In the movie Mean Girls, Cady dumbs herself down and flunks a math exam to fit in with The Plastics and get Aaron to like her, even though she’s super smart at math. Not “fetch” at all! There’s no need to create chaos; doing well in school isn’t that hard – it’s like staying out of Regina George’s way. Yet, some students manage to make things more complicated than they need to be, almost like they’re trying to star in their own academic drama.
You can avoid pitfalls by recognizing bad habits and behaviors. Here’s a list of what NOT to do if you want to stay on track to college while avoiding your own personal version of The Burn Book.
Step 1: Sleep through class.
Stay up late on social media and play video games so you are exhausted by the time school rolls around. Sleep is overrated, right? Who needs to maintain a healthy weight, improve concentration, or maximize athletic ability?
Step 2: Don’t take notes.
Only nerds carry notebooks and laptops to class. You don’t want to look like you care about school, and taking notes won’t help much anyway. You stay alert and engaged for important stuff like who’s wearing pink on Wednesdays, not schoolwork!
Step 3: Ignore reading assignments and homework.
How can you find time for homework when the new spring fashion line is out and you need to go shopping? Who cares about improving your memory, developing study skills, using time wisely, or working independently?
Step 4: Refuse to participate in class discussions.
You have nothing to add to the discussion since you did not read the assignment or do your homework. Just sit in the back of the room and think about what you’ll Snap once school is over.
Step 5: Don’t prepare for tests.
Studying is a waste of time, especially if you plan to fail high school. Besides, there really is no reason to prep for a test; it’s unlikely that people have strategies to do well on exams. Netflix is calling…
As Cady eventually learned, trying to fit in with The Plastics was a ridiculous waste of time. Don’t make the same mistakes! Avoid becoming the star of your own academic drama, ditch the chaos, and follow the right path – the exact opposite of everything I suggested in this blog.
By Jeannine Phelan