Q&A for How to Be a Better Person at School

Make a list of all the positive and helpful qualities that you bring to your school and to your classmates. You can even strike up a conversation with someone new to help build your confidence!

Keep it brief. Say something like "no, thank you" and then walk away. You don't need to provide excuses or an explanation.

Sometimes we can't help but cry when we're overwhelmed by our emotions! That's okay - you're human and you feel emotions and it's okay to cry, so don't bottle anything up. If you're at school or another situation where you don't want to cry in front of other people, just try to get outside of your own thoughts. You'll be tempted to focus on the thing that's making you angry or upset, but just concentrate on your breathing, thinking about an image that brings you comfort, and slow down and relax for a moment. Don't get caught up in your own emotions, even though they might be very powerful. Later on, take the time to talk to someone you can trust or get your emotions out in another healthy way - talking, exercise, listening to music, and so on.

You're never too far into the hole - there is no hole! The first step is to switch up your thinking - sort of like seeing the glass as half full rather than half empty. If you're unsatisfied with how you're behaving or treating others, you can always change - whether your 15 or 65. Remember, it starts with positive thinking - if you start out by thinking and saying you're in too deep, you're just setting yourself up for failure. Set yourself up for success by being optimistic!

Definitely take the time every day to study - never leave something for the last minute. Cramming is not good for your brain! Give yourself time to ask for extra help if you need it, and reach out to a teacher, parent, or a friend who better understands the material. Writing outlines is a great way to break up information into smaller parts, so you can see how they all fit together!

It's perfectly okay to like whomever you choose to like! Remember, though, that school is about a lot more than liking someone. Don't worry too much about that, and don't worry about people making fun of you for anything - you've got better things to worry about!

Look to your textbooks or online for resources about writing's rules: grammar, spelling, how parts of speech work together, and so on. Ask your English or Literature teachers for a little extra tutoring. Maybe your school has a writing program that offers extra help? Take some time every day to write in a journal - write stories, be creative, or just write about your day's events. Look back over your past entries and try to notice things you might have spelled wrong or words you might have used incorrectly. Read as much as you can - from magazines to books and stories, and try to learn about why the things you love to read are well written.