Sports have long been an integral part of my life both as an athlete and coach, and I feel the lessons learned in athletics are similar to academics. For example, in athletic competition one of most important components to victory is having a game plan.
Most coaches develop game plans based on several factors including but not limited to:
- The ability of his or her players
- Opportunities for success against an opponent
You may have heard the “coach speak” phrases:
- “Stick with the game plan” if the team is doing well or just needs to perform better
- “Adjust the game plan” if changes are needed in order to win
Having a game plan for your academic success is important as well, and right now is a great time of year to reassess the plan you are working on.
Perhaps you can just “stick with your plan” because you are earning the grades you desire. However, some of you may need to “adjust your game plan” because you are not experiencing the results you want or need to reach your goals.
Here are my three suggestions for adjusting your academic game plan:
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Believe you can do it—self-confidence is key
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Work hard—nothing can take the place of effort
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Get help if you need it—be sure to use the resources available to you!
So now I have to ask—how is your academic “game plan” working for you? Do you need to “stick with it” or make some “adjustments”? What adjustments do you think you need to make? Please comment below.
The Independent Learner 