Resolutions for this New School Year

September is a great time to reflect on the changes we want to or need to make in our studies. This is a good set of ideas for you to improve your results:

Keep a calendar

1. Stop procrastinating. Don't postpone  the work you have to do. Do it as soon as possible as tasks usually take longer than expected.
2. Commit yourself to getting good grades. Good grades are essential for  any student. They will help you get to your favourite "instituto", faculty, etc. so make your mind up and start right now.
3. If a subject is too difficult, ask your teacher outside school, study for the subject with other classmates but don't leave anything that looks too difficult for the end of the term when you won't have much time for everything.
4. Don’t do it all. It’s better to concentrate on a few things and excel in them than if you join every sport, activity and club that you comes accross. Just do a couple of things and make sure you have plenty of time for your studies.
5. Keep a calendar. Deadlines creep up quickly. And the closer the date, the more you’ll feel the pressure. You can use a traditional paper diary or use an online calendar, such as Google Calendar but all exams and deadlines should be written down.
6. Take your exams seriously and study for them on time. Waiting for a second chance is not a good idea as you will be losing opportunities
7. Don't forget handing your school reports on time and remember that a percentage of your final qualification depends on them so don't underestimate their importance.
8. Try something new. Secondary school is a great time to spread your wings. It’s about new experiences and self-discovery. You can try a new sport, learn a new language, find new topics of interest or join an NGO. Just try.
9. Explore your possibilities for the future, consider what you would like to study and find information about those studies, where they can be carried out, etc.
10. Banish the self-doubt. Doubting your own abilities only holds you back from achieving what you want to achieve. Just say no to these thoughts and others like them:
• “I can’t do this.”
• “I’m not as smart as my classmates.”
• “I’ll never get better than a 2.7 grade-point average.”
• “I’ll only get into a community college anyway”
• “There’s no point in thinking I’ll get into my first choice college.”

adapted from http://internationalcollegecounselors.com/es/10-new-year-resolutions-for-high-school-students/