It is the end of summer vacation and the return to school. I always loved back to school time. Buying new clothes & supplies, getting back with friends, and even finding my classrooms. As a parent, it was different. Dropping my children off at the front door of school was as nerve-racking for me as them – especially that first day of kindergarten.
School is a vital part of growing up. It requires dedication, commitment, and time, but it can also be really fun and exciting. Whether it’s a kindergartner attending school for the first time or a senior attending school for the last time, here’s some advice on how to make this the best school year ever.
1: Develop the Right Perspective
We live in a culture that is confused about the purpose of education. Parents and students conceive of education exclusively in measurable quantities, with grades, diplomas, and future jobs topping the list.
But there’s more to school than grades. Not only does school teach academics, but it also is an opportunity to build character and strengthen relationship skills. It is a time to develop talents, learn lessons about friendship, hard work, perseverance, patience, kindness, and diligence. These are more vital to life success than grades.
2: Check Your Attitude
For some students, school work comes naturally and they enjoy books and learning. For others, school work is hard. Regardless, the key to having a great year is maintaining a positive attitude.
Attitude affects everything and can make a student’s time at school whatever they want it to be. It can be fun and exciting, something students will look back on with wonderful memories, or it can a living nightmare. It all depends on attitude.
3: Keep Your Priorities Straight
I encourage students to prioritize their lives in the following order: God, Family, School, Everything Else. Keeping God as the number one priority doesn’t necessarily mean students spend all their time in church and in prayer. It does mean, however, that a student’s relationship with God should be the most important relationship in their life. Neglect of that vital spiritual connection will leave students without an anchor for their soul through the up and down trials and circumstances of their lives.
Next to God, healthy family relationships are the second most important relationships in the life of a student. When schoolwork pulls a student away from God or family, the school has become more important than God intended.
4: Organize for Success
Successful people are organized. Students are no exception. Nothing is more miserable than falling behind at school. I can remember trying to cram for an exam or spending late nights finishing a reading assignment. To avoid this, students must maintain disciplined habits of time management and planning. Keep track of multiple assignments and deadlines. It is a good idea to schedule these on a cell phone or simple calendar.
5: Try Different Things
School offers lots of opportunities for students to get involved and try new things like sports, drama, music, and art. God has given students interests, talents and abilities that they might not even know they possess unless given the opportunity to discover. It’s okay for a student to try clarinet for awhile, then decide it’s not for them. It can be difficult for an athletic parent to permit his child to try out for the school play instead of the football team. But school is a great time to enjoy various experiences.
While these 5 tips won’t guarantee school will be easy, if a student follows them, they will grow and mature into the person God intends for them to be. School, like everything in life, requires hard work and diligence. So I hope this is the best school year you’ve ever had.