This week’s question is about an article I wrote a few weeks ago. The reader noticed a subject that I didn’t expand on too deeply but was rather important.
I don’t know how you could say it’s possible for anyone to enjoy school without going into any details. I absolutely hate going to school. I feel it in my stomach every morning. What are these steps I need to go through to enjoy it?
-James
You’re definitely right. I should have probably gone into some detail. I hesitate to say there are particular steps you can go through to solve this problem but it’s a problem that I’ve solved for myself and I have helped other people solve. I believe it is possible for anyone but as I’m sure you can imagine, that’s not a scientific claim.
I used to get bullied through school. I got that sickness in my stomach every morning. I missed tons of school pretending to be sick. I had major emotional issues going on. Even after the bullying stopped I got sick thinking about school. There was definitely no one day when I finally solved my school hatred problem but eventually I was able to get some sort of perspective on it.
I think it’s a very personal problem that I can only help other people so much with but I think you should start by asking yourself why you’re going to school in the first place. If you’re not old enough to drop out then you might say because I’m being forced to but I doubt they chain you to your desk. (If they do then perhaps my claim was wrong.) If you’re old enough to drop out then you’d probably say something like “it’s way harder to succeed without going.”
I have serious doubts about the efficacy of a high school education but the world most of us live in requires this as a prerequisite to almost anything interacting with the rest of the world. In fact, many people believe you need a college degree too. Statistically, those claims are pretty well backed up. (I’d say they’re more about motivated people going to college than college people getting farther ahead though.)
If you’re going to school then you have some reason. That reason may just be fear of not going. Well… that’s still a reason to be there. You do still have the choice. Never lose sight of that choice. You never have to take it but you need to know that choice is there. You being at that school is your decision.
So… if you decide to be there then it makes it a whole lot easier to find reasons to enjoy it. You can look at the reasons you made that choice and focus on them. Maybe you can tell yourself “you can’t get fired from school.” Maybe you can say, “I’m not too young for all the hot people here.” Maybe you can say, “at least I’m learning how to not be a fry cook.” All of these aren’t necessarily 100% true but they are all things that you can think to improve your situation.
The truth is, you won’t suddenly enjoy school one day. It will take time. Once school becomes a choice that you make everyday, it becomes a whole lot easier to justify to yourself. Soon you might just hate it a little less. Eventually, you might even start to find reasons to like it.
You might also be interested in Is An A Worth The Effort? You can access it free in the members only area.
Do you want to study in less than 15 minutes a night while getting kick ass grades? That’s what this blog teaches. Be sure to follow and check out the archives to learn more. Also, be sure to check out the ebooks in the sidebar.
A B&C Students Guide To Mercilessly Crushing A Students At Their Own Game (While Laughing Your Way Towards The Ivy-League)
Are you smart but getting meh grades?
The smartest students are often the ones the school system leaves behind. It’s easy to motivate a half-wit (or even almost-wit – like a horse with a carrot dangled in it’s face to get it running. Giddy-up horsey!
You would never fall for that, right? Then this is for you.
It’s easy to procrastinate when you’re getting a raw deal. That’s the smart thing to do.
Academics is a game – and its prizes are good. Really good! There is more to the story than that though. What do you have to do to get that prize? And that matters even more than the prize. Study 18 hours a day for straight-A’s and a high-paying job someday in the distant future? Ughhh… Not me. That’s for sure.
I scored near the top of my college Engineering class while studying less than 15 minutes a morning. And seriously, I don’t sound like a super genius, do I?
Hint: I had barely scraped a 1.0 GPA in high school and I wasn’t skipping and having fun with friends either – I was… dare I say… trying my best.
Big Tip: trying doesn’t matter unless you’re experimenting or already using an effective strategy. Trying without an effective strategies is a waste that can plop your grades in the stinker. First step – STOP TRYING with ineffective strategies.
You got that?
Look… I’m a bit crazy. I get it. I’ve read hundreds of books on grades, learning, and memory. I spent sleepless nights studying obscure academic journals. I swear, I even read the book “How To Read A Book” and didn’t have to drink alcohol to do it!
WHY DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF!?
You wanna’ know why?
Don’t tell anyone but… I care. I was emotionally crippled by the school system. I had heartless, lazy, and downright mean teachers (and a couple good ones that couldn’t help.) It took years for me to untangle their mess…
And I went to college and beat them at their own wretched game. Top scores. Easy studying. Time to make friends and impress the ladies. (You know… the important stuff!)
But I know… I wasn’t alone and I know there are others facing similar and worse challenges than I did. And I may be out of the warzone now but I can’t in good conscience leave you behind without my arsenal.
That’s why a decade ago I founded Smart Student Secrets and got link backs from LifeHack, HuffPo, and good college professors with names I can’t pronounce from all over the world that see these strategies crushing every day. But forget about them… the emails I get from grateful students… that’s the stuff a good life is made of.
My newest book is, in my opinion, the best book ever written for students that want to absolutely crush the academic game.
It gets you to focus your energy on the most important aspects of grades – giving you leverage on the system.
It shows you the big painful studying, you’re not benefiting from – that you thankfully get to stop today and forever.
It takes the latest in academic research on memory and puts into your hands, the exact memorization strategies that a Purdue Professor proved can let someone memorize 2.35 things for every one they’re memorizing now.
And this isn’t about “working harder” – and it’s not about “working smarter” either. (I cringe every time I read that phrase.)
It’s about working only when it matters most and creating the habit of motivated and effective learning.
I guarantee this… You can skyrocket your grades with my book while studying less than you ever had to study before. If I’m wrong, send me an email and I’ll refund you – no questions asked.
Please give me the chance to change your life for the better – it’s on me to prove it. What you’re going to do is: click on the link here or below, click “Buy Now”, fill in the boxes, and you’ll get your copy of the book through an instant download.
Get How To Study Happier Here
Warning: Inflation is eating my butt right now. My accountant is saying the prices need to go up to keep up with server costs ASAP or this whole site is in danger. I’m writing this one last message as a last ditch effort to get this book to anyone that wants it. If you want it, do it now while the guarantee and price are still available. You will have it for when you’re ready to start.
Last chance! Don’t miss it at the lowest price and best guarantee I can do.
I agree with Caley – that’s exactly how I thought about school. Trying to find something good about it was an terrible idea, because there was nothing. Being reminded that the only reason why you’re going to the place of your nightmares is because everything’s gonna be even worse if you don’t is not very helpful… at least it wasn’t to me. The important thing was to never forget that school’s gonna end someday, that it’s just a stepping stone and you don’t have to force yourself to enjoy it. There’s more to life than school.
I think I prefer to think of school as a temporary evil. Sure… it sucks now but… someday it should pay off.