Dear student,
Below you will see a list I call "Habits of Student Success". Having been an student for nearly 30 years, I thought it would be helpful to pass along some lessons I have learned. If your aim is to be the best version of yourself you can be, perhaps some of these will resonate with you.
Quick note: note that none of the following habits have anything to do with "intelligence", whatever that means. An intelligent student can develop bad habits, eroding their abilities. I believe success is less about innate ability and way more about discipline, grit, endurance, and a willingness to listen.
Your teacher,
Alexander Dinh
The student mindset means 1) you will fail on occasion, so learn from your mistakes, 2) your daily schedule during the semester is vastly different than during your breaks, and 3) you’re not as smart as you think you are. Learning is an ego-less endeavor. The faster you lock in to this mindset, the easier it will be to learn, change, and grow.
During breaks, you can watch Netflix, play mobile games, follow the news, hang out with friends, Snap friends frequently, and attend parties all in the same day. As a student, you’ll need to sacrifice all but one or two sources of entertainment. Your job is to learn.
The brain research is conclusive. All new ideas presented during the school day is temporarily stored in short-term memory banks. These ideas will disappear, unless you review and reinforce ideas independently on the same day as it was introduced to you. Do not rely on homework to adequately prepare you for an exam. It will not be enough.
School and life outside of school is complicated. There are many parts moving simultaneously. In order to keep up with all of these moving parts, one must stay organized. Using an app on your smartphone, a paper calendar, etc. will keep you on track. From small homework assignments to large projects or exams, one must keep track of all expectations to succeed.
In the process of reviewing material, you will have questions. Every good student has questions. You are expected to bring questions to Mr. Dinh individually or for the whole class. Even if you believe that you have no questions, you are not thinking about the material hard enough. Try explaining the concept to a friend. Troubleshoot your own understanding. When approaching the professor or teacher, introduce yourself, notify them that you have a question, and politely ask for clarification on a specific scientific concept.
Exam questions are based on homework assignments, Brainjogs, written notes and spoken lectures. It is your responsibility to listen and write down any verbal science content that I write or speak during class. I know the exam questions, so I provide clues on what the questions might be when I explain something.
Every field of study has special vocabulary specific to their field. Walking into a class is like walking into a foreign country. Some words you may recognize, but others you will not. Strong students are prepared for this reality, so they identify new vocabulary, practice repeating and using the word in context, and applying the word to a new situation. This happens every day. Some students use phone apps (Cram, Anki, etc.) while others use physical flashcards. What is your strategy?
Eating poorly, meaning eating heavy processed sugars (e.g. hot Cheetos, chips, cake, candy, etc.), makes you lose energy and feel sleepy. Cut them out. Drink at least your body weight in fluid ounces of water. A short 15-min jog every day keeps your mind sharp. Sleep regularly, which means eliminating any screen after a certain time at night. You decide the time. Any deficiency in these factors will cost you vital energy and time.
Psychology research makes it clear: comparing yourself to others is destructive because you will never feel satisfied. Concentrate instead on your own learning and performance. If you scored poorly on a quiz or exam, do not stress that your friend performed better. Stress about how you will improve.
Students make impressions on their instructors from Day 1. A trenchant instructor will know who complains, makes excuses, cheats, works honestly, and is disciplined. You have the power to shape how your instructor views you. Their respect is worth its weight in gold. Fight for it. An instructor’s respect can mean the difference between a one-year teacher and a lifelong mentor.