7 Practical Principles On How To Make First Class

by Damilola Olisa 

Oftentimes, most students think that making first class is for only the extraordinary students in class, but this is not completely true. I am of the belief that any student can rise up to make first class. This is the reason I have decided to put this article together. This article will be most useful to students in lower levels or freshers. Anyway, students not within this category will benefit from it. Now to these 7 principles.

1. PLANNING: Planning is very important in making first class especially in a university setting where you would have to shuttle schooling and other activities. The problem most students do have is improper planning of activities. Before leaving your room everyday, you should have a written sketch of your activities for the day. Also, planning goes hand in hand with time management. Appropriate time should be allotted for every activity. 

2 GO EXTRA MILES: I can remember that this was one of the pieces of advice my elder brother that I have found very invaluable on campus. This applies to you too. It is a major secret of any first class students. You should never be satisfied with only what your lecturer taught you in class, except for few cases. Most lecturers expect more than what they've taught you in class. There is a league of students on every campus who always complain that the university library is stacked with only outdated books. I would encourage you not to join them. No doubt, the library remains an resourceful source of information. 

 3. DON'T LISTEN TO THE NAY-SAYERS One thing I have observed closely is, in every department we have the nay-sayers. These sets of students are those who often discourage others from attaining academic success. They tell you things such as: "That lecturer is a sadist, he can never give you an A", "Don't disturb yourself, nobody has ever graduated with a first class from this department and it will continue that way", "I thank God very much that at least I past that wicked lecturer's course with a D", and so on. They are always pessimistic. If you want to succeed, you should not listen to them. Instead you should remain focused and optimistic in everything.

 4. KNOW THYSELF: Do not be the type that follows the bandwagon in making choices. Understand yourself in every way: how you study, how you assimilate, how you convince your lecturers with your points, how you adapt to situations and how you relate with others. I remain that while I was in 100, my room mate was the type who read all night. But I understood myself that I study better during the day. However, I will advise you to be able to adapt easily to strange and demanding situation. But still be yourself.

 5. SET GOALS: Remember that graduating with a first class, which is your ultimate goal will only be achieved when you set goals bit by bit, not necessarily 'big' goals. You can break your 'big' goals into piecemeal. Getting a first class starts by Having A's in a good number of your courses, if not all your courses. Set goal of having an A in every course. Even your tests and assignments as minute as some students mistakenly think they are should not be taking levity at all.

 6. UNDERSTAND YOUR LECTURERS: I decided to include this because from experience I have observed that every lecturer has his own peculiarity. When receiving lecture, one of the things you should do is to study the lecturer, know whether he is the type that loves lengthy or short note in exams, understand his body language. In some cases, if you really study the lecturer, you can guess the area of concentration for his exam. 

 7. THE GOD FACTOR: This factor cannot be overruled, I must confess. You seriously need God's favour if truly you desire to make a first class. Some people may want to argue this point by saying that they know students who made first class with much or any belief in God. But for me, my conviction is if you want good success while in and after school, then you really need God.