study with me

Part five of my quotes collection is dedicated to the leaders! This one is a little bit longer, and believe me, I know I’m leaving out some leaders on this list and it may feel a bit scattered. But as always, I hope you enjoy these quotes and add them to your own collection!

Alexander the Great 

“There is nothing impossible to him who will try.”

“Remember upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all.”

“I had rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent, than in the extent of my power and dominion.”

Napoleon Bonaparte

“A leader is a dealer in hope.”

“Courage is like love; it must have hope for nourishment.”

“Victory belongs to the most persevering.”

“He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat.”

“Ten people who speak make more noise than ten thousand who are silent.”

“The people to fear are not those who disagree with you, but those who disagree with you and are too cowardly to let you know.”

Dalai Lama

“We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.”

“In order to carry a positive action we must develop here a positive vision.”

“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.”

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”

“Home is where you feel at home and are treated well.”

“The purpose of our lives is to be happy.”

“The important thing is that men should have a purpose in life. It should be something useful, something good.”

“With realization of one’s own potential and self-confidence in one’s ability, one can build a better world.”

“When you are discontent, you always want more, more, more. Your desire can never be satisfied. But when you practice contentment, you can say to yourself, ‘Oh yes - I already have everything that I really need.‘”

“Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend - or a meaningful day.”

Catherine the Great 

“I beg you take courage; the brave soul can mend even disaster.”

Winston Churchill

“Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.”

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.”

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”

“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”

“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.”

“Difficulties mastered are opportunities won.”

“Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.”

“If you’re going through hell, keep going.”

“The price of greatness is responsibility.”

“Kites rise highest against the wind - not with it.”

“Never give in - never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.”

Nelson Mandela

“It always seems impossible until its done.”

“A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.”

“We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right.”

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

“After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.”

“There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

“Courageous people do not fear forgiving, for the sake of peace.”

“Any man or institution that tries to rob me of my dignity will lose.”

Martin Luther King. Jr. 

“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.”

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

“The time is always right to do what is right.”

“We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.”

“I am not interested in power for power’s sake, but I’m interested in power that is moral, that is right and that is good.”

“The quality, not the longevity, of one’s life is what is important.”

“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable… Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.”

“We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.”

Margaret Thatcher

“Disciplining yourself to do what you know is right and important, although difficult, is the highroad to pride, self-esteem, and personal satisfaction.”

“If you set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and you would achieve nothing.”

“You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.”

“What is success? I think it is a mixture of having a flair for the thing that you are doing; knowing that it is not enough, that you have got to have hard work and a certain sense of purpose.”

Franklin D. Roosevelt

“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.”

“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still.”

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

“Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.”

“When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on.”

Theodore Roosevelt

“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.”

“Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”

“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”

“Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure… than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.”

“Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.”

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”

“With self-discipline most anything is possible.”

“The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything.”

“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.”

“Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.”

“It is only through labor and painful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage, that we move on to better things.”

“Never throughout history has a man who lived a life of ease left a name worth remembering.”

“I care not what others think of what I do, but I care very much about what I think of what I do! That is character!” 

Mohandas Gandhi

“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”

“Where there is love there is life.”

“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

“The good man is the friend of all living things.”

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”

“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.”

“There is more to life than increasing its speed.”

“Nobody can hurt me without my permission.”

“Each one has to find his peace from within. And peace to be real must be unaffected by outside circumstances.”

“Whatever you do may seem insignificant to you, but it is most important that you do it.”

“You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind.”

“To believe in something, and not to live it, is dishonest.”

“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”

“Truth never damages a cause that is just.”

“Fear has its use but cowardice has none.”

“We may stumble and fall but shall rise again; it should be enough if we did not run away from the battle.”

Abraham Lincoln

“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.”

“Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.”

“I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, and stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong.”

“Don’t worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition.”

“I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing so until the end.”

“My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.”

“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.”

“Whatever you are, be a good one.”

“Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.”

hey guys so recently I have had quite a few messages asking me how to stay motivated so I thought I would put it in one post so that people can see how I like to stay motivated and hopefully these tips help you too!

TIP #1 SET A GOAL

I feel like setting a goal is super important and this is my main source of motivation. I set little mini short-term goals and the odd long-term goal so I am surrounded by aims to get me motivated. 

So what is a short-term goal? A short-term goal is a goal that you want to set for the near future. The near future could be an hour, a day, a week, a month - but something that you can accomplish in a ‘small’ amount of time. Examples could include:

Getting up at 7am every morning and starting your work early

Reading a chapter of a book a day to improve your reading 

No chocolate for a month

No studying past 6pm

Keep a clean desk

A long-term goal is something that you want to reach but takes a lot longer to achieve. Long-term goals can include:

Going to university to study Law

Getting straight B’s in next years final exams

Landing a career in journalism

Gaining/losing X amount of lbs

Saving £X so you can go on holiday

I find setting a long-term goal can be helpful, but short-term goals are just as good. I have a long term goal at the moment to work hard and get good grades so I can go to university and study history. Whilst this is a good goal, I also need stepping stones to get me there and to keep that motivation flowing - these are my short-term goals: such as getting more organised for my final year, or getting an A on an essay I’ve written. 

Sometimes people don’t know what to do when they have to set a goal, but think slightly selfish for a bit and think about what you really want and how to get there. This sets up some motivation. I love having a goal because I feel like every small task I complete gets me one step closer to that goal of mine - almost like ticking an assignment off of your to-do list!

TIP #2 SCHEDULES AND TO-DO LISTS

Speaking of to-do lists, this brings me on to tip number two. I don’t know where I would be without a to-do list/schedule because without it, I would be an absolute mess. With having so much to do, it is impossible for me to keep a mental list of everything and writing it down helps so much!

Not only does it help me remember what I have to do, it also motivates me in so many ways. First of all, setting one up at the start of the day means that I know exactly what I need to get done and I want to get it done as quickly as I can, but without rushing it and so it makes me start straight away so I can tick things off of my list. 

This brings me on to the second reason why they motivate me so much - because every time you tick it off, you get an amazing feeling of satisfaction and relief that your to-do list is slowly getting smaller. Also, the amount of happiness it brings when you have ticked off everything you have to do is definitely such a good feeling and it is so amazing to know you have finished and you can now relax! Each time you tick something off, it motivates you to get the whole list done.

Schedules work in the same way, as you go through the day, there are less and less things for you to do and it makes you feel gradually more satisfied that you’re coming to the end of your work!

Pro tip: however, it is important to be realistic, if you set a to-do list with 15 things on it, it looks less appealing and you are less likely to do it. go for realistic lists that are long enough to keep you busy but small enough to manage!

TIP #3 BREAKING DOWN BIG TASKS INTO SMALLER ONES

This is actually quite simple and original but also helps massively and perhaps one of the most amazing things ever. If I have a massive chunk of homework for a subject, breaking it down into smaller tasks makes my life so much easier and saves me so much agro. 

Of course it isn’t always possible to break it down if your deadline is two days after it is set - but you can always break it down into two halves which makes tackling it seem a lot easier. 

I know some of my friends really don’t like doing this because they would rather just get it done and out the way, but if you are someone like me where motivation needs to hit me like a truck before I get work done, this can be a really good way to tackle projects and homework and isn’t as stressful. Whilst it might take slightly longer due to the breaking up of tasks, I actually find this more productive and makes things so much more manageable so I actually feel like I want to do the small task instead of the one large one. 

I break up the tasks and schedule these broken up tasks on my to-do list. For example, instead of reading a whole chapter and taking notes from my history books, I will just write ‘take notes from page X to page Y’ and it completely changes my frame of mind and makes me more positive.

TIP #4 DO THE TOUGHEST TASK FIRST

You probably must be thinking something like, ‘Jess you must be mad! why on earth would you do the hardest task first thats just the worst idea ever?!’ but honestly, this is something that can really change your mood and uplift you for the rest of the day - honestly, this tip works!

I completely understand that in a morning the first thing you are not going to want to do is that physics homework that entails you doing 3 pages of questions on oscillations and harmonic motion. However, doing the hardest task / things you don’t want to do first, not only makes you tackle it with a fresh mind after waking up (or after a break from school or whatever it is you were doing), but also afterwards, you feel more confident and motivated to get the rest of the things done which are more enjoyable and is actually more motivating because you have got the worst thing out of the way.

You also don’t want to not do it and then set it for another day, when you are probably going to procrastinate getting it done. Get it out of the way!

We all know that leaving an assignment you really don’t want to do until last is perhaps the worst thing you can do, as you take one look at it and decide you have had enough and need a break or some sleep. Prioritising this first means that you can get everything done without leaving the thing you didn’t want to do. 

TIP #5 YOUR SUCCESSES ARE IMPORTANT, BUT THINK ABOUT YOUR FAILURES TOO!

This one is a great one to bare in mind and this really applies to me at the moment and is actually where my main source of motivation has come from since the 18th August (results day!).

For me, getting great results is a massive success, and receiving results such as A’s and B’s makes me very very happy and much more motivated. It gives me a spark of inspiration to keep going to make sure that I keep that up! Whilst I know grades aren’t everything, they are really important to me and so this is why when I get very good results, they motivate me to keep me going to achieve more - and it ends up in a cycle!

However, whilst good grades motivate me to carry on performing at my best and to keep working hard, it is important that I understand my failures too, and so should you. A failure for me isn’t a specific grade as such, but where I am disappointed at myself for getting something or knowing I didn’t perform as well as I should have, or an unexpected failure as I thought I had done better than I did.

From these failures/mistakes, these also motivate me to do better next time, or to focus on improving myself and my technique to be the best I can be. Failures/mistakes can make you more motivated than what your successes can, because it motivates you to find areas of improvement and work hard and improve techniques so that you can get to where you want to be - you can get to that goal! 

Successes and failures are so important in receiving motivation. Not only do they provide you with something to keep you going, but they build you as a character and I think that is a lovely thing!

TIP #6 MAKE USE OF YOUR CREATIVITY

I find that since joining the studyblr community, I have found really nice ways to be creative and to make my notes look neater and more appealing for me to look at. This might seem to be such a silly little tip, but drawing simple doodles or fancy titles really motivates me. 

Whilst making my notes look more aesthetically pleasing takes slightly longer, I find it calms me with anxiety as I am being creative whilst I am working and it is a really great way for me to stay relaxed. So not only does it bring me motivation, but calms my anxiety too! Killing two birds with one stone!

This point doesn’t really apply when I am revising, a fancy title will probably do; and also when I am taking notes in class, I never bother; but when I am going over things or making flashcards, it helps to make things look more appealing so I am more likely to pick them up and go for them and learn. 

Some might disagree that this would actually make them less inclined to do work, but if you need to alleviate stress, get motivated or just want to make your notes look nice, then this could be for you!

TIP #7 BREAKS AND REWARDS!!

Breaks and rewards give you so much motivation whilst you are doing your work! I study and revise probably more than what is healthy, and so I like to make sure I have a nice break whenever I can because I work myself very hard. Sometimes, something can take me about 2 hours and so a half an hour to an hour’s worth of break can really help me before I start something else. 

You can try having a break every 45 minutes, every hour or two hours; but make sure your break really puts your mind at ease before you start work again. You need to make sure you give your brain a good rest. 

You can have a break or reward yourself by having a nice shower, going for a walk or to the gym, cooking, having a coffee and a biscuit, meeting up with some friends, going on social media, having a nap - whatever it might be, as long as you have that break you will feel so much more refreshed after! It also motivates you to get things done so you know you can have a break after you have finished your task and makes you feel compelled to finish it so you can relax!

TIP #8 GET HELP ALONG THE WAY

This is actually a really important point and can help maintain motivation in the long run. Getting people to help you can be a really good way to stay motivated. Tell people, such as your friends and family, about the goals you have set for yourself or that you are struggling to stay motivated and ask them to help you. 

My friends sometimes study with me and help me with things I don’t understand which can help maintain my motivation. When I finally understand something or I go over things with my friends, it can make me feel more confident and uplifted that I know things and spurs me on. Letting family know about your goals also helps them support you which is a really significant part of motivation, because if no one is there to support you, the will to carry on eventually disintegrates and you don’t want that! 

Make sure that you do have some support, whether it be from friends, family or the studyblr community, but ensure you are surrounded by people who can motivate you and who can help you along the way so that you can achieve these goals and keep you on target! Sometimes, motivation doesn’t come from the things you do, but from the environment that you’re in - which is why support and help is such a good source of motivation!

Whenever I get a question on Tumblr the first thought that comes to mind is always: “what is the goal?” What’s your goal? Unless the career you’re trying to break into is a school snob (investment banking, management consulting, business entertainment, etc.) the college you attend won’t have a negative impact on your future. Options:

Attend the best college you were accepted into, kill all your classes, rack up meaniningful internships and work experience, and graduate to a good career.

or

Go to community college, save thousands of dollars, transfer after two years to your flagship state school (example: University of Michigan, University of California, University of Oregon), and repeat the steps above.

If the industry is a school snob:

Finish your bachelor’s at the current university, work in industry, kill whatever graduate test is needed for grad school, attend a big name graduate school, and re-apply to those industries. Employers will always look at your last degree.

i decided to make a masterlist of photoshop resources, for those who want to start making graphics or are looking for new ways to create graphics! there’s download links, tutorials, textures, psds, and other helpful resources. 

DOWNLOADS (PLEASE MESSAGE ME IF LINKS ARE BROKEN)

for windows:

photoshop cs5 (malikmanips)

photoshop cs5 extended (birdysources)

masterpost with tons of ps links/resources (sistaroundpsds)

TUTORIALS

getting started with photoshop (sorrydearie)

learning photoshop’s interface

the ultimate photoshop tutorial (rresources)

how to color without whitewashing 

how to make a coloring psd (yeahps)

guide to gradient maps

texture tutorial

how to use textures

a guide to textures

sharpening workshop

how to add makeup to a picture

lenaofrp’s graphic tutorial

masterlist of gif tutorials

moving pattern tutorial

how to make gifs

how to isolate a color

coloring black and white pictures

colorful gifs tutorial

pixelated effect tutorial

overlay gif tutorial

how to clip mask an image

border tutorial

how to make flower crown edits

how to make manips 

how to make hq pictures

sharpness & grain tutorial

moving text tutorial

typing effect tutorial

how to make a circle edit

how to use actions

what are templates and do you use them?

how to make icons

more tutorials in this tag

TEXTURES

25 textures by plaschka

daenso’s texture pack

18 textures by plaschka

watercolor textures

polaroid texture pack

flicker & fade: 50 textures by plaschka

retro feel textures

daenso’s texture pack 3

watercolor textures

20 large textures by talbots

light leaks texture pack

25 textures by dartagnans

60 nature textures by queencoloring

texture pack by jhnwattson

moonofrp’s texture pack

hayleyofrph’s mega texture pack

texture pack by myungin

all emojis download

this and that textures by plaschka

PSDS

gif psd pack by shycolors

psd by prettycolorspsds

psd 422 by lawynterpsds

jasperhelps manip psd #1

animated movies psd by addictionps

psd 42 gallifreypsd

psd for candids by sistaroundpsds

psd 28 by hipstaps

icon psd by baepreviews

psd 4 by psalpha

psd 33 by gallifreypsd

psd 006 by kwonbaes

psd 1645 by wasirauhlpsds

psd 325 by lawynterpsds

adorkablelena’s psd 3

pswonderland’s tag

psd 10 by quinncoloring

psd 151 by pridecoloring

dirrtylady psds

OTHER RESOURCES

resource pack by whatphotoshop

screencap gallery masterlist

photoshop reference

cs6 shortcuts

photos to use in roleplay graphics

color blender

gryffnsdor resource pack

psbright resource pack

landofmerlin resource pack

psd for text on gifs

font pack by yeahps

font pack by aladdin-s

font pack by whatphotoshop

cursive font pack by yeahps

gallifreypsds favorite fonts

78 different font styles download

pack of 530 pngs

png & brush pack by twiangelz

png pack by daretochase

resource pack by editslovers

template 02 by awfulpsds

template by mixsoucers

simple smart sharpen action by lovotopsds

action #3 by flatinepsds

action #2 by louderps

action #4 by hollypsds

celebrity hq galleries masterpost by fassyy

resource pack by championselenapsds

how i make vector graphics / [click for high res!] → by popular demand, this is how i make vector graphics! i hope this is helpful and feel free to ask if you have anymore questions. —tia ♪  

1st of January, 2017 hey’ it’s 2017. As I look back at what i’ve done this 2016, I’ve realized that i haven’t done anything special; my study habits were non-existent, I had shit grades + shittier life in all honesty. I was stressed out, grumpy and just not content with my life because of school. But now, i’m changing for the better this 2017 by changing how I study. ps,this post will be text heavy.

like/reblog if you found it helpful, + i’ve worked so hard for this post :)

TIPS

e i n s : use an effective note-taking system like the ‘Cornell notes’.

The Cornell notes is just one example of a note-taking system and a lot of you probably knows about this already. The Cornell notes was created in the 1950s by Walter Pauk, a professor from Cornell University.

The Cornell notes is ideal for concept-driven or memory-dependent subjects (such as science, history and etc.)

The effectiveness of Cornell Notes actually comes from  the “cue” column, where you make questions in response to the information written in the “notes” column.

z w e i : find a study group or a network

A network is a great way to meet new people with similar interest, find study buddies, or just a place to chill and talk to when you’re stressed out. Finding a studyblr network is fairly easy, just search studyblr network on tumblr and you’ll see tons of them. A couple of networks that I joined in are:

@teamstdy‘s small studyblr network |

@studyblr‘s 2017 study network |

@silverystudies‘ New studyblr net |

I assume they aren’t taking applications now because they have announced the member results. But there are more study networks that I’ve found which I’ve reblogged, but not joined: (I don’t know if they’re taking-in new members, but it’s worth a shot)

@studyquill‘s The study cult | @thestudycult

@empathias‘ Astronomy and Sci-fi study group | @astronomystudies

@fluentnet‘s Get fluent network |

@intellectus‘ study and chill |

@senstudies‘ Bangtan study net | @btstudynet

@sundayscholar, @etudiance, and @studyingbrains‘ Studyblrs of color | @studyblrsofcolor

 And that’s some networks that I’ve found! Message me if there are more!

d r e i : use the SQ5R reading strategy

The SQ5R is an improved version of the SQ3R reading strategy (survey > question > read > recite > review), which is used for studying non-fiction reading materials. For more information, I’ll be providing you links I’ve found which is really helpful in understanding how to do this.

[ unang link, pangalawang link]

v i e r : study less, study smart

Studying less and studying smart can help you stay focused and take-in more information because of the shorter study sessions.

Study in chunked sessions, most likely 45 minutes. it’s because people tend to remember things better when they learn related ideas in small chunks, rather than trying to cram all the details of a topic into their heads at once. Which is by the way, our favorite thing to do, cramming lol. during your break,  you could stretch your muscles by walking around and rest your eyes and mind.

Designate an area wherein you only use it to study. Don’t study in your bed because it usually just makes you feel sleepy + it’s a place to sleep, not study. Here’s a post I found that would be useful [ mindful study space | @succulentstudy ]

Feed your brain. What we eat and drink affects our concentration and memory. Caffeine and alcohol are mind altering drugs which have long lasting effects on your brain chemistry. That means that many hours after you ingest these, your concentration and memory, as well as mood, will be affected. So I suggest you to lower your intake on this beverages and eat some oily fish, eggs, fruits and vegetables instead.

f u n f : use the Pomodoro method

The Pomodoro method/technique is a useful way to study in chunks, just follow this steps.

+ To know more about it, check this link out:

[bes, click here]

[Warning - A Very Lengthy Post]

A fellow student of mine wrote this when for my batch when we entered high school, and I thought I should share it with you ❤️ it’s been edited to make it more universal to you guys :D

Intro: Having the Courage to Study. When we fail academically, we tend to point to two causes: stupidity and laziness. It’s so easy to say that we’re not smart enough, or that we just don’t want to try because it doesn’t really matter. But there’s another factor involved: fear. So many students have the strategy of not studying or not studying properly for an exam. Why? Because if you put low effort into something, then you should expect a low result. So many of us are afraid of trying and failing that we don’t even try. “What if my best isn’t good enough?” We’re afraid of giving our best because once we know our limits, we feel that much weaker. But life in school isn’t about not trying, it’s about accepting those limits and breaking them.To survive and ultimately thrive, you must have the courage to reach your full potential.That courage, that vigor, that strive to be better is what will keep you alive, not just in school but in the real world.

Guide: - Sleep and Eat well. We often lose sleep or skip meals in order to survive the rigors of life.But keep in mind, those choices in the rest and nourishment you receive have consequences. Having the energy to focus throughout the day is vital. Nobody wants to be tired, nobody can afford to be sick.

- Pay Attention in Class. There’s a difference between passive hearing and active listening. Letting the teacher’s words wash over you like a warm shower is NOT the same as paying attention. Teachers are human beings, capable of expressing emotion and emphasis in their words and actions. There’s a reason why you learn from them rather than from a book or the internet. Catching what they’re trying to say is a skill that takes effort to learn.

**The skill of listening is one of the most important ones to develop because a teacher’s words are your last resort in an examination. If a quiz catches you by surprise, your memory of the class is the difference between A+ and an F.

- Take USABLE Notes. Normally, humans are not capable of memorizing lessons entirely in their head.That’s what notes are for. Keep in mind that notes should be USABLE, they are not things that you make for the sake of looking or feeling productive. Each person has a specific style of learning and their notes should reflect that. Notes that are too long/elaborate, too short/simple, unreadable, or illogical are detrimental. Good notes should be aids in studying, not justification for carrying notebooks.

**Tips: - Save time by using abbreviations or acronyms. - Rearrange/reconstruct words or phrases for convenience. ex. Famous Authors of America –> Impt. American Authors. - Avoid copying verbatim unless necessary (quotes). - Write down examples, esp. in science/math related subjects. - If notes are incomplete, supplement them via reliable sources or your teacher.

- Practice. There is more to studying than reading/note-taking. Practice is essential. This is especially true for Math-related subjects. Reading your notes before a Math exam is not really going to help you understand the problem or protect you from careless mistakes. The only way to improve in the subject is by doing the exercises and learning from both your success and failure. Memorizing definitions isn’t as important as using them. Being able to analyze, compare, and contrast is vital to survival.

- Review a Little Bit, Regularly. Slow and steady wins the race. Students tend to read a ton of material before an exam. However, the human mind requires time in order to fully grasp ideas and concepts. Taking 10-20 minutes to read your notes after school daily can help in memorizing lessons, understanding themes, and recalling important points. Taking every subject’s lessons day by day will prevent you from being overwhelmed.

**Tip: - When reading through your notes, picture yourself in the classroom with your classmates and teacher. The human mind is like a web, connected by images and sounds. Doing so can help you recall things written on the board or things mentioned by the teacher.

- Learn to Plan and Cram. Working for the long-term and rushing for the short-term are two opposing ends of the spectrum. But if you don’t master both, you will suffocate in requirements.Time and energy are limited resources and the best scholars know how to get the most out of them. You can’t expect to be able to plan assignments weeks or days in advance the same way you can’t expect to make “academic excellence” in 30 minutes or less like a pizza delivery service.

**Tips: - Periodic Exams, Long Tests, and Projects REQUIRE planning and coordination. - Teachers can take up to 5 minutes setting up. Exploit the time. - Lunchbreak, and the 20 minute breaks are the normal “"cram periods”“.

- Don’t Think of Difficulty. “Easy” and “Hard” are relative terms. They mean different things to different people and ultimately, they should mean nothing to you. Feeling scared of a “tough” exam is harmful, as is feeling smug about an “easy” one. Study well so you can approach every test with confidence. Remember: it’s just as possible to perfect a difficult test as it is to fail an easy one.

- Don’t Compare Yourself to Others. The world has approx. 7 billion people. There are always going to be people who are better than you at a given skill, the same way that there will always be people who are worse. Don’t consider them. Your life is your battle, and you’re going to have to fight it for yourself. Being discouraged by your friends’ high scores is as illogical as being encouraged by their low scores. There’s no reason to be proud of 1/10, even if it’s the highest score in the whole class.

- Don’t Blame Teachers. Not all of your teachers are going to be fair or good at their jobs, whether you like it or not. Regardless, you can’t control your teacher’s incompetence or harshness but you can control the effort you put into their class. Read in advance, find other of info sources, and predict their requirements. The odds may be against you, but as a student you’re expected to beat them.

- Consult. There’s no shame in asking for help. If you have difficulty in a subject, it always helps to consult with a teacher. Not only does it help in resolving any misconceptions/mistakes, it shows that you’re willing to take the time and effort to do well. To most teachers, that spirit is just as important as the final grade. Note: if a teacher knows that you have difficulty in their subject, they’ll probably take note of it in class which may be to your benefit.

- Find Your Own Strategy/Work Smart. No single study strategy works universally. Everyone has their own specific style of learning and it’s up to you to find yours. If skimming through readings works for you then go ahead. If you’re the kind that needs to take notes, fine. It’s all about working both hard and smart, giving the most energy but finding the most effective way of using it. Humans are creative creatures. You might find that the best solution is one that no one has thought of before.

- Be Liable. You need to be proactive in academics. Many students have the tendency to be caught off guard by a surprise quiz. They’ll often argue with the teacher, using the retort “Ma'am, you didn’t announce it!” as an excuse. Shaking off responsibility through ignorance is suicidal in this school. If you’re willing to take the risk of coming to class unprepared for the sake of being lazy, go ahead. Just be prepared for the consequences of your actions.

- Keep Moving Forward. You’re human. Humans make mistakes. Learn from your errors but leave them where they belong; in the past. Everyone wants to get an A+ but you’ll never go that far with the weight of your failure hanging over your shoulder.

Conclusion: Don’t Take Academics too Seriously. It seems counter-intuitive to end this guide with a statement like “Don’t Take Academics Too Seriously” but it’s something that everyone should remember. No matter no hard you try, you will fail at something. You’ll reach an obstacle that will knock you down to the ground and it will hurt like hell. You need to have something to fall back; friends, family, a hobby, an interest, etc. You don’t want to graduate and realize that you’re only good at earning numbers in a system.You could graduate this high school with the highest average in history but it won’t matter to anyone if you don’t know how you got it. Life is just like math, it’s not all about the final answer. Your solution is just as important.

Thank you so much for all the nice feedback, tagged photos, and stories. The people from the studyblr community have become such a huge part of my life this year and I’m so glad that I’ve gotten to know more of you. I’m proud of the person you’ve become and I wish you all happiness and success. I’ll continue to root for all of you this 2017!

As my token of gratitude, here are the last set of printables I’m releasing this year!

Year at a Glance black and white / colored

Monthly Calendars Yes! It’s the whole set and you now have bigger spaces to write in everything you need!

A tagged snapshot of your computer, phone, or study space using these freebies would be very much appreciated. (Use #thearialligraphyproject or #arialligraphy!) 😊

I’ll see you all on January 4th for the third post under the Plan and Play series!

ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS: The science all-stars poster.