So many students deal with this on school test, final exams; both in highschool and in college. Your student success and academic success in education is solely based on how you approach all of your exams.

So what did you think of this video?  Did you like it? Was it helpful?

Here’s another resource on how to prepare for those test and final exams.

 Pass it on to your colleagues, students, children or other friends, and let me know how you deal with test anxiety? Have you mastered it or do you even notice it?

//Talk to you soon!

I can honestly say that I did not plan on seeing  this movie so soon… but I’m glad I did. With my pricey Twizzlers in hand and my large mixed ICEEE at my side (that were both more than my matinee ticket price) I sat in an fairly empty theater zoomed to see what the rumors were all about.

I can be known to watch things with a critical eye, but today I chose to simply enjoy this movie, which was a ‘behind the scenes concert rehearsal capture’ directed by Kenny Ortega. “This Is It” was not suppose to be it for Michael Jackson, but instead it produced some great lessons to be learned. Academic success principles, business principles, biblical principles all could be pulled from this movie, but today here are 7.25 Life Lessons and Success Principles that anyone can use to improve their life.

FEW RANDOM OBSERVATIONS

Before I share my *deep* life lessons,  maybe you can help me with these or had the same randomness when viewing the movie. Feel free to tweet me if you have the answers

1. Early in the movie, did it seem like Michael Jackson dancing skills were off? Was MJ getting old? Maybe he was just in 1st gear.
2. Did you hear that  bass line reprise on the end of the Thriller part – HOT!! Was that from another song?
3. Why was that black coat so big that he was wearing, I’m assuming he borrowed it to stay warm?
4. I loved the little girl holding the world – you must stay to the end (after the credits).

So here are the 7.25 Life Lessons…

1 – Have a Strong Personal Coach.

Whatever you plan on doing in life, there is someone who has gone before you and both failed and/or succeeded. All successfull people have coaches, mentors or trainers. In this movie, Michael Jackson’s Dance Choreographer, Travis Payne, was by his side making sure he had his moves down. We didn’t see all of the hands on instruction that goes behind the scenes to his development, but the choregrapher was there to make sure he knew where to go next on the stage and what move would be most effective.

In my workshops and speeches, I make reference to other greats  like Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods; both had personal coaches to help them get better. If the greatest basketball player and golfer of all time needed a coach, what makes you think you don’t need one? Both MJ and MJ did.

If you are pursuing an academic degree, starting a new business, or trying to become a better parent – locate a strong and proven coach that can propel you to the next level. I myself have several coaches that I invest into every year, because I want to get better as as a speaker, academic success coach, and author.  You should too – I challenge you to locate one.

If you want to know who I coach with then, or want me to coach you, ask me here.

2 – Your Vision in Life, Will Pull Forth Vision Out of Others.

I loved listening to the testimonies of the dancers and the musicians in the movie. A consistent thought from all of them was that by having the opportunity to work with Michael Jacskon was a big goal or dream of theirs. One male dancer even mentioned how at a young age he wanted to work with Michael Jackson, and when given the opportunity  to audition, he dropped everything he had going to pursue his dance dream.

I’m pretty sure that over Michael Jackson’s career, his vision of excellence and his vision to help the entire world caused those around him to enhance and focus their vision.  So I ask you, Will your life vision pull vision out of those you work with?

3 – Work  Only With The Best.

Every championship team realizes that it takes *total* teamwork to become a champion in their sport; and if you can get the best players to play together on one team then that is almost a sure guarantee for victory. Like the USA Basketball team has done repeatedly  in the  World Olympics, Michael Jackson gathered the best of the best to play on his team. From producers, videographers, costume directors, choreographers, staging, lighting and musicians he hired only the best.

One of my friends and mentors, Jonathan Sprinkles said to me one time, “Hang out with, study, and coach with the #1 person in any field (not the #2 person), because the #1 person is #1 one for a reason.”

4 – Have a Bigger Purpose For What You Do in Life.

Even though Michael Jackson was the king of POP, an icon and  has had so many songs on the top music charts, his greater purpose was to heal the world – heal how people love one another and how people love the world in which we live in.

What’s your greater purpose? Why do you ultimately exist? Why do you do what you do?

As for me, my greater purpose is to enhance the mindset, attitude, actions and life habits of students and professionals by developing and presenting resources to help them understand their unique and customized purpose. Then be thoroughly equipped to carry it out in the earth – thus making their lives, their families and their calling fruitful.

5 – Capture The Key Moments of Your Life and Learn From Them.

At the beginning of the movie, Director kenny Ortega mentioned that this movie came about because of the video camera that were in rehearsals and the footage was going to go in Michael Jackson’s personal private collection.

I’m sure that Michael Jackson was his own biggest critic about his craft and was going to use this footage to analyze himself, analyze his show, and use it to get better at his craft. Whisch is an awesome thing to do.

I myself do this after completing a great talk for a high school or college. I would sit down and replay the entire footage of my speech. Most time its’ painful to watch, because I sincerly want to be the best at what I do when engaging a crowd.

I encourage you to capture those key moments in your life. If it’s a presentation, perfrormance event, or simple conversation with someone – use that recorded footage to learn more about yourself and get better.

6 – Stay Teachable and Humble.

It is very obvious from his lifetime of music success that Michael Jackson was teachable and understood humility.

It was very powerful to see how the music director and production director knew when to submit their idea to Michael Jackson, and Michael’s to theirs. I’m pretty sure that his power packed team had a load of great ideas for the concert, but they were willing to adjust and be flexible for the overall objective. It was never about *their* agenda, but about the mission at hand.

Being teachable, flexible, submissive  and willing to adjust your thinking for another is a key to promotion and success.

Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”(I Peter 5:5)

7 – Practice, Practice, Practice and then Practice Perfect.

I love seeing  MJ do the classic dance routines to His classic songs in the movie, like “Beat It”, “Thriller”, and “Smooth Criminal”. It was very obvious that because of repetition, he was able to do it sweatlessly and flawlessly. it even seemed to me that he had regained his youth when doing those moves, versus other times he looked kind of old and stiff. (Just my randomness again)

Practice does not make perfect, but perfect and correct practice makes perfect.

When it comes to school academics, business, or any life endeavor, your preparation phase will always determine your outcome of victory. You may have heard the famous saying,” When preparation meets opportunity it produces success”, which is so true. See this video and this video where I talk more about this concept of preparation.

7.25 -Know Your Craft Better Than Anyone Else.

The music director and various musicians in the band, said that Michael Jackson knew all of his songs. He knew the key, the tempo, the rhythm of certain riffs. He was a student of his own music and his craft.

Seeing and hearing this on camera instantly made me evaluate my life. As my mind wondered spanned the years of my existence, I was convicted and yet convinced to simply get better. Know my craft!!

You too must daily judge your life and craft. Where do you have cracks? Where are you weak? Where do you need to improve? How are you settling for average when you know that excellence is needed?

If you ever want to do the best, you must consistently do things that will propel you to be the best. Average people will never fully see the best, because their mindset and actions are like everyone else. Success is hard, and it is not for the weak. If you want better, then do better. Consistently learn, consistently train, and consistently improve.

So there you have it… The 7.25 Lessons I Learned from Michael Jackson’s This Is It”.

*** Now I’m sure that if you have seen the movie, there’s a lot that you learned from it as well. Please leave a comment or reply and let me know what you learned. Share your thoughts, it may be the exact thing that somebody else needs to hear.***

If you like this article feel free to read my other articles here, subscribe to my free newsletter, or connect with me on facebook or twitter.

That’s the phrase I hear running through my mind every time I set my desire to do something, and find myself getting distracted.

This too is the phrase I remember hearing the Drama Director shout when I kept messing up my theatrical lines in the production “Spunk” while in graduate school at Lehigh University.

“Focus People Focus!”

This is the phrase that I want to tattoo on your mind, for it is the root cause for low academic performance and sub par school grades. It’s also the foundational reason successful people are successful – they know HOW to focus.

With so may things going on in our society, with access to so many resources, with varying life responsibilities, and not to name all this twitter, facebook, and youtube stuff on the internet (in which I’m all on), FOCUS can be challenging for the common student.

Whether you are a high school student, a college student, online student, or an adult student raising a family while working a full-time job I have something for you.

Before I give you these essential ways to focus better while studying, here are few motivators to support my claims:

• “When you write down your ideas you automatically focus your full attention on them. Few if any of us can write one thought and think another at the same time. Thus a pencil and paper make excellent concentration tools.” – Michael Leboeuf

• “One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power. Most people dabble their way through life, never deciding to master anything in particular.” - Anthony Robbins

• “If you stay focused and right on track, you will get to where you want to be.” – Michelle C. Ustaszeski

• “The sun’s energy warms the world. But when you focus it through a magnifying glass it can start a fire. Focus is so powerful!” – Alan Pariser

Let me say this, as an academic success speaker who speaks to students at educational events, youth conferences and college events, and run an online internet business, lead a family, and author books – FOCUS sometimes is still a challenge for me, but as I reflect back, FOCUS has produced some great things in my life pertaining to my own academic success and still does today – and will for you too.

If you have issues  staying focused while studying, do this:

1 – State Your Desired Goal

When you go into any study session, if it’s at home alone, on campus at the library, or in a group session – state your goals. At the beginning of your study time, write down what you desire to accomplish during this study time. (It may seem nerdish, but the group will love you for it too)

2 – Set a Time Frame for Intentional Focus

When you make a decision to study your school work, set a specific alloted time to focus. On purpose write down, ”For the next _____ Minutes I focus on______ only.” By writing this down, this helps you to stick to the desired goal at hand and it triggers your mind to be intentional.

3 – Declare Your Reward  for Intentional Focus

Rewarding yourself is a great motivator for focusing for a set period of time. For example, you can reward yourself by simply taking 10 minutes to enjoy something you love… playing a video game, talking to your bf, chatting on the internet, eating ice cream, or whatever you desire. The key is to make sure your compensation is relative to what you achieved. After you reward yourself, then get back to focusing.

4 – Turn Off All Distractions

This seems obvious right? But i have found that distractions are the #1 enemy to you accomplishing any goal, and our goal is to focus on the school assignment. Therefore turn it all off…the TV, the iPod, the stereo, the cell phone, the internet, the tweets, the pokes, the video games, everything. Even go so far to let your family, friends, and classmates know. “For the next ______ minutes, I need to  completely focus on studying so leave me a message or I will get with you at later specific time.” (That a great voice mail greeting or facebook status)

5 – Remove Clutter and Keep Things Clean

Dr. Laurence J. Peter once said, “If a cluttered desk is the sign of a cluttered mind, what is the significance of a clean desk?”

By simply cleaning your work area or study area it allows your mind to be clear, which will also eliminate distractions.

6 – Gather Only the Resources You Need For Studying

This is self explanatory but I must stress to only have in front of you everything that you need for one specific subject. If it doesn’t relate with the class you are studying for, remove it completely from your study area.

Want more info on how to properly create a study area then click here. If you want to see the two main reasons for the bed, then watch this video, cause studying is not one of them.

7 – Read Through All Your Written Notes From Beginning to End

To maximize most of your study sessions, start from the beginning reading all of your study notes aloud, and highlight the areas that you will need to spend more intentional focus time on. Make sure you don’t stop but continue to move forward with your notes, then review those trouble areas.

7.25 – Read Textbooks and  Other Resources, Work Problems, and Review All Notes To Enhance Comprehension

Here’s where you spend the majority of your study time. After doing the above 7 steps with discipline, you will find that as you go through this step your retention of information will be better, because you are now completely zoned in.

As a follow up to this article, I will give you some ways to better focus while in class. Until then you can see here for more study tips, from note taking, reading, listening in class and even how to properly C.R.A.M.

As I echo my Drama Director. “Focus People Focus!”

1. Set Your Academic Goals and Review Them Everyday

Dreams don’t come true – Goals do. Before next summer rolls around again, what academic goals do you want to achieve?

Set academic goals to achieve, write them down and post them in a place where you can look at them everyday. You should first sit down with your family and discuss the desired goal and then set your academic goals. Make those goals positive, personal, and in the present. Then, write down your goals and make them visible in four key places: (1) the bedroom, (2) the bathroom, (3) the kitchen, and (4) in your notebooks.

Click here for a MP3 download on how to set and achieve academic goals.

2. Develop a Daily Routine

Now that you have determined your goals you must develop a plan to achieve them. Come up with a systematic routine that you can follow every day to achieve your goals and write it down. Include necessities like breakfast time, dinnertime, fun time, chore time, sleep time, social time and of course study time. Remember, when you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

3. Study During Peak Performance Time

Identify the period of day when you are most alert or “wired up” outside of school. This should be the time YOU study. Traditionally, the pattern for *study time* has been right after you get home and change out of your school clothes or right before dinnertime. (Remember school clothes, church clothes, and play clothes?). After spending 6-9 hours in school, it may be wise to incorporate naptime or refresher-time before studying. Studies have shown that students perform poorly when they are mentally tired, drained or unfocused. Whatever time you are most alert outside of school, make that your study time. I guarantee you will see an increase in academic performance.

4. Schedule Weekly Family Chat Sessions

Make sure you have weekly family chat sessions or what I like to  call Family Love Sessions. Take this time to discuss school crushes, fashion trends, music, insecurities, and future plans. Family is a key element to achieving your goals because they will assist you when you need it. This is also a great time to develop better relationships. (An alternative to this is setting time with a mature friend, mentor or adviser).

5. Change the Flashing 12:00 on Your VCR

You should already know that television can steal your time and productivity. You do not have to stop watching television in order to achieve your academic goals but watching during your peak performance time can hinder your progress. So brush the dust off your VCR or learn how to use a DVR and watch your favorite shows during your non-peak performing times. Use all the new technology to your benefit and don’t ever allow television to steal the precious hours you have available during the day.

6. Isolate Your Study Chamber and Keep It Holy

The kitchen has a specific purpose, the bathroom has a specific purpose, and your study chamber has a specific purpose. You should not eat dinner in the bathroom and you should not shower in the kitchen. There are also things you should not do in your study chamber. Your study chamber should be a specific location where only one thing happens – STUDYING.

Click here to get a few tips on setting up and establishing a productive study chamber.

7. Uncover all Fears and Stinking Thinking

Believe it or not, FEAR is the one thing that can destroy academic performance. Most term it “anxiety” and as a student you experience it during tests, when you are embarrassed around your classmates or when you feel unprepared. Despite setting goals and studying, FEAR can completely destroy your efforts. It can also cause you to become unfocused and think that you will fail and not reach your goals. Always remember this, FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real – FEAR is not real. Whenever you experience anxiety or may be fearful, remember you do not have to, because failure is only appearing to be real, it is fake. So in school or in life, never FEAR!

7.25 Declare Your Greatness

Your mouth has the power to create so establish positive confessions and declare them aloud daily. Since our words frame how we think and feel, say only the best. Don’t commit academic goal suicide by speaking negative words, thinking negative thoughts, and having negative feelings. Talk your way to achieving your goals.

Feel free to share and forward this to your friends and colleagues.  Leave me a comment below, and let me know what you got from this article.

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Kantis Simmons is an Academic Success Coach that help college students and high school students stay in school, enjoy school and pay for school. With his 7.25 Academic Success System, he presents live presentations to students and parents. Acclaimed for earning 3 degrees and more that $300,000 of scholarship money, Kantis can be reached at http://www.KantisSimmons.com. If you want more academic advise to help you or someone you know succeed in school, subscribe to get his FREE “Gameplan” newsletter and instantly get a 7-Day academic success E-course FREE.

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When you think about achieving ACADEMIC SUCCESS, you must think about setting and achieving ACADEMIC GOALS.

Achieving SUCCESS EQUALS setting and achieving GOALS.

You cannot achieve success without working towards something that is measurable, memorable and attainable. Goals allow you to gauge when you have achieved success.

During my sophomore year of college, I received a 4.0 GPA. How did I achieve academic success that year?  I learned the power of setting academic goals. Because I set this goal, I had to develop various academic survival skills like taking notes, studying for exams, and knowing how to listen in class. I had to change specific academic and social habits in order to achieve success.  I changed my study habits, my sleeping patterns and even my dating routine  – yes “girls” had to take the back seat.

I achieved academic success that year because I set an academic goal and this goal became the motor (or motive) behind how I functioned as a student and today you can do the same. What I mean is this…

By establishing academic goals that are PRESENT, POSITIVE, and PERSONAL, all the required academic survival skills of listening in class, taking great notes, class participation, etc. will become the needed actions to support the goal you have initially set for yourself. They become the action steps required to achieve your goals.

Do you have goals? What is it that you want to accomplish in school? What is it that you want to accomplish in life? What do you consider to be successful? How do you measure the success of a good school year?

Now what are you willing to adjust for your goals? My favorite book, the Bible says, “Where there is no vision the people perish” and it also says “write the vision and make it plain, so that all who see it can run with it”.  Your goals are your vision. And your vision helps you focus on the final destination. Your goals are like the final destination on MapQuest.

To clarify setting academic goals and accomplishing them, here are 7.25 things to consider in your goal setting program.

1. Your academic goals must be personal.

What do YOU really want to accomplish? What is it that YOU desire in school? What do YOU desire from your social activities? What do YOU desire for your life? Not what someone else wants you to desire.

2. Your academic goals must not contradict any of your other goals.

Your goals must coincide in what is realistically possible. It is unrealistic to set this goal, “I have an overall 4.0 GPA, when I graduate from school” if you have already completed a few semesters with a 2.5 GPA. Mathematically there is no way to accomplish this goal. Setting unrealistic goals is setting realistic failure.

3. You academic goals must be specific.

Develop goals that are measurable; ones that can be reported and charted over time. Here’s an example: “I read two books a month that are non-school related.”

4. Your academic goals must be positive.

Positive goals help your subconscious carry out the goals stated. Your mind and subconscious should only interpret positives. Words like “not”, “never”, or “no” should be erased so your subconscious can produce the wisdom to carry out only positive goals.  Rather than saying, “I will NOT fail this test” say “I  make a minimum of 90% on this exam.”

5. Your academic goals must be set high, but reachable.

There’s a famous quote that says, “If you shoot for the moon and miss, you will still land amongst the stars.”  Set your goals really high, so that it forces you and stretches you to do better.

6.  Your academic goals must be present-tense.

Set goals in the present tense. Past-tense and future-tense goals cause your mind to think in the past and the future.  This keeps your goals locked in the past and in the future. Set goals that are present where your subconscious can work as if the goal is already achieved. “As a man thinks so is he”. Think positive, personal, and present.

7. Your academic goals must be clearly written.

Using the notes above, make sure you specify your goals on paper. Write them down legibly. Studies have shown that people who write goals are 50-80% closer to attaining them than those who don’t have them written down.

7.25. Your academic goals must be connected with practical actions.

For every goal you set, identify some practical things that you can do everyday to help you obtain that goal. If you set a goal like the one above, to make 90% on the test, then you must have an action plan.  To obtain this goal, actions like spending two hours a day studying, visiting your teacher once a week, reading other books on the subject matter and working extra subject problems. These are the actions to your goals.

Goal Setting and Goal Achieving is the hidden secret to the world’s most successful people. By applying the above, you have the keys to accomplish whatever you desire out of your academic career and your future life endeavors.

[vimeo]http://www.vimeo.com/2721727[/vimeo]

If you can’t view the video above, see the following:

http://blip.tv/file/1636202

http://vimeo.com/2721727

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A58ee9ji1CQ

Then with disgust, she mentions that while she was taking her test she heard two students talking during her final exams. She looked at them, but could not understand a word they were saying – they were speaking another language.

As she sat there, another student too witnessed these two men talking during the final exams. What were they talking about at this crucial time? They were cheating!

Should they turn these  students in or should they let this pass?

“Tell or don’t tell? That is the question!

In my first year at Georgia Institute of Technology, I came to better understand the importance of honor.  There was a situation that took place during my first semester that I had never experienced before. I was taking an engineering test in a class made up primarily of international students. The professor was not present. During the exam, I heard a foreign language spoken in the classroom. To this day, I have no idea what was said, but I know there should not have been any talking during the test. I assumed that a few students were cheating, but I blocked the thought out of my head.  Unfortunately it happened again during another test, except this time I heard papers being passed around. Despite the evidence, I again let the situation slide. 

When it happened a third time, I wrote an unsigned letter to the department head and to all the professors of the classes in which I believed the students were cheating.  In my letter I expressed my observations during each test session. I specifically mentioned each instance I felt the students were cheating.  I expressed my belief that these actions were unfair to other students and that a flagrant violation to the honor code tookplace that required an investigation and possible disciplinary action. 

After a few days, the professor returned the exams and made a public comment about the letter in which I had written. He went on to express that the institution held the Honor Code in the highest regard and required that all students abide by it. In addition, the professor stated that students who were witnesses to cheating were required to report what they had observed. 

I knew about the first part of the code, but not the latter. The professor suggested that the “disturbed graduate student” come and see him to discuss the matter personally with him; thereafter, he would investigate the situation. I met with him after class in his office, and he explained to me my part of the honor code; to report violations by confronting the student personally or informing the professor of the alleged infraction. When he had finished speaking, I told him of my observations. 

After two semesters of investigating and keeping a thorough watch on the alleged violators, these students were caught red-handed. The professors finally realized that what I had observed and reported was obviously true. 

Is cheating something that you witness, but don’t say anything? Do you let it pass like so many do?

I encourage you to walk in honor, even if situational ethics say it is okay to “sneak a peek” or plagiarize something. 

Honor is doing what’s right when no one is looking. Honor is directly related to one’s character. It defines who you are, when you are all alone without any classmates or supervision. So what does your character say about you? Are you the student that occassionally goes the extra mile to get the anwers for the test from your peers. Or are you the student that spends time writing the answers to the exam on the palm of your hand? Maybe you are the “techie” cheater, who knows how to program the answers and study notes in your cell phone or scientific calculator?  If you are one of the above, I encourage you today to cut the nonsense out. Stop living a dishonorable life, and make a decision today to walk in integrity. “God don’t like ugly” is what my elders use to say.

PS: My friend, did the honorable thing. She notified her teacher by writing a huge note to her professor ON HER EXAM. 

So what will you do? Tell or Don’t Tell?  Let me know what you think about this?

Then with disgust, she mentions that while she was taking her test she heard two students talking during her final exams. She looked at them, but could not understand a word they were saying – they were speaking another language.

As she sat there, another student too witnessed these two men talking during the final exams. What were they talking about at this crucial time? They were cheating!

Should they turn these  students in or should they let this pass?

“Tell or don’t tell? That is the question!

In my first year at Georgia Institute of Technology, I came to better understand the importance of honor.  There was a situation that took place during my first semester that I had never experienced before. I was taking an engineering test in a class made up primarily of international students. The professor was not present. During the exam, I heard a foreign language spoken in the classroom. To this day, I have no idea what was said, but I know there should not have been any talking during the test. I assumed that a few students were cheating, but I blocked the thought out of my head.  Unfortunately it happened again during another test, except this time I heard papers being passed around. Despite the evidence, I again let the situation slide. 

When it happened a third time, I wrote an unsigned letter to the department head and to all the professors of the classes in which I believed the students were cheating.  In my letter I expressed my observations during each test session. I specifically mentioned each instance I felt the students were cheating.  I expressed my belief that these actions were unfair to other students and that a flagrant violation to the honor code tookplace that required an investigation and possible disciplinary action. 

After a few days, the professor returned the exams and made a public comment about the letter in which I had written. He went on to express that the institution held the Honor Code in the highest regard and required that all students abide by it. In addition, the professor stated that students who were witnesses to cheating were required to report what they had observed. 

I knew about the first part of the code, but not the latter. The professor suggested that the “disturbed graduate student” come and see him to discuss the matter personally with him; thereafter, he would investigate the situation. I met with him after class in his office, and he explained to me my part of the honor code; to report violations by confronting the student personally or informing the professor of the alleged infraction. When he had finished speaking, I told him of my observations. 

After two semesters of investigating and keeping a thorough watch on the alleged violators, these students were caught red-handed. The professors finally realized that what I had observed and reported was obviously true. 

Is cheating something that you witness, but don’t say anything? Do you let it pass like so many do?

I encourage you to walk in honor, even if situational ethics say it is okay to “sneak a peek” or plagiarize something. 

Honor is doing what’s right when no one is looking. Honor is directly related to one’s character. It defines who you are, when you are all alone without any classmates or supervision. So what does your character say about you? Are you the student that occassionally goes the extra mile to get the anwers for the test from your peers. Or are you the student that spends time writing the answers to the exam on the palm of your hand? Maybe you are the “techie” cheater, who knows how to program the answers and study notes in your cell phone or scientific calculator?  If you are one of the above, I encourage you today to cut the nonsense out. Stop living a dishonorable life, and make a decision today to walk in integrity. “God don’t like ugly” is what my elders use to say.

PS: My friend, did the honorable thing. She notified her teacher by writing a huge note to her professor ON HER EXAM. 

So what will you do? Tell or Don’t Tell?  Let me know what you think about this?

1. Ask the Instructor.

When preparing for test be aggressive and ask the instructor what to expect. Ask questions like… “What material will be covered?” What should you concentrate on?”, “Will the test be objective or essay?”

2. Look up past copies of exams or quizzes.

Take the time to search out old exams if they are available in the library. Also check with other students who took the class the previous year or semester. These tests can give you an idea of what your exam may be like. Use them as a study tool, but don’t rely heavily on them.

3. Predict.

Try to predict test questions beforehand. Prepare answers to those questions, and use it as another study preparation tool.

4. Review your notes.

Schedule time to go back and review all your notes and highlighted sections of your text again. Don’t try to re-read the entire text, but review the most important information.

5. Get in the bed

Get a good night’s sleep every single day of the test week. Rest gives the brain and body time to rejuvenate and Play its “A” Game, but most importantly it gives your mind time to digest your studies.

6. Eat lightly.

Along with eating lightly before an exam, also do some non-strenuous exercise before the exam.

7. Make up your own test.

Put yourself in the shoes of your professor, and make up your own tests. After making up a mock test, spend time answering all the questions from your mock test. This will give you the opportunity to get into test-taking mode and allow you to review the most important information.

7.25  Approach the Test with Confidence

If you put in the preparation, believe that you can succeed. The #1 downfall of  most students is self-doubt, thus leading to a lack of confidence. Therefore after putting in the proper preparation, don’t allow your internal ipod to speak doubt and failure. But  walk in confidence, speak confidently,abd approach the test with confidence. You CAN ace all your tests.

When you talk about SUCCESS, you have to talk about GOALS.

When you speak of Academic SUCCESS, you must talk about Academic GOALS.

SUCCESS IS GOALS

[AUDIO]  “Goal Setting as a Student” by Kantis Simmons

You cannot have success without having something that is measurable, memorable and achievable. So you have to have goals in place to know when you have been a success at something.

Developing various academic survival skills as a student is really really important, however this survival skill of setting and achieving your goals is the motor (or motive) behind all the other skills. What I mean is this…

If you can establish a academic goal that is PRESENT, POSITIVE,  and PERSONAL as a student, then all the action survival skills of listening in class, taking great notes, class participation, and the others will support the goal you have initially set for yourself. They become the action steps required to achieve your set goals.

BUT DO YOU HAVE GOALS??

Today I have posted a small audio where I go into more detail about goal setting and how you can use it to achieve good grades, money for school, college acceptance or whatever you desire as a student.

After listening to the below academic success skill, be bold and let me know what is the one biggest thing you want to achieve academically. Post in the comments below.

[AUDIO] “Goal Setting as a Student” by Kantis Simmons

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Kantis Simmons is America’s #1 Academic Success Coach, where he uses his no-nonsense “7.25 Secrets” to “wow” educators, parents, students via speaking programs and information products. Acclaimed for receiving three advanced scientific degrees and more than $400,000 in scholarship money, this former NASA employee and Olympic Drum major encourages everyone he comes in contact with to Play their “A” Game.

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