Perspective?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>I know, I know, I have excellent grades and I am sounding melodramatic.</p>

<p>However, today I received an 82 on an AP Physics test and, I am proud/disappointed to say, it is the worst grade I have received in my life.</p>

<p>1) The reason I ask this, is, can somebody please give me perspective so I stop looking like an arrogant ***<strong><em>bag? I am really *</em></strong>ed off. </p>

<p>2) It kind of struck me today that I really hate who I am. I have never worked hard for anything in my life, have never paid attention in class, and never studied for anything but I've maintained straight A's (but due to public school grade inflation my class rank is barely at 10%.) If I actually started caring, stopped being arrogant, started trying in class, I would be in a much better position than I am now. I realize this is the perspective of a lot of people, and I think talking about this would be constructive. I realize that the thing with myself and a lot of people is that we don't really believe working hard could make that much of a difference, that 1) We're smart enough, we don't need to, and 2) We couldn't do it if we tried anyways? How do you rid yourself of self-doubt and dumb excuses?</p>

<p>I tell myself this is when I am to get motivated, but how? How do you get yourself to be the best you want to be, * when you know you want to * and when * your parents aren't making you ? * </p>

<p>Why can't I find my drive? Why am I complacent? Why am I coming off as an emo, asian, melodramatic teen full of teenage angst complaining about my grades on the internet?</p>

<p>/rant</p>

<p>(Sorry for filling HSL with crap, guys...teenage angst alert.)</p>

<p>(As a side note, does anybody have any tips for paying attention in class? I haven't done it in any of my classes for around 3 years now, and it would really help me out...it sounds dumb, but I can't get myself to do it anymore.)</p>

2

<p>Try to force yourself to ask at least one question per day in each of your classes. That way, you’ll be obligated to pay attention in order to formulate your question. Also acknowledge that the more you pay attention in class, the less you’ll need to study.</p>

3

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The only thing that works for me is to stare intently at whoever’s talking (works best if it’s the teacher) because I find it hard to think while staring at people’s faces.</p>

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Either you haven’t got a goal that you absolutely love, or you think that your goal is unattainable in your current position.</p>

4

<p>^^Why is it always you? :P</p>

5

<p>I draw which helps me focus on what the teacher says and lets it sink in.</p>

6

<p>Try to stop caring about grades. And seriously, a 82 on a test is great. </p>

<p>I get F’s on some tests, but I find it amusing rather than disappointing because I pretty much deserve every grade I get (except for some of those undeserved A’s…haha). If you don’t want to study, then don’t. But then you have to understand that you’re not some ultra-genius and that you will get B’s/C’s/D’s.</p>

<p>Just do the best you can. Your efforts reflect your character, not your achievements.</p>

<p>As for tips, looking at the teacher while he/she is talking helps me. I still zone off sometimes, but for the most part I stay more focused.</p>

<p>Oh, and no matter what you do, don’t learn pen spinning. It looks cool when other people do it, but teachers hate it and you lose concentration. Luckily, I can’t pen spin for my life :/</p>

7

<p>Hmm…try to get a lot of sleep, around 8 to 9 hours. That tend to help a lot of people, since their ability of not being unable to focus is due to being tired from the night before. Also, working out in the morning for at least fifteen minutes help stimulate focus, and so is doing all your homework ( yes all). It help for a good remembrance.
When in your class, and you feel like your attention is slipping, ask questions ( As pointed out before). Stare at your teacher’s face, even if it creeps them out. It makes listening to them easier. If you want to motivate yourself, write somewhere on a piece of paper your goal for that year. For example write " I want to get at least an B on my hardest class," it gives you a clear focus for a goal. Just make it realistic to your capabilities, and not something you believe you would have a hard time of achieving.</p>

8

<p>It’s time to read Mindset by Carol S. Dweck. Life changing.</p>

<p>You’re currently in the Asian grade-grubbing “Fixed Mindset.” Try to move onto a more positive ‘learning for learning’s sake’ “Growth Mindset.”</p>

<p>By the way, I’ve gotten as low as 56s on AP Euro tests and still have an A in the class. A B won’t kill you. Your arrogance will.</p>

9

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Better yet, write on your hand your goal for the day :smiley: <–this actually makes me do my homework. So I know it works.</p>

10

<p>wow, describes me perfectly. Except your 3 years is like my 5 years.
All I have to say is, what is your dream, your goal?
I don’t want to encourage going against people, you’ll burn yourself out. But just remember, you’re not the super genius who gets A’s on everything. If you’re really good, you can challenge yourself to get 97’s on everything, as I do myself, which means you have to pay attention.</p>

11

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<p>I’m not in an Asian mindset * at all *. However, my problem is that I am not in the second mindset either and I wish to be. (I do a lot of stuff for the sake of learning * outside of school * but however, what I do inside of school is really appalling due to my lack of taking advantage of my opportunities and a waste of my teacher’s time as well as mine.)</p>

<p>I’ll check out that book, thanks.</p>

<p>Thanks for all the tips, guys! I think staring at teacher’s face in particular will help me out.</p>

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<p>Sorry, arrogance alert again. I truly am sorry and self-conscious about it.</p>

<p>The problem is, I am one of those people who gets A’s on everything (including my AP classes) without trying, and I don’t really seek to challenge myself nor try to actually learn the material, and I hate myself for that. It’s going to screw me over in life. I could be class ranked #1, enjoy school a lot more, retain a lot more information and have straight A+s (and I really am not exaggerating) if I actually tried, but I don’t. I seek to change, not for the grades, but to help me succeed and to find my goals.</p>

12

<p>I like the writing on the skin idea, but beware! Ink seeps into your pores, and we might not want the side affect from that O_O</p>

13

<p>^^Don’t forget to blink and nod occasionally so as to not creep them out.</p>

14

<p>you’ll get used to it eventually, the earlier the better</p>

15

<p>First of all… although this is irrelevant, you must be pretty freaking insanely intelligent if you can get good grades without trying at all and you consider an 82% to be the “lowest” test score you’ve EVER received. I’m slightly amazed.</p>

<p>To be honest, it sounds to me like school bores you. Like it doesn’t challenge you, or something. (Especially if you go to a crappy public HS like I think you said). I feel the same way, except I can’t just walk into a test and get a 100% without some sort an effort. But this isn’t about me.</p>

<p>Anyway, here are some of my tried and true hints to pay better attention in class: 1) Turn off your cell phone. No, seriously. It’s SUCH a distraction. Turn it off, leave it in your locker or car or whatever… just don’t have it in class with you. Period. 2) Try to learn for the sake of learning. Approach school with a positive attitude. Instead of thinking “ewww, a whole hour of English now!”, think of how excited you are to discuss the crazy main character in whatever book you may be reading. If you learn to learn, you’ll see it’s not such a pain. 3) Actively participate in class; show the teacher you’ve got something to say and that you’re interested. This will help you pay attention as well. 4) Do not put your head down or get too comfortable. You’ll just want to fall asleep.</p>