Five Tips to Success in High School

So you've entered high school, and soon after feel like you've bitten off more than you can chew. Success in high school requires a lot of hard work and dedication. However, if you lack the willingness to work hard and commit yourself, you might as well stop reading, because this article offers no magic pill to improve your grades. For those who are willing to put academics first, this guide will make the next few years of your life a lot easier.

Tip #1: Use an Assignment note book

Organization is one of your most important tasks in high school. You are spending 5-7 hours a day in school in a bunch of different classes, and it isn't easy to remember all of your home work assignments, your projects, your permission slips, etc. This can be solved with just a note book. When you're teacher tells you what you'll need for tomorrow, jot it down. If you need to bring supplies the next day, jot it down. It takes a few seconds a day and will save you from skipping a heart beat when you realize that you completely forgot to do your science homework.

Tip #2: Get your 8+ hours of sleep

Always be planning ahead to make sure that you get to sleep on time. If you decide to leave a project untouched until the day before it's due and find yourself awake at 2 AM, it can turn into a big problem. Your sleep schedule will be thrown off, and perhaps you won't be able to sleep the next day. Going without proper sleep will leave you brain dead in school the next two days; so in solving one problem with the project, you will have created more by leaving yourself clueless in class.

Tip #3: Eat nutritious meals

A lack of sleep isn't the only thing that can throw off your attention span in school; malnutrition can as well. Never let a diet get in the way of getting proper nutrition. Always eat a hearty breakfast, and don't stuff your face in junk food in the cafeteria at lunch. Eat something nutritious; abiding with the food pyramid. I won't advise anything for dinner, because that is irrelevant to your energy during school.

Tip #4: See your teachers for extra help (if needed)

Don't hesitate to approach your teachers if you don't understand something. A good teacher will want to help you if you show that you are trying. Ask if you can see him/her and when a good time is. Don't leave your teacher alone until you are caught up with the class, and if you simply don't understand the material, consider dropping course levels. It isn't a happy decision to make, but sometimes it is for the best.

Tip #5: Pay Attention

The simplest, yet most important thing to do in school. Listen to your teachers, take notes and ask questions. This can be painfully boring at times, but is necessary to succeed in school. Force yourself to pay attention; no matter how bored you are, know that your success depends on it.