Failure to Success: How I Turned my Grades Around

Hello, my name is Gary. I'm a programmer and math enthusiast, and I want to share my journey and some tips on how I improved my grades from Ds and Fs to As. I enrolled in the most challenging school in my city, and I was surprised to see how intelligent my classmates were. I felt inferior and struggled to get Cs and Ds, and even teachers made fun of me. I had no friends, and it felt terrible. However, I decided to work hard and strive for excellence. I studied diligently, but my grades only improved to Bs. It was then that I realized the importance of working smart instead of just working hard. Smart work involves understanding the concepts and applying them, which average students tend to avoid. Of course, hard work is necessary to master smart work. When I began to work smart, my grades skyrocketed, and even those who ignored me wanted to be my friend.

So, what did I do differently to achieve this transformation? Here are my tips:

1. Write down daily goals

It's crucial to have a clear direction of where you're headed. Each morning, write down the things you plan to accomplish that day. Having good goals will highlight to you exactly what you need to work on today, this will give you good motivation to do it because its right in front of you laid out. Now make sure these goals are also realistic goals.  

2. Avoid rote learning:

Understanding concepts is more important than memorizing them. If you struggle with a topic, don't hesitate to ask your teacher for help. If you're an introvert, consider joining a good Discord server or watching videos online. There are several ways to get help, but none will happen unless you take action.

3. Limit social media use

Social media can be incredibly distracting. Don't waste your time scrolling through Instagram or Facebook. Use social media wisely and don't become a slave to it. Keep this stuff on the down low during your study week to ensure there are no distractions, so you can focus on scrolling through your As not scrolling through Instagram.

4. Take a walk

If you get stuck on a math problem, don't get frustrated and turn to social media for distraction. Instead, take a walk and get some fresh air. You might find that the solution comes to you naturally. A walk of fresh air gives you a good idea of what you're up against. It is the best method for getting inspiration.

5. Stay motivated

Always remember that the hard work you're doing now will pay off in the future. Life is short, and you have a choice to either waste it or build something memorable. Stay motivated and at every step think "Can I do better", don't stop studying until that moment comes when you really can tell someone straight up every single thing you know.  

I hope my tips will help you on your academic journey. Remember, with hard work and smart work, anything is possible! If you want to learn more about handling academics, or if stress is becoming part of the reason you are struggling, read over here on taking control of this.