In order to celebrate the 15th birthday of Legally Blonde this year, I want to tell you how to study like Elle Woods. Elle Woods is incredibly inspirational to me, since she didn’t give up working for Harvard no matter what anyone else thought.
Have a clear goal! Have something you want to work towards. Whether that be a university or a job or a car. Make the goal visible to you all the time, so when you go through hard times you can look at it and now that is what you are doing all this for.
Have a plan! Have an idea how you are going to get to the goal. What grades you need, and how you are going to get them. Pave yourself solid stepping stones with every thing you do. And if you make a wobbly stone, learn how to accept and move on.
Practice papers! It is good to learn the information but it is so much better to learn how to apply the information for the grade. Learn what the examiners want to hear, not what you want to hear. It is also a great way to track your progress.
Multi-task! Now, I know, you shouldn’t multi-task but hear you out. Listen to relevant podcasts when you go to the shops. Do flashcards as you take the bus. Read over your notes as you do a running machine. Have a documentary on as you do your make up. Absorb information whilst your brain doesn’t need to focus on other things.
Don’t give them a reason to turn you away/take away marks! My Ancient History teacher always said that your work should be so good that it simply pushes the examiner into a corner where they have no reason to take away any marks. I say apply this to your life and give them no reason what so ever to turn you down.
Fake it until you make it! Fake that you know what you’re doing until you can. Fake confidence until one day, you just aren’t faking anymore. Pretend to be who you want to be until you just aren’t faking anymore. It’s a great way to adapt.
Have a solid support system! Have friends and family to turn to. Whether those be over the internet or in real life. Have someone to monitor you and make sure you are not overwhelming yourself. And be that system for someone else.
It is okay to have down days! It is okay to have days where you do not get out of your pajamas. It is okay if you can’t get any work done. But try just doing a little bit, flashcards or key words. Doing something productive can really lift you emotionally.
Don’t miss out on your social life or downtime! It is important that you take breaks and experience life. It isn’t all about working, it is about making memories.
Always have faith in yourself! Even if no one else thinks you can do it, you need to know you can. The only person who has to believe in you is you.
