With finals week just around the corner, many students feel the cloud of impending doom hanging above their heads. Finals are when most students envy top students more than usual. Everyone can name at least one classmate who never fails to get full marks on the exam, racing to the finish line while the rest of the class is left in the dust. It may feel overwhelming and even impossible to achieve this level of academic excellence; however, you can get one step closer once you learn about the exact strategies these students use to succeed.
One strategy Andrew Yang (10) recommends is to be extra attentive during class: “I use my time effectively and try to do things ahead of time when I have the opportunity.” This minimizes his workload at home, allowing more time for baseball and hanging out with friends.
Using time in class to ask questions is also beneficial before you study alone later. “Studying is no good if you don’t know what you’re doing,” Yang commented. Thus, by clarifying any lingering questions during class, students save themselves from confusion at home when they review the material independently.
Yang’s motivation for studying stems from his unique perspective on academics and school. He believes that learning is a privilege not everyone has, so students at West High should be grateful for the chance:“[Students] should take the opportunity and use it to prepare themselves for the future.” His lifelong-learner mindset essentially minimizes feelings of burnout that many students feel around finals: “I feel burnt out when I wake up,” Yang admitted. “But then I start feeling motivated as I go through my morning, because, as I’ve said, every day provides a unique opportunity.”
Alternatively, Harriette Wardwell (10) dislikes studying, a confession many students can relate to. Yet she finds motivation through the idea of success after her exams. This helps her “lock in until [she’s] finished and prepared.” To enhance her focus while studying, Harriette outlined her distraction-free routine: “I put my phone on the other side of the room, but I also connect noise-canceling AirPods and play classical piano.”
Like Yang, Wardwell urges students to utilize the class time they are provided to work. This allows her to “have tons of time to hang out with friends and do things [she] loves” after school.
In addition to spending time wisely during class, Wardwell also recommends students reevaluate their study methods. “A lot of people focus on memorizing rather than understanding,” she noted. Instead of trying to cram a semester’s worth of information in a matter of days, she advises you “work to understand the why. If you have a conceptual understanding of the topic, you will be more successful.” To develop this conceptual understanding, try teaching it! “If you can teach the subject to someone who doesn’t know it, then you probably know it yourself,” Wardwell remarked.
Despite the stereotype that academic success is reserved for the “naturally smart,” Yang and Wardwell both refute this belief by representing young, driven minds willing to use their time productively in class, find the courage to ask questions, and think deeply about the opportunities academics present. They are living proof that anyone with productive studying habits, effective use of time, and a diligent work ethic can achieve success.
