It's time for a September check-in. How are things going?
By now, you have logged onto your academic portals to see how your grades are progressing, or perhaps parent-teacher meetings have started. Are you satisfied with what you are seeing and hearing?
Students, you might still feel confident about your academics, and that's a good thing. But some students are either surprised by what they see for grades, while others might hide at the mere sound of a grade update.
Parents, some of you are happy with what you see for grades, and others might have building frustration.
The big question is, now what?
What can you do if you discover that things are not going well?
Here are a few tips:
1. Parents: take a deep breath before you go in for the big talk.
2. Students: deal with things head-on.
3. Prepare to develop a strategy to turn things around.
Now is the time to course correct and seek help. All is not lost, and you can recover from academic disappointment.
Start by taking a very close look at your grades. Where are you excelling, and where are you not performing at your best?
Student-athletes, do a close analysis of your time. How are you using your free time? Think about how you use your time when you are not at training or a game—every minute matters.
When you discover which classes are challenging, dig deeper and learn why.
Are you not understanding the material?
Is it a case that your skills are not strong, such as study skills, and you need to improve your methods?
Try to pinpoint what exactly it is that is holding you back. If you are unsure, speak to a teacher or professor and ask them for guidance on where they see you falling short.
Once you have that information, create an action plan to fix the issues.
This is not impossible to fix!
Re-direct your mindset to problem-solving mode and create a new schedule that involves seeking assistance such as tutoring or skill development.
You can overcome these academic challenges by staying focused, re-directing your thinking, and improving your time management.
And remember, don't be afraid to ask for help!
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