5 Ways to Make School a Priority

You may not realize this, or perhaps you haven’t thought about it, but school is a lot like your full-time job. Your parents might work (that is one of their jobs), but taking care of you is also their job. School is your job. Think about that for a second and how it might affect how you would behave differently if you were to treat school like a job.

You have to ask yourself, would you act this way at work? Knowing you are getting paid? Would you fail to turn in work when it is due? Would you skip out on work because you want to hang out with your friends? Sure, you can do all of these things, but the likely outcome is that you would get fired from your job. Do you feel like you should be fired school? How good are you at your job? School might not financially pay, but it pays in other ways (like learning) and sets the path for you to peruse your dreams. These days, school is power. Try finding a high or decent paying job that doesn’t require a degree. It’s something to consider, at least in some regards, how would treating school like a job change your performance? It’s not a simple equation, as everyone is different, but here are five ways to stay above the grain and get your head back into the school zone.

1. Value your Assignments

This doesn’t mean that you have to worship your homework, but treat it like you’re working at a job. Complete it. Hand stuff in on time, finish all of your work and try your best when you get to work. By valuing your assignments you are bound to learn so much more about them and why they are important. This will also help your grade and keep you at a passing level. The more you do this, the more improvement will be made. Also, the more you will be able to learn what it is that you love and what you would like to explore as a career path. Keep in mind that school is the foundation for so many important jobs. If this is something that interest you, you can not slack off.

2. Get a Tutor

If you’ve pulled out all the stops for a class and still see a decline, it might be time to ask for help. Nobody is expected to be good at every subject. I know students who get A’s in English but C’s in Math. Different people excel at different things, and this is okay but ideally you are going to end up where you need and belong to be. Other people working with us intimately to help us overcome our learning issues is key. When you connect well with a tutor, they have the ability to teach you things in the right way and the ability to teach you new things so you can get ahead in class lessons. Tutors have been known to increase grades and in some cases, tutors will get you ahead so you feel confident about the subject. This is really helpful because so much of the time we don’t want to talk about the things we can’t do well. When kids and teens feel confident they are more inclined to perform better and help others. An increased level of confidence can make a world of difference because knowledge is power and it points us in a positive direction.

3. Go Above and Beyond

Teachers give A’s for excellent effort so why not put in a little extra something? You know those group projects where they pulled out all the strings and you suddenly feel insecure about your own? That’s the type of work A’s are made of. A’s are given to students who put the extra effort in, study and really try to understand and engage with the material. A-Students show a passion for the subject and often demonstrate leadership skills involving the topic. Going above and beyond doesn’t just mean in the classroom, you can go for student council, excel at a sports team or kick butt at an activity. There are so many ways to get involved with your school. Be mindful of opportunities and apply. That’s all you can really do. If you don’t make the team or get a part in the school play, it’s okay, at least you went out, faced your fears and tried.

4. Put School before Friendships

I know this one seems tough, but you can do it. Hang out with your friends as a reward for getting all your work done. Friends come and go, but your future is forever, and don’t you want to set yourself on the right path to ace that future?

How often do you think about what you want to be? Know that it’s perfectly okay if you have no clue. You’re young and there is time to find your passion.

5. Practice makes Perfect

There are many subjects that require outside practice. French or Spanish, for example, requires learning an entirely new language. You have to practice how to translate verbs and pronounce things. With English, you have to improve your writing skills and become your own best editor. The more you do anything the more it will enhance your skills. This even applies to sports and other activities. Like a video game, the more you play the better you get. Practice is key for good results.

If you start to think of school as your job, you might start changing how you behave at school. For instance, you’ll pay attention. If your boss was speaking, you wouldn’t start playing on your phone. If your teacher asks you to do something, do it. Show up. Participate in group projects, don’t leave all the work to the one keener. Practice the concepts you don’t understand, ask for help or hire professional help. Regardless, do what you can to make school a priority.

Have Your Say

Do you think of school as your full-time job? How do you think your “boss” would say you are doing? Comment below.