Kantis Simmons | Academic Success Program » Academic success

Lack Motivation in School? Do This…

Simmons Kantis — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:05:46 +0000

It’s that time of the school year where…

…Your academic gas tank is running empty, and you’re not motivated to ace your exams.

…You hate to get up in the morning to report to class, or hate to go to school after a long day of work.

…You study just enough to get a passing grade and you really don’t care.

…You find yourself waiting till the last minute to do assignments, study for exams, and write papers.

…You have a mental tattoo that reads “Complacency is Cool” and it shows daily.

If you are a high school student, college student, adult student, online student, or “off for a while” student and the above sounds like you, you are most like dealing with APATHY. Today, I have a few suggestions for you.

Six Definitions That Indicate You Are Dealing with Apathy

Apathy is when you lack EMOTION.
Apathy is when you lack MOTIVATION.
Apathy is when you lack ENTHUSIASM
Apathy is the state of not CARING.
Apathy is the state of not WANTING TO KNOW.
Apathy is when you are satisfied with COMPLACENCY.

I Dealt With This In School Also, You Are Not Alone

While in graduate school at Lehigh University, pursuing my first Master’s degree in Polymer Science and Engineering, “Apathy” was the middle initial in my name “Kantis A. Simmons”

Attending a school in a slow paced city like Bethlehem, Pennsylvania felt like the wilderness that Jesus was in. Even though Jesus was there for only 40 days, I was there for two years. It was so *wack* there, well at least before I overcame the stress and depression caused by apathy.

I would watch hours of TV, when I should have been in the laboratory working on my thesis. When it was time to read books and scientific journals, I found myself reading sport magazines; this lead to a few weeks of poor results on test, headaches, and weeks of sluggishness. Now this was probably duplicated when I was in high school or even in undergraduate school, but I found a way to constantly pull myself out of the “rut”

Here Are 7.25 Actions I Did to Overcome Apathy as a Student, and YOU Can Too.

1 – Do Something. When you find yourself not wanting to do anything, do something. Pick up a book, take yourself out on the town, go hang with a good friend, color in a coloring book, or go have a super fun day,

2 – Sketch a Picture of Yourself. Whip out a piece of paper and sketch how you look, and in most cases the image on the piece a paper will be either how you want to look, funny and make u smile, or disgust you on how you presently look. The feelings generated from this picture will help you realize how you actually envision yourself. As a result it will paint for you an internal image of your mindset. “Before you can go forward in life, you must identify where you are.”

3 – Re-identify or Identify Your Academic Goals. Take some time to assess why you are in school, and what kind of G.P.A. you want to accomplish. Make sure your goals are written, present, personal, and positive. If you need help writing goals or want to know more about setting Academic Goals check this out.

4 – Craft a Clear Vision. When you don’t have a clear vision on something, life can be cloudy. Take some time to write a vision statement of your life purpose. It will help you stay on track. Here’s my vision:

I Kantis Simmons strive to be the leader in information publishing that changes the mindset, attitude, actions and life habits of students and professionals by developing and presenting resources (seeds) to help them understand their unique and customized purpose and be thoroughly equipped to carry it out in the earth – thus making their lives, their families and their call fruitful.

5 – Hang Out With New Friends. Look in your cell phone, look at your classmates, look at your text buddies, look at your close internet friends. Who’s Bringing You down? Who’s devaluing you? Find some new eagles, and fly with them. Friend Me on Facebook or Twitter, I’m an Eagle. I would love to become your friend, so connect with me or email me at kantis (at) playingyouragame.com

6 – Take Your Failures and Turn Them Into Successes. Think of a few failures you have had in this school term thus far. How can you re-frame those into positive experiences? What did you learn from those experiences that can help you avoid further issues?

7 – Find Someone Who’s Less Fortunate Than You Are. There are many people who would love to be where you are right now. Look around and discover just how blessed you are. No matter what your situation, there is something good that you can be thankful for. Don’t have a “Pity Party” – have a “Praise Party”. Praise all those who have helped you get to where you are today. Send them an email or handwritten postcard to simply say thank you. This would make you feel so good.

7. 25 – Get Off Your Rear End. Like my high school baseball coach would say; “Get the Lead Out Your Butt Kantis” I’m not meaning to be offensive, I’m just telling you what he told me (and it worked). Realize that where you are right now is not your final destination, but it is a point on the path. Keep your left foot continuously moving in front of your right, and run towards your goals. You can do it my friend!

Apathy is nothing to hold on to. If not dealt with, it can lead to stress, depression, defeat, or even suicide. I hope this article was helpful for you, and I realize that we all have our down moments, so I would love to hear what you do to refuel and motivate your self. Leave me your suggestions below

Apathy is not only experienced by students, but it is also experienced by teachers, parents, and professionals in the work place. So, don’t keep this article a secret, share it with some deserving student or parent.

A Recommended Resource => Stay Motivated, Remain Focused, and Succeed in School & Life

“There’s only one Game in life that Counts, and That’s Your “A” Game.” – Kantis Simmons

7.25 Simple Academic Habits Now that “School” Is Back In

Simmons Kantis — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:19:34 +0000

The time has come! No more sleeping in. No more relaxing. It’s time for new routines, structured schedules and hard work. The school year has started – again. To achieve success in school this year, these simple but strategic habits must be developed.

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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7.25 Simple Academic Habits Now that "School" Is Back In

Simmons Kantis — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:19:34 +0000

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?

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

2. Develop a Daily Routine

3. Study During Peak Performance Time

4. Schedule Weekly Family Chat Sessions

5. Change the Flashing 12:00 on Your VCR

6. Isolate Your Study Chamber and Keep It Holy

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

7. Uncover all Fears and Stinking Thinking

7.25 Declare Your Greatness

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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7.25 Ways to Set and Achieve All of Your Academic Goals

Simmons Kantis — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 05:40:37 +0000

When you think about achieving SUCCESS, you have to think about setting and achieving GOALS.

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.