Hey eighth graders! Follow these tips to start next year right

Dear eighth graders,

It’s almost the end of May, which means school is coming to an end and summer will soon commence. But don’t forget, when school begins again, you will be taking my place as a ninth grader. Now, don’t be scared; there’s nothing to fear–except the plethora of homework and highly scored assignments that will make you want to pull your hair out! But being in ninth grade has it pros, such as being at the top of the school–trust me you’ll enjoy the power. Not to mention, you’ll have one less floor to walk up.

As I look back at my ninth grade I realize I could have and should have done things differently. Maybe I procrastinated too much or didn’t stay ahead of my schedule, but either way changes should have been made. Because of that, I want to help you so you don’t make the same mistakes I did.

Therefore I present to you: Six Tips for Ninth Grade

Take notes
In ninth grade, teachers tend to do more talking than writing on the board. Teachers lecture so you can write the information as you like in your notebook. They expect you to be taking notes during their lecture. Therefore, you’re going to need to take notes. This doesn’t mean you need to write what a teacher says word for word. You can write key points or even draw little pictures to help you remember or memorize (which is something I do). Notes don’t have to be boring either, you can highlight, circle, or bubble around important points to catch your attention when you’re looking back over your notes. Taking notes is a great way to improve handwriting too!

Know how much to study
I’ve never studied so much for an exam until I got to ninth grade. I would watch lessons, listen to recordings of lectures, take notes which I would then look back over, complete study guides, create index cards–I even made my own study guide that was about 39 pages for one biology test! Yet, sometimes hardcore studying is just as bad as not studying at all. I’ve learned my limit and now I know not to over study to the point where I’m more stressed than I should be. But, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t study–you should always look over the material before a quiz or exam. Just discover your happy medium and know your limits.

Don’t procrastinate–get assignments finished early
Procrastination is something I frequently did earlier in ninth grade. I would push homework or studying to the very last minute and every time I would regret doing so. But the thing is, it’s so easy to not do your work and keep pushing it away. If you already do this now in eighth grade, then you’re going to need to stop and put an end to that bad habit. The key is to get the project, essay–whatever it is–finished early. Finishing assignments earlier than the original due date feels amazing–it’s like the stress has just fallen off of your shoulders. Not to mention, it’s one less thing to worry about. Not procrastinating and getting your work done results in more free time for yourself.

Ask questions
Something I regret not doing in ninth grade was asking more questions. I rarely asked questions, and whether I was too scared or unsure, I just never grew the confidence to do so. But now, as the year is ending, I realize the saying “the only stupid question is the one you don’t ask” is completely true. Teachers are there to help and assist–that’s why you need to take advantage of that. Ask the questions you have, and I promise you someone is wondering the same thing you are.

Pay attention in class
Like I said before, teachers tend to talk more in ninth grade, therefore you’re going to have to give your full and undivided attention to that teacher. Yes, that means no talking or playing games on your Chromebook–pay attention! I can tell which classes I had a rough time paying attention in just by looking at my grade. Really listening and processing what a teacher is demonstrating or saying benefits both you and your grades. Also, if you want to pay attention and not get bored out your mind–don’t check the time. When you check the clock, it seems as though the class is going on forever which makes you bored and therefore you’re not paying attention. Just don’t check the time every second and instead focus on the task in front of you.

Write in your agenda
In ninth grade, there is a lot more homework, as well as exams, projects, essays and quizzes. Because of this, it’s difficult to keep up with certain due dates and days. Using the agenda you’re given helps keeping track of assignments and staying on top of things. In ninth grade, some days I would use my agenda and some days I wouldn’t. When I didn’t use my agenda, I remember not knowing when tests were and having to study at the last minute because of that. That’s why agendas are so useful! Organization is a great tool for a stress free school year.

And here’s a short but critical bonus tip–don’t forget to get the right amount of sleep. Without the sleep you need, you’ll lack both the motivation and energy to follow any of these tips. So please remember, don’t stress too much! You can thank me when I see you in tenth grade.