10 Ways to Be a Great Student

One day, I read an article written by Deb Peterson on the internet. He wrote really good writing for students to motivate themselves in their study period. I thought his writing is absolutely needed by students, especially my students in Al-Hidayah Boarding School. So, I dare myself to rewrite Peterson’s writing. I took his concepts and I made some explanations based on my student life in boarding school. I hope it can be useful for my students due to their need to be motivated every time to raise their enthusiasm. Here are 10 ways to be a great student.

1. Take Hard Lessons

You're paying good money for an education, make sure you get one. Your parent sent you to learn knowledge here. Don’t imagine how much money they spent for your education. You really can’t count it appropriately. 

There are many lessons that you faced in the boarding school. You should take all of lessons and you must be interested with it. No excuse to say that you’re hate that lesson. In example, you’re very lazy to learn Math in the class because of it’s difficulty. You should try to be a good learner in that lesson. If you avoid it, you will feel unhappy when you teacher teaches you.     

Be passionate about learning. I once had an advisor that said to me when I expressed fear of a difficult lesson, "Do you want to get an education or not?"

2. Show Up, Every Time

Make your classes your highest priority.

Showing up do not mean “riya”. You always show your enthusiasm when the teacher is teaching you. Show your intention to the lesson and make yourself a person who understood it quicker than others. You should be seen the clever student in your class.

Be the best in every change you can do in the class. Do not leave any opportunity to be number one in the class. Make sure that you always get the best school grade in the school. 

3. Sit in the Front Row

If you happen to be shy, sitting in the front row can be very uncomfortable at first, but I promise you, it's one of the best ways to pay attention to everything being taught. You can hear better. You can see everything on the board without having to crane your neck around the head in front of you.

You can make eye contact with the teacher. Don't underestimate the power of this. If your teacher knows you're really listening and that you care about what you're learning, he or she will be extra willing to help you. Besides, it'll feel like you've got your own private teacher.

4. Ask Questions

Ask questions immediately if you don't understand something. Don’t be shy to do it. If you're in the front row and have been making eye contact, your teacher probably already knows by the look on your face that you don't understand something. A polite raising of your hand is all you need to do to indicate you've got a question.

If it isn't appropriate to interrupt, make a quick note of your question so you don't forget, and ask later.

Having said this, don't make a pest of yourself. Nobody wants to hear you ask a question every 10 minutes. If you're completely lost, make an appointment to see your teacher after class.

5. Create a Study Space

Carve out a place that is your study space. You may use the room, mosque, classroom, etc as your comfortable place for study.

Create a space that helps you make the most of your study time. Do you need absolute quiet or do you prefer to have a noisy place? Do you like studying at the kitchen or do you need a quiet place with the calm situation? Know your own style and create the space you need. 

6. Do All the Work, Plus More

Do your homework. Please, you should pay attention about the duty from your teacher. Do not belittle any homework.

Turn your work in on time. Submit it as soon as possible according to the limit time. Don’t to be accustomed your character as the person who is always late in submitting a work.

  

When your teacher gives you homework, do the best to show your interesting attitude in his or her lesson. Remember, you will be a student who always get the special attention from your teacher because of your obedience to him or her.

7. Make Practice Tests

While you're studying, pay attention to the material you know will be on a test and write a quick practice question. Start a new document on your note add questions as you think of them.

When you're ready to study for a test, you'll have a practice test ready. Brilliant.

8. Form or Join a Study Group

A lot of people study better with others. If that's you, form a study group in your class or join one that's already organized.

There are lots of benefits to studying in a group. You have to be organized. You can't procrastinate. You have to really understand something to be able to explain it out loud to someone else.  

9. Use One Planner

I don't know about you, but if I had a separate calendar for work, school and life, I'd be a complete mess. When everything in your life is on one calendar, in one planner, you can't double-book anything. You know, like an important test and a dinner with your boss. The test trumps, by the way.

Get a great calendar or planner with enough room for several daily entries. Keep it with you at all times.

I know that your daily activities in boarding school have been scheduled, but you should make your own schedule based on your special activities, such as: scout training, playing music in group, playing football in match, and visiting some place with your teacher.    

10. Meditate

One of the best things you can do to improve your entire life, not just school, is meditate. Fifteen minutes a day is all you need to feel calm, centered and confident.

Meditate any time, but 15 minutes before you study, 15 minutes before class, 15 minutes before a test, and you'll be amazed at how well you can perform as a student.

As a moslem, we can do shalat or prayer as the way for meditation. If we learn deeply about the benefits and the philosophical values of shalat, we will understand that it may help us to be a good person. So, do shalat correctly based on Islamic teachings. You also may start to do shalat tahajud at night, it will help you to feel calm and peaceful. (Rawadenok, 28^th of April 2013).