to learn and remember. You may be thinking, “Oh, no, repeating something.” You need to get used to it. For example, the more you practice a song on the piano, the better you become at playing that song. Learning and remembering is like playing the piano-the more you practice saying or doing it the better you can remember it. Look now at what you remember. You remember it because you have repeated it numerous times since first being exposed to it. So, Practice rehearsing those things you desire to remember and they will stick with you.

Practice-àProficiency-àPleasure

The better you remember, the more pleasure you obtain from studying and learning.

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