When I began my ninth grade year in August of 2020 I knew that I had to work extremely hard to maintain a stellar GPA in order to be considered for merit scholarships in my senior year of high school. My first task in achieving this goal was to make sure I have a good standing professional relationship with my teachers and my school counselors. Having an open source of communication to give and receive feedback with my teachers and counselors, in my opinion, is absolutely crucial to me having a competitive GPA.

Through all four years of high school I was able to communicate with my teachers any struggles I would have with class assignments, projects, and exams. We were able to sit together, sometimes after school, and go over my grades and upcoming assignments line by line. This allowed me to see firsthand were I needed to pick up steam and try harder and where I was understanding the material. By doing this I could shift focus in my studies to certain problem areas that required more of my attention.
I would say having a great relationship with your school counselor was significant in boosting my GPA. School counselors can help you avoid classes you don’t need, connect you with tutors, be a bridge between you and your teacher, and help you set attainable goals for yourself. Most importantly, school counselors are there to listen to you when you become overwhelmed or stressed out. There were plenty of times throughout my high school career I felt like I was drowning in assignments, due dates, exam schedules, and projects. It was in those moments my school counselor was my saving grace.

I allowed myself a little wiggle room for challenging classes. I only allowed myself to take on Honors classes, Advanced Placement classes, and Dual Enrollment classes if a teacher or counselor recommended it. Performing well in my non challenging classes was just as important as performing well in my challenging classes. I didn’t take my foot off the gas even in my senior year. I made sure I showed up everyday on time ready to learn. If I missed a day or a lesson I would always follow-up with my teacher or a peer to catch up on assignments and lessons.

In my mind, the overall best strategy I used to boost my GPA was to NOT procrastinate! Unfortunately, I procrastinated in my junior year. I allowed myself to get a little lazy and I watched my GPA start to slip. Luckily, because of my relationships with teachers, counselors, and having amazing parents I was able to refocus which brought my GPA back up. I’ve learned what helps me to not procrastinate is to make sure I set reminders on my phone or scribble a notes in my notebook so that I won’t miss deadlines. Procrastination will not lead to success it will only give you stress! Lastly, only allow positivity in and around your life. Try to steer clear of drama and negativity. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help and support.