Academic Comeback
As we ring in the new year and celebrate the start of the second semester, it can be easy for us students to lose motivation in school. For seniors especially, it can be tempting to push aside schoolwork and studying to spend more time with family and friends before the end of the school year. Maybe you decided to procrastinate or skip assignments and want to get your grade up, or you want some tips to ace the finals and AP exams. Maybe you're just curious to see how you can improve your academic performance in general. Either way, here's some advice on how to make an academic comeback in 2025.
- Stop procrastinating.
The biggest problem that students face is procrastination. Pushing aside urgent schoolwork to hang out with friends or binge-watch Netflix is something that most of us are familiar with. This year, try your best to get your homework done before you decide to spend time elsewhere. Utilize study halls and dedicate a few hours after school to get your homework done. You can make a checklist on your phone's notes app that helps you keep track of current assignments and upcoming due dates.
- Learn studying techniques and utilize apps that work for you.
If you find it difficult to study for a test and don't know where to start, try researching different study methods to figure out which one works best for you. You can try spaced repetition, the Pomodoro technique, the Feynman technique, or any other helpful method to help your study sessions be more effective. For larger exams, like the AP Exams, use apps like Collegeboard, Khan Academy, and Knowt (an app similar to Quizlet that has flashcards and sample AP MCQ/FRQ questions for each AP course). For the SAT, download Bluebook (the official app for the digital SAT) and try some practice quizzes. Use Khan Academy or invest in a prep course online.
- Minimize distractions and find a good environment.
When working from the comfort of your own room, it can be difficult to study when you're constantly receiving notifications or falling asleep in your bed. The next time you do your homework or study, try setting your phone on Do Not Disturb or moving it somewhere inaccessible. You could also try switching up the environment where you study. If you find it difficult to concentrate at home, go to a cafe or stay after school in the library (reminder, it closes at 4:30).
If this all seems overwhelming and you have no idea where to begin, try to write down some ideas you have and take small steps toward those goals. Whether you use this advice or not, good luck with your academic comeback!
–Celeste Cima