The first challenge

I've been asking around about some of the most common challenges faced by secondary school students. I'll cover them one by one in separate posts. Feel free to add comments and ideas of your own. So, here's to our first challenge (toast, if u hv a wine glass nearby)!

Challenge #1: Homework

Ok, so it's true that sometimes the loads of homework could eat you whole inside out. Or not. I read once of this analogy. Imagine that you are in the sea swimming when the waves are calm. Then, the waves get higher and rougher. If you are calm and observant, you can predict the frequency and nature of the waves and will be able to balance and swim yourself to safety. If you were to panic and not plan your moves, you may drown.

What I'm trying to say is don't drown yourself in homework, don't give up either. Do the work efficiently and gain from it and do not compromise the quality of life in the process.

I used to envy my sister (still do) because somehow her work is always done and she has time to do anything she wants. Her secret is she does it in school. No, not by doing it while the teacher is teaching but would use her in-between-lessons time. I know of some friends who do their work in the library while awaiting their transport back home.

The usual killer habits such as watching television and surfing the net for unwanted reasons should be avoided at this point of a time.

I know of some people who take advantage of Miss Boring Teacher's class to complete assignments. Many have gotten away with it. Their logic is that if you're not going to gain anything by listening, use the time to your advantage!

There are some downsides to this. Firstly, you cannot possibly know what you have missed. There is always something to gain by listening. You may need the extra energy to concentrate but think of it this way. You have covered the topic at least once so you're not totally nil about it.
Speaking of which, this is another challenge!

Back to the topic at hand, for afternoon school students, it is always better to wake up early to start with homework. Do what you can the previous night but be sure to get enough sleep. My brother prefers doing it late into the night. This is alright if you can stand up straight the following day. It is also advisable to find a place to study and get the necessary tools ready.

After school, I would take out all my books and lay them out on the table. I'll immediately pack my bag for the following day. Then, I'll check to see if there is any homework for the following day's lessons. A good tip would be to write down the day's homework as the teacher is giving it so that you don't miss out on anything.

Next, allocate a certain amount of time for each subject based on the amount of work. Now, you can see how much of time you have and need. You will be more focused on finishing it. Once you have completed it, be sure to list down the remaining homework and time allocation.

Sometimes, you may not have the time the following day to follow up on some of the work. So, it is best to finish what you can when you have the time. In short, don't procrastinate!

Besides, when dealing with homework, always make sure that you gain something out of it. Not more handwriting practice but perhaps a sort of revision. Honestly, you will not have the time to revise most of the homework. Learn it there and then. Correct yourself when faced with a mistake and make sure you completely understand. Make extra notes if you need to remind yourself of key points and mistake prone areas.