Dear year 7 Student,

I am a year 9 student and I need some advice regarding the new school that I want to go to next year. I am afraid of not being able to enter the school, because my posture and my grades aren’t that great. 

Maybe this happens because I have the bad habit of talking during the class and it makes me distracted in the class. Even though I know it’s wrong and I shouldn’t do that, it is something that I do when the class is really boring. Sometimes, I try not to talk to anyone, but I end up doing the opposite.

On the other hand, I have good grades on almost all the subjects, but there is a class called “Cursinho” and it’s the class that I need to be good in. Unfortunately, it's the class that I have difficulty with.

Because of that, I’m not sure if I will be able to handle the new school or even get into it. I’m not sure if that is a common issue between teenagers or if there are strategies which I could use to study and to control myself. Any advice is welcome! Thanks in advance!

Best regards,

Year 9 student

Dear Y9 student,

I completely understand that you’re nervous about starting at a new school, which is normal, and that getting accepted into it worries you. I will try to help you improve your focus, confidence, and performance by giving good advice!

You told me that you have a bad posture and low grades, and I try to help you with that. My advice to you is to create a study routine. You will see better academic results, and if you study regularly, you improve your grades. According to OSU.EDU, having a good study routine can improve focus, enhance retention, and reduce stress.

You previously mentioned that you are talking in class, and you asked me for help to avoid this habit. In my experience, sitting far from friends and close to the teacher works really well. This works because having fewer distractions makes it easier to concentrate. If you were able to stop talking during class, you would concentrate much better and your grades would improve faster. As stated by Microserve, sitting close to the teacher will help you learn and focus better.

Also, you informed me that you are not sure if you will be capable of handling the new school or even get into it. One thing you should do to help yourself is believe in yourself and ask for help when needed. If you do what I said, it will help you because confidence and support make adaptation easier! According to Verywell Mind, self-confidence helps students adjust to new environments.

Remember, with better habits, focus, and confidence, you will do great in your new school. So, you can improve your posture and grades, stop talking in class, and be confident about handling the new school and getting into it. If any of my suggestions help, you could also try study groups or using online tutorials to strengthen the subjects you find hard.

Sincerely,

Y7 - Carolina D.