OT: Calling all students: What motivated you in high school?
I'm curious to know what motivated you to do well in high school? Was there ever a period when you weren't motivated or had a crisis of confidence relating to your school work? How did you deal with not doing well in a class? I'm assuming that many of you are at Michigan, so you figured it all out in the end, but did you ever have times when you really were just not into schoolwork? How did your parents deal with it?
Edit: Thanks to all of you who spent time writing responses. It's helpful to get different perspectives on this.
I could barely concentrate and did horrible. In my other years, I had study hall or a gravy class during my lunch. Lunch was my anti-motivation.
I realized that high school teachers were simply looking for a regurgitation of the facts that they had presented. Critical thinking was not necessary for 90% of the classes, so I saved my effort for the 10% that needed it.
With the extra time afforded by not worrying about class, I participated in extracurriculars, earned 4 varsity letters in my chosen sport, and worked. That plan, in addition to being lucky enough to do well on standardized tests meant that I was accepted to the three schools I applied to.
I just stupidly chose the wrong one to go to.
In all seriousness, I was completely apathetic in high school and survived only because high school was really easy. After two years at U-M I stopped going to class and flunked out. Luckily, the U is a nice, forgiving place, and I was able to go back and finish years later without much trouble.
I know this doesn't help you, whatever your issue is (tell us more?), but there it is.
And seriously, sex.
chicks
I was always a good student but I did deal with social anxiety and developed depression in high school which I finally got out of last year or so as an upperclassman in college. It's difficult when people blame you for your shortcomings. It becomes your fault for not being able to hold down a job, never having a girlfriend etc. As for academics, I'm an extremely competitive person who doesn't accept Bs or losing games in whatever sport I'm playing.
I was lucky enough to be intelligent and motivated to do better than everyone in high school. Truly I was motivated by hatred... Some day I quit being angry and grew up.
Now I am a teacher and I've seen just about everything. There are so many reasons a kid can lose confidence in school but what I see most is that kids have a hard time understanding why they can pick somethings up easy and others are so damn hard. Honestly, we don't deal well with this as adults.
Kids need consistent reminders that failure is a part of the process.
At UofM I finished my freshman year with a 2.0 gpa and 20 credits. I just couldn't keep up with out doing homework. I was pretty depressed for a while but once again my hatred got me through... I don't know how that helps except to say that we all have triggers and we all have to find our underlying motivation and role with it.
jdon
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That was me.
How did I stay motivated in High School? I didn't. I was happy to take my 3.8gpa and be lazy and do the minimum amount of work.
I was afraid it would bite me in the ass having no study habits when I got to Michigan, but luckily - I never really had to develop any study habits to do well at Michigan either.
So my advice is: Be smart enough that everything is relatively easy and your level of motivation doesn't matter.
My parents mostly gave me space, helped me get some counseling, were always open to talk. I'd say my relationship with my dad definitely improved because we talked about stuff more.
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I'm pretty sure from then on I was a 4.0 student(or at least close). But before that, I was never really motivated. I remember in 8th grade I had an extremely unorganized teacher who I swear would misplace half my papers that I turned in. He made me hate school. I did all the way until 10th grade when I simply realized that school had to be taken seriously as it was pivotal for my future. I can't say there was a specific moment or thing that I did to motivate me, It just finally dawned upon me how important school was. Luckily I learned to care before it was too late.
EDIT: If it's because you have kids who you're trying to motivate, just stay on them about it. My mom constantly was on me about turning in my work and studying. I hated what she was doing back then but now I'm very thankful. She's probably the only reason I didn't flunk 9th grade.
Yeah, I'm on him and he's not liking it. But I want him to develop his own motivation. Things always came easily to him and now one class is killing him and he just can't deal. He told me it actually hurts when he doesn't know the answer. But that totally takes away from the learning process, especially with math. He just expects to know the answer within 10 seconds and if he doesn't, he gets discouraged. HIs grade will reflect that, and that's the thing that needs to click in for him. I can't do the work for him.
This will only help him in college. It'll teach him how to study. I was the same, I didn't need to study in HS got to college and had no idea how to cope with it.
He's a HS kid so getting through to him is far from easy but just help him develop study habits and maybe even be frank with him. 'If you want to get to Michigan you're going to figure it out. Go to the library, go to a tutor, stay after school and get help every single day.'
He HATES admitting he needs help. He's had tutors throughout the year but he really doesn't like going to see his teacher because she's not that friendly and I think it makes him feel badly about himself (cutting off his nose to spite his face, I know). Class can be discouraging because they move fast and don't really stop when students don't understand - it's the student's responsibility to seek help outside of class rather than use class time for learning, or so it seems. This class has been pretty controversial. All the students are on the honors track and should be moving into Algebra 2 honors next year, but the teacher told me that less than 50% of the students will be staying on the track because of their performance this year. That tells me that something isn't right in the class and how they're teaching the material.
Your last sentence isn't necessarily true. High school teachers are starting to do this to fight back against bad state and local policies. Kids that don't belong in advanced classes are being pushed in for the extra funding the schools get. The only way to prevent it from happening is for the teacher to increase the difficulty level so that only the kids that really belong on that track are in it. While it might force out a few kids that could limp along, it does prevent the kids that will bomb out of AP calc from ever getting to it.
This is especially true in schools where the parents are super-invovled, because it is generally those parents who can't accept that their child isn't as advanced as they they think they are.
I would add something to this: Starting in sixth grade I was on a double-advanced track in math with a whole class of about 30 students. In eighth grade, which I think was Algebra 2, most of the class slammed into the wall. Hard. A small handful of us stayed on the double-advanced track and the rest dropped back to single-advanced. I don't think it's inconceivable that a particular class just struggles with a particular subject all of a sudden.
That said - geometry is rarely anyone's tripping point. Most math walls seem to be in the really abstract stuff. Geometry is probably the least abstract math class anyone will take in middle or high school.
If I didn't know it was impossible, I would say you went to my high school. Those of us on the advanced track were doing Alg 2 in 8th grade and we lost over half of our group. Got down to about 10 of us after that. I ended up taking my math class in 9th grade with a bunch of juniors. Talk about intimidating.
There's one group ahead of my son who is taking algebra 2 as freshmen. I have one friend whose daughter started in algebra 2 honors and was so overwhelmed by the class ("she's having a nervous breakdown" was how it was described) that she dropped back to regular. I wonder, how advanced do the classes really need to be unless you're a prodigy? A kid in my daughter's 5th grade class was taking geometry at the high school. That's a different story. But in high school, you really need to learn the foundation. So no one who puts in a good effort should fail. If they do, they're in the wrong class.
I was not in any advanced math in high school and have gone through calc 4 in college with linear algebra thrown in there. There were plenty of kids who were in my college Calc 1 and Calc 2 classes who had taken AP calc and struggled, while my first time through was relatively easy (compared to other classes).
Advanced classes are good, but only if the student is not challenged in the lower classes. Also, algebra is very different than geometry. Struggling in geometry does not mean that one will struggle with Algebra, trig, or calc.
Not the case in our school, at least in giving the teacher the power of curriculum. This is in every section of geometry honors. And really, the issue is between the middle schools and the high school and figuring out how to place kids. My son did well in algebra 1 in 8th grade, but I wouldn't say he had great study skills. He just got algebra. So knowing that geometry honors was a big step up in terms of work required outside of class, he probably wasn't the best candidate. Plus, less than 50% of the students are moving forward in the honors track, and I think that reflects on the school, not the students. By the way, we didn't ask that he be placed in the class. The school recommended it based on test results and grades. The thing I regret is not pulling him out and putting him back in regular geometry after he failed his first test, and got a D on the second. The teacher convinced me he should stay. Other kids were dropping back and ended up doing well in geometry and are much happier. Honors got my son nothing. I'm not sure he's even learned as much as he could have had he taken regular geometry.
How big is this school that it has multiple sections of honors geometry?
"Plus, less than 50% of the students are moving forward in the honors track, and I think that reflects on the school, not the students... The school recommended it based on test results and grades. "
That is exactly what I'm describing. The school comes up with a justification for putting kids in these advanced classes because it makes them look better. Then, the kids that don't belong in there fail out, which impresses the next wave of parents because the class is shown to be difficult.
The school has somewhere around 3000. It's a strong math school in the state(winning various state competitions every year). The grade schools start early, pushing the advanced kids to move up a year or two, and take classes at the middle schools. But the department head at the high school has come under fire this year for this issue, and has had to hold special meetings with middle school parents to make sure they are informed about the honors program and what to expect. Entering high school, we didn't get any information about the honors program and most parents I know see this as a failure on the part of the school rather than a strength.
Sounds like Clarkston?
My daughter had a similar experience in high school, except for her it was AP European History. Most of the class struggled. Several students who excelled in almost every other honors or AP class were at D or below. It seemed to be more an issue with the teacher than anything else, who had some sort of macho sense that his class would truly prepare students for college where others fell short. It was very frustrating for my daughter and several other students, but she turned out OK. She was a National Merit Scholar in high school and is now almost through her PhD program in chemical engineering.
AP History classes are designed to essentially be college courses. It requires a completely different skillset than pretty much any other high school class. The problem comes when schools try to put too many kids in the class to get the extra funding. It also doesn't help when helicopter parents are just completely convinced that their child "deserves" an A because they've gotten them in their other classes.
If this is a super high honors course, chances are the parents are like you. 25 ish kids with C's or below?? You need to call them and if there is a problem with the teacher, arrange a meeting to discuss it with administration.
for someone so seemingly invested in a college sports program to not have been driven to attend. care to explain it anymore? i'm genuinely curious to know more about that...
When no one in your immediate family has ever attended college, it's hard to be the first and go to THE college of colleges.
I'm happy where I'm at right now but I want to transfer and get my bachelor's somewhere else.
If it is Michigan, at least I'll have "only" 2 years of Michigan debt to pay instead of 4.
well when you write it out, it all makes a lot of sense. if it is in the works for you to go to michigan one day, then hopefully you can transfer and qualify for a scholarship for first generation college students.
One way or another, I will start a trend of Michigan alums.
If isn't me, I'll make sure I do everything humanly possible to get my future kids in.
They'll certainly know their way around campus since they'll grow up in Ann Arbor.
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Why?
My story may be a little different than some on here. I don't go to Michigan. Anyways, I hated school but was able to graduate HS easily and got into everywhere that I applied too but still didn't care. Had no direction nor motivation. I was going to school because you were supposed too not because I had a conviction for it and my grades suffered for it. I legitimately did not care at all. I just didn't want to be the kid that dropped out blah blah. I realized this a year in (luckily) and join the ANG so I wouldn't be drowning in debt for something I wasn't sure I would or wanted to finish. (I graduate in a month, I'll have over 180 credit hours for my undergrad ... I just floated around aimlessly)
2.5 years ago I decided to go back so I could commission and because i had finally found something I loved. Got declined by embry-riddle in Daytona for the engineering program.
I saved that email. I told my wife I was going to graduate college, get a pilot slot in the USAF and then write back to them telling them they made a mistake.
I graduate in 4 weeks with a 3.75 and yes I got a pilot slot (leave for training August) and am already thinking of what to write in my response.
My motivation? Being told I couldn't do it. That's how I have always been.
I assume you're asking because of a kid or loved one that's struggling? Just help them as much as you can. I'm sur eyou know what motivates them so use that and just know that they are going to figure it out it just takes some longer than others.
Great story, and good luck sir. Had a friend on the pilot track but was medically DQ'd once he started flying. Devestated him but now he's looking to go to med school, just has to get through organic chem and take the MCATs.
I don't really understand why some kids do jack with regards to their classes. I could get at least a B in my sleep if it wasn't an AP class. I guess it's because there's no consequences when it comes to that shit in high school. If you behave the same way in college, you'll be kicked out out of school and become a loser who works at a fast food joint. In high school, not doing anything, smoking dope all day, and being a jackass make you desirable to other people as friends I guess. In college, people tend to gravitate towards the successful people as friends, girlfriend/boyfriend etc.
Caliber of high school and peer group are HUGE with regard to your child's success. There are less than 10 good public high schools in the state of Michigan. It's a complete gamble sending your children to an average public high school in Michigan. Anyone offended by this just isn't tuned into reality. Go visit Cranbrook or Detroit Catholic Central or Northville HS, look up their #s and tell me how your kid's high school stacks up. Kids at those schools are the future "leadership class," kids at the average Michigan public high school are the "service industry class."
I understand your point about peer groups, but you can't generalize an entire school. Every school has kids who are motivated and ambitious...even in schools filled with a lot of "provincial" families.
My kids public high school ranks above every school there except Northville.
In fact - Northville is the only school you listed that is actually top 10 in Michigan.
nothing, I partied and skipped a lot and was a real entitled asshole cuz my dad was on the school board, ended up with a 2.5 gpa. somehow I managed to make it work, I'm finishing up my masters and got a summer internship with a market research firm in the area. doing poorly in highschool does not mean a shitty life, but its prob better not to risk it kids