Readers Request: School

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Not too long ago, I asked what you would like to see me discuss on my blog. Today, we have a request from an anonymous reader who asks:

Do you mind writing about school? I'm someone who gets really anxious about my grades, and it'd be cool to hear some tips, or something of the sort. Xx

School is an obstacle course that teaches us lessons we will need at some point in our lives. We hurdle through classes and are flung through buildings until we have completed every grade possible. Through these school days we strive to be the best because grades define our very status. This is a concept that follows us from kindergarten to college and even in the career world, where we are examined for high Grade Point Averages based off those grades. This is a stressful idea, to know that your career or class choices rely on five letters of the alphabet and numbers.

At times it can be too much and often lead to anxiety, depression, or even considering dropping out. However, there are some methods that can help you relieve any stress about your grades.

1. Join a Study Group

Study groups are students or friends that study together. There are specific types of study groups so it should be easy to find what you’re looking for. Trouble in Biology? There’s a study group for that. Don’t understand Math easily? There’s a study group for that. Can’t quite grasp Art History? There’s a study group for that. By being in a study group, you’ll not only understand the material better, but also make friends which will help remedy your stress. Also trade numbers, Facebooks, and whatnot that way if you need to ask someone a question, they’ll be there for you.

2. Remember to Relax

Yes, you have four papers due tomorrow. Yes, you have three worksheets, a powerpoint project, and an essay due soon. Yes, you have so much work due in the very near future. Take some time to yourself, even if it’s just for a few moments and breathe. Go get a snack, walk around for a bit, meditate, drink a cup of tea, and watch that hilarious Youtube video. Everything will be completed because you are a powerhouse and the victory will be sweet when it’s all done.

3. What Can I Do Better


Always ask yourself and your teachers this question. What can I do better to get the major I want? What can I do better to improve my grades? What can I do better to understand the material? In return, teachers will help you to not only understand the work better, but to show you different ways of grasping the subject. Also by asking yourself this question, you think of different ways of achieving what you want, and make those ways your plans for something better. This question also eliminates the notion of ‘doing your best’. ‘Doing your best’ is a concept that can lead to anxiety about your grades. It will make you wonder if your best isn’t good enough and will greatly stress you out.

4. Ask for Help/Extra Credit

Most teachers understand that not every student is the same. I’ll use myself as an example: I am terrible at Math. I can do the basics, but nothing extreme like calculus. My strongest suits are English, History, Creative Writing, and Art. When I was having trouble in my last Algebra class of high school, I asked the teacher for help. This led her to create an extra credit project for anyone in the class who believed they had terrible grades, myself included. Another time I was struggling in a Public Relations course and the teacher created an extra credit project to help her students. It may seem embarrassing to ask for help or extra credit from the teacher, but if you know it will help you, then swallow your pride and ask away.

Also, whenever a teacher offers extra credit, take it. If your grades are at the top of the class, do not stray away from it. I say this because at the time your grades could be excellent, but what if you fail a test or forget an assignment? What if you mess up on a project? That extra credit could greatly help you.

5. Get a Tutor

Never, ever be ashamed to ask for help. Asking for help does not mean you are an unintelligent idiot. Rather, it means that you want to do better for yourself and expand your knowledge. That’s where tutors come in. Like study groups, there are tutors for everything. French, Astronomy, Calculus, History, there are tutors for just anything you can imagine. It’s also easy to find a tutor, just check postings around the school, your local paper, and the Internet.

6. Organize Your Work

This actually helped me during my college years. What I would do is take a notebook, put my schedule in it, and then make a list of my assignments. Example:

Work                                             Due                                Do It
_______________________________________________________________

2 Worksheets (Math)                  2/10                              2/8

Powerpoint (History)                  2/13                              2/9       

Study Guide (Biology)                 2/11                              2/10

Book questions (English)            2/12                             2/11

The key is to spread your work out and focus on one thing at a time. You’ll also be able to easily manipulate the workload and schedule. This will eliminate any stress from assignments and you’ll concentrate on each one; thus putting forth your best effort and ensuring a good grade. Plus if you’re still uncertain of anything, you have time to text your friends or ask the teacher. Organizing your work also reminds you of what’s due and what to do. However, there will be days where you might have to multitask, such as finals period and the end of the semester. Do not worry, the schedule will help you.

Thank you anonymous reader for suggesting today’s topic. If you would like to see me discuss something in particular, send me a message and I’ll be more than happy to write about it. Also, thank you for reading today’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to comment and reblog.

So tell me, what do you do to feel less anxious about your grades?