School Success

If you've taken a psychology or an adult roles class, then you've heard of the Marshmallow experiment. A psychologist named Walter Mischel conducted an experiment, where he got a group of four-year-old kids and he left a marshmallow in front of each of them. He told the kids that he had to leave the room for a few minutes. He told the kids that if they didn't eat their marshmallow when he came back, he would give them another one. When he left, a few kids quickly ate the marshmallow, some lasted a few minutes until they caved in, others smelled and even licked the marshmallow, while the rest tried to distract themselves by singing, screaming, closing their eyes, and playing games. When Mischel came back, he rewarded the kids who resisted eating their marshmallows a second marshmallow.

After the experiment, the researcher followed the lives of each of these kids up through high school. Those who had resisted eating the marshmallow were doing far better in high school than those who couldn't wait. The students who waited were more involved in extracurricular activities, had better grades, were popular, confident, and had higher standardized test scores.

Now compare the marshmallow to quitting high school. Some students believe that by quitting high school now, they'll have that delicious marshmallow now and not have to go through anymore trouble. A few students believe by quitting school now, they can get a job and start making money to buy things, like new clothes, a car, or even an apartment. And there would be no more waking up early for school, no more homework, and no more teachers. However, by dropping out of high school, that means that it's a sacrifice for what could have been two marshmallows instead of one. The two marshmallows could mean a better education, a better-paying job, designer clothes, a luxury car, and a nice home. Now do you want to do your homework instead of going to that party? Do the work now and play later.

Did you know that a high school diploma is worth a million dollars? While a college degree can be worth more than 2 million? The average a high school dropout will make is $21,268 per year. The average for a high-school degree recipient is $30,316 per year, and a college graduate will see at least $48,724 per year. If you multiply these numbers over a lifetime of work (40 years), then you can see the major difference.

The lifelong earnings
High-school dropout is $850,720
High-school graduate-$1,212,640
College graduate- over $1,948,960

Do some high-school dropouts become successful? Yes, a few do. But it's quite a rarity. You've got to be pretty lucky. The odds are stacked against you. So why would you want to take the chance?

Yes, high school is really difficult. I bet you've heard a couple of these quotes from your peers or maybe you've said some of these yourselves.
-"I don't have time for all of this homework."
-"The teachers just always assign tests, projects, and essays all at the same time! I bet they all get together and plan it!"
-"My parents are going to kill me."
-"The teachers treat us like little kids."
-"The teacher has a monotone voice."
-"I am always hungry and sleepy in that class."
-"The teacher hates me."
-"I am stressed out!"
-"I am such a procrastinator!"
-"I just don't care anymore."

Now here are some tips and advice for success in high school.
2010 is your year to shine in school.


-Believe you can succeed!
-Use your daily planner!
-Organize. Decide to do the hardest stuff first and then the easier later.
Make a friend in the class. They'll help you with assignments and tell you what you need if you're absent. And you'll actually want to go to class.
-Study groups.
-Ask the teacher for help.
-Smile every morning!
-Go to class!
-Do extra-credit, even if you might not need it.
-Be a teacher's pet. Stop thinking teachers hate you.
-Stop watching TV and surfing the web.
-Develop great study habits.
-Talk to the counselors about career and college opportunities.
-Develop a to-do list every night and cross out what you have done.
-Reward yourself by giving yourself a break after one hour of reading, but avoid watching TV and using the internet because then it might turn into something other than what was intended.
-Join a club that you're interested in. Get really involved. And then run for a leadership position the following year.
-Cultivate a strong social network of friends from all over the school social spectrum. What I mean to say is that you should have a variety of good, close friends ranging from the goths, geeks, drama, athletics, skates, art, etc. etc.
-STUDY!
-Ask questions.
-You are the people you hang out with, so look at your friends. Do you want to be like them? If they're smart, then you're smart. If they're depressed, then most likely they'll bring you down. If all they do is talk about sex, drugs, and partying, then most likely you'll be pressured to do those things.
-Be kind to everyone. Do not spread rumors. And don't gossip.
-Don't do or say anything that will embarrass yourself or your family. Think before you do or say anything.
-Think about the consequences of your actions.
-Learn from your mistakes
-Remember that the only factors that change about you are solely about the knowledge you obtain and the people that you meet and cultivate strong relationships with.

Read and socialize-then, you'll grow. Those are the main reasons we go to school for. And that's why school is so important.


You hear it all the time but it rings with much truth. An education will get you farther in life. It'll open more doors for you. And you'll have more options to choose from. And your kids and the generations after you will benefit from your knowledge and wisdom. That party just seems so enticing and you don't want to let your friends down, but just hold on a little bit longer and you'll be rewarded with something far greater. Two marshmallows are far better than one, it just takes patience and hard work.