"I just know that 9th grade will be hard. I can't do all of that hard work."

Recently, those words were spoken by my daughter as she anticipated her first day of high school. I explained to her, "You have to start off the new school year with a positive attitude, vision, belief, and most importantly, language. The words that you say to yourself about what you can and cannot do have a tremendous impact on your behavior. Use positive affirmations about what you can achieve. Believe that you are a hard worker, and that you can do it."

Here are some more tips to help you become more successful in school:

Work Habits in Class:

1. Make sure you have all your materials: pens, pencils and paper.
2. Listen very carefully to your teacher's instructions and examples. This is very
   important, because many times a poor grade on an assignment is just a matter of
   getting the wrong information.
3. Ask questions before starting on assignments to make sure you clearly understand.
4. Take clear and understandable notes.
5. Participate in class discussions.
   

Work Habits at Home:

1. Do homework and reading assignment in a clean and quiet environment.
2. Set a time for homework and for other chores around the house.
3. Discuss concerns with your parents or any problems you might be having at school.
   

Time Management

1. Keep a calendar of tests dates and times.
2. Learn to break a long assignment into small steps, so that you will not feel
   overwhelmed.
3. Set deadlines for assignments.
4. Have a parent to proofread or check your work.
   

Believe that you are meant for greatness and success. Sometimes you might not believe that, but with hard work, persistence, and asking for help, you will succeed not only in school, but in life as well.