Why Having the Right Attitude in School Can Make All the Difference

We ask students at SuperCamp and in our Quantum Learning for Students programs if they've ever tried something new and were convinced they wouldn't be able to do it right? Then we ask them if they've ever been challenged, yet knew that somehow they were going to be successful, and the challenge was fun?

Henry Ford once said 'whether you believe you can or whether you believe you can't, either way you're right.' Henry Ford understood the value of having the right attitude. Attitude can be the deciding factor between failure and success, between boredom and fun, between staying in one place and moving forward.

Attitude comes into play at school, too. A student may enter some classes excited to be there, and enjoying the teacher and the subject. Maybe he or she enters other classes 'knowing' that the class will be boring, and guess what... the class is boring. Many students spend half their days at school wishing they were somewhere else, doing something else. How successful do you think they will be with that attitude?

So how does a student build a winning attitude? It's as easy as ABC - Attitude, Belief, and Curiosity. It's possible to transform an attitude of 'School is boring' to 'Learning is awesome!' We tell students to write a statement like that in a place where they will see it whenever they study. We tell them to go so far as to say it in their mind when they're in class. We encourage them to find a phrase that works for them, and write it in big colorful letters in their notebook!

How can a student bring curiosity to the classroom? In addition to looking for personal connections and fun parts of the class topic, one may find it valuable to ask 'why would I want to learn what the teacher is teaching'. The answer may be as simple as so I can pass my exams. Why would I want to pass my exams? Maybe I'll get more free time, maybe I'll get into the college I want to go to. Why would I want those things? So I can be more successful in life. With this kind of curiosity and by understanding what's in it for them, students will find they're learning with ease.

Attitude is a small thing that makes a big difference!