Why students fail?

I know you would have liked for me to tell you the single most important reason why students fail.

But failure isn’t something you bumped into or it just happened; it is a process. In a similar way winning and being successful can become a habit, so too is failing.

Understanding where you have gone wrong is one of the first steps in moving from a state of failing to being successful. I have outlined six main areas that I believe will help you better prepare for your upcoming exams. Just how well you apply the tools below could actually determine which side of the fence you end up on.

 Lack of adequate planning

I have always heard the saying, if you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.Planning for your exams include from preparing your pen, ruler and geometry set days before the exam, to planning your answers while in the examination room.

Failing to plan properly will make you more anxious and doubtful of your ability.
Don’t just rush into things.

Stop! Take a deep breath and spend a little time to plan your study and revision schedule.This could go a long way in helping you to manage your time efficiently.
Planning to read over your notes each day is a good habit to develop.

Tip: Always do the most important things first. Plan before you start, and don’t leave the more important things at the mercy of the less important stuff.

 Poor time management

Students often times postpone learning. This is often done especially when the topic is either difficult or we just don’t seem to grasp it immediately. This will have the effect of students using their study time to learn something that should have already been covered.
If this is you, don’t panic.

Just as you would plan your study and revision times, you must also set aside time for learning new materials that you either did not previously cover or wasn’t grasping too well.

Some subjects require more attention than others and it is usually good to split subjects into weak and strong areas. If you do fairly well at Chemistry and poor at Mathematics, then you would want to spend a little more time practicing math.

Practice, Practice, Practice
Do a lot of past papers and practice often. I found that sometimes questions are repeated in future exams with just minor changes.

Study guides and books with worked answers in the back are great, but only if you use them for help and not as an easy way to get your assignment done. Don't let a book or classmates do your work for you. Do not copy someone else’s work either. They won't be available during the tests, which usually count for a big portion of your grade.

Notice I said practice, not cram.
Caution! Don’t fall into the trap of devoting all your time to a subject you love and enjoy doing.
Share your time based on where the need is greater.

Focus – Put your heart and mind into it
A part of managing your time properly is to ensure that your heart and mind is into what you are doing.
Find the right place and time that will make you be at your best. Here are a few simple and effective steps you can take to better manage your study time:

 Turn off the TV.
 Tell your friends you are studying and that you will not be accessible during certain hours.
 Get rid of all possible distractions.

As a teenager I have always found it difficult to switch off the TV while studying. But, I later on told myself that the Movie Makers already knew just how they were going to earn their living. Therefore I needed to take a conscious decision to pass my CXC. This I knew would have given me a head start in life. Find something to motivate you.

Tip: Be discipline, get use to it, you will need it throughout your entire life.

 Procrastinating

You should never do today what you can put off until tomorrow, right? Wrong!
“I will look at this tomorrow”, is always the easy thing to say.
Remember we said earlier that failing is a process? Get into the habit of passing exams and studying properly. I need not say anymore.

Tip: Stop procrastinating – Yesterday you said you would have done it tomorrow and tomorrow you wish you had done it yesterday.

 Poor eating and sleeping habits

Develop good eating and sleeping habits. You will do yourself more harm than good trying to study when you are tired and exhausted. Know your body and how it responds to certain foods. An empty stomach in the exam room may be just as bad as having too much to eat.

Doing regular physical exercises helps with the flow of blood in the body and mind.

Tip: Always have a good meal, not too heavy and not too light. Also taking sweets to chew on during the exam is a good way of replenishing your energy.

 Quitting too quickly

Never give up while the exam is in progress. If you keep worrying over what you cannot do, you might end up doing poorly on areas that you thought you could have done well.
Things to always do in an exam:

 Write clear and easily understood answers.
 Review your answers.
 Make sure your handwriting is legible for written papers.
 Corrections should be neat.

Tip: There are many times I believed I failed an exam only to get the results showing that I not only passed but got a good grade too. Don’t fail yourself, keep going, you can do it.

 Fear of exams
The sixth and final reason why students fail is due to the crippling effect of fear on the mind.
If you are like me, then you never really get to like exams. In high school I was always afraid of exams and this was evident in my many trips to the bathroom. I have since changed my attitude.

I have now adapted the “I can approach”.
Your attitude towards your exam could determine if you have a mind block during the exam.
RELAX!
Things are never as bad as we imagine them to be. I have always found that praying help me to focus and relax, especially just before I begin writing my exam paper, you can try it.

Tip: Be calm, be cool and always do something to relax your mind before and during the exam.

This very minute

This very minute a woman is giving birth...
This very minute another soul is departing the earth...

This very minute a girl is finding love...
This very minute someone is angry at love...

This very minute, an achievement someone is proud of...
This very minute, some action someone is disappointed of...

This very minute there’s a man giving up...
This very minute there’s a child wising up...

This very minute someone is grieving...
This very minute someone is believing...

This very minute a girl is feeling lonely...
This very minute someone special is thinking of you, their one and only...

This very minute a family is having a fight...
This very minute a couple is getting it right...

This very minute may not count much to you...
But this is all the time someone has left to make it through...

This very minute may be your final and only chance...
To share hope, to love or even to dance...

This very minute wont last...
It will soon become your precious past...

Make this very minute count...
This very minute may seem like forever...

Let your memories be pleasing to remember...
Be thankful for this very minute, before it is over...

Girl # 2 - The way men look at me

A stranger standing pose
At me dared to lift up his nose
A penetrating stare
On my neck I felt his exhaled air

From the distance he zoomed in on my skirt
With eyes so fixed
What could he possible missed
Was he lusting, flirting
Swearing, wishing or dreaming

Like the shining sun upon the skin
His stare sunk deep, deep within
I then took a gaze
And my, my I was amazed
This stranger choosing to look at a woman
Was not quite a boy and not quite a man

With one glance
I quickly calculated his chance
His hands seemed rough
Hair twisted and curled
Face looked good enough

In my mind lingered random thoughts
My attention he caught
Though not my type
It doesn’t hurt to be nice
So before my meal I buy
I ventured over and said,” Hello” and he said, “Hi”

Who is affecting you?

Sometimes our lives can become absorbed with those who are affecting us negatively.
Quite often this is the case and is usually someone we resent and wish would go away.

Today, take time to acknowledge that your life would be much different if certain persons were not in it. The people who make living more worthwhile and getting out of bed so much easier are the ones you should allow to affect you the most.

Take a little time to really reflect on who is affecting you and how.
Answer these little questions, who cause you to do it most?

1. Become upset
2. Cry
3. Become discouraged
4. Worry
5. Feel bad

a) Laugh
b) Smile
c) Be hopeful
d) Think
e) Feel inspired

If you had jot down your answers on a small sheet of paper then you might have noticed how some persons name appeared more than once on your list. If not, that’s ok too. But having the same person appearing more than once is a good indicator of who is affecting you mostly.

Now, the area you are most affected in will depend on you. If it was easier to answer questions 1 to 5 than a) to e) then you know the negative influences are weighing down more on you.

Our lives are touched by the people we meet, our family and friends or even a total stranger in the street. I always crave the touching, heartwarming moments than I do the disturbing ones. I do not make room for the negative energy.
I do not make myself a magnet for negative and disturbing influences.

Having completed this exercise myself, I did two other exercises you may also want to consider.

Firstly, I rid myself of the disturbing encounters and persons who are magnets for attracting unpleasant encounters. Soon I was happier and I felt more fulfilled. I also had more energy to help and empower those who really wanted to be helped.

Secondly I took five minutes to let those who have touched my life in one way or another know how much they mean to me. Five minutes of gratitude, five minutes of thank you and appreciation, five minutes of, “I love you’.
I was strengthened and they too were strengthened from receiving those wonderful compliments.

If you are being affected by others and you dislike the person you are becoming, then it is time for you to take back the reins. I talk more about this in my upcoming book, “DISCOVERING THE GOLD IN YOU”.

You must remain in control of your life, it is then and only then you will be able to give it to your Creator. Walk well!

~~~~~

MY BOOK

WHEN I AM...YOU ARE

When I am alone at nights and have no one on whom I can call…
You are the only one I can depend on, when on my knees I fall…
When I am confused, no peace, and no sleep…
You are the only who can restore me, you’re my shepherd, and I’m your sheep…
When I am worried even though it never brings me what I need…
Your word is all I have, you’ve promised to meet my every need…
Whenever I am afraid for the world is such a scary place and sometimes unkind…
Your word reminds me I have power, love and a sound mind…
When I get too comfortable here on earth…
A better home has been prepared for me, this hope of my new birth…
Whenever I place all my hope in this land…
You remind me of your better plan…
When I am alone…
You remind me I’m not my own…
When I am sad…
You are that best friend I’ve always had…
When I am depress…
You are my fortress…
When man fail…
You prevail…
Yes! Lord, I need not fret…
You have never failed me yet…
When I am lonely, you are never far
When I am…You are

You deserve it…No need to be apologetic

You have been in the same job for so many years and you feel as though it is time you move on, but the thoughts of leaving only make you feel guilty….Don’t be apologetic about it, you need to move on. You deserve it.

You have been wishing all your life for a partner who would love you and cherish you, making your life so much more worthwhile. It has started to happen. Now you are so happy and daily you are experiencing joy like you have never experienced before. Don’t fight it, let it happen. You deserve it.

You have wanted to make a change for the better for some time now.
You have been through a lot and cried many times too. God heard your prayers and is now ready to give you your heart’s desire. You are at the brink of a great change, a great time. All the stuffs you’ve detested are removing them selves from you and the type of people you love and admire are coming into your life.
This is your time to live and be free, your time to be happy.
Don’t be apologetic about it. You deserve it.

I watched my eight-month old son scream for stuff he wants, then upon receiving it he instantly become confused and not sure what to do with it. In the same minute he wanted it, he has refused it. As grown ups, we are not much different sometimes, we wish and long for that which when it arrives we are not sure what to do, we become confused, fearful and even resistant. If what you’ve always wanted starts to blossom and bloom, then it is time to sit and enjoy the beauty of it all. Don’t fight it, after all you wanted it. No need to be apologetic. You deserve it. God knew it and that is why he did it.

Is it love at first sight?

I looked at her, saw love in her eyes
So I made a loud sigh
Asked myself why
Then went over and said, “Hi”

She told me her name
Her face questioned my aim
I seemed just too tame
But oh! She was enjoying my game

They say love doesn’t show up at first sight
So I guess this must be ‘like’
Oh my friend can you tell
When you look in another’s eyes

Can you tell they like you
Do you know you like them too
We chat a while
Then we exchanged numbers and parted with a smile

~*~*~*~*

I Gave You Everything - Quiet Assurance

There’s nothing I can give that I have not already given.

There’s nothing I can do that I have not already done,

So what would it take to ensure you knew I have given you me?

What would it take for you to know I love you?

I gave my life for you

I made plans for you

The things you need I have already provided.

The sicknesses to come, healing has already been done.

I am never too far to feel you

I will never hesitate to meet you where you are

I will always remember a thought so tender…Cast all your cares upon me for I care for you

This is my quiet assurance

"I love you so much," says the Lord

I know the cost of love, it cost me the life of my son

A Musical Idea

Promoting my free music website:

http://www.amusicalidea.com/index_2.php

A day of forgiveness

Why don’t we declare a Day of Forgiveness where we all can forgive everyone for what they said or did to us?
Let us call it International Day of Forgiveness - a day focused on each of us flushing our system of the waste, the baggage and just start over afresh.

It sounds like a great idea to me.
What do you think?

Let me see, I could forgive Marlon for what he did to me in grade three, over thirty-five years ago on that Tuesday morning while I was doing my class work.

I could also forgive my teen crush, the girl from next door who broke my heart. Though she was twenty-two and I was only thirteen, I could finally forgive her for what she did and how she handled me. Wow, that would certainly make me free.

Then again I could also forgive my parents, my former boss, my ex, my gardener, my plumber, my older brother.
Oh my! It seems like I need more than one day. At the rate I hate, I need more than one date.

Perhaps we should celebrate an International Forgiveness Week instead. You know, I am thinking that by the time the following year comes around I would have had so many people who would have upset me, hurt me, and cause me to curse and swear. If I were to wait another year, I could go crazy walking around with all that in my head and in my heart.

Wow! It never really bothered me before now, I could just hate people. I actually believed I have the gift of hating. The smallest wrong you did to me I would just hate you for it and wished the worse sometimes.

I am now thinking that I have wasted so much of my life hating and resenting people that I really do need more than a week; maybe an International Day of Forgiveness is not sufficient, but it’s a start. I could really use that, after all I have so many people to heal my heart of and so many stuff to get rid of. I need to forgive everyday, but I could start with this one day, today.

Luke 17:4
“Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive."

Sleep wrestling match

Sleep call me by name
Singing me a lullaby
A yawn tears my cheek bone
As water seal my eyes

Again a yawn stretch my jaw
My eyes now closing down
I must travel to that place
In response to a system shut down

The way men look at me

(A young girl’s perspective)
By jermaine Gordon © Copyright 2009

Men stand a gaze
By what are they amaze
Staring, peering
Is it my ear ring
The dress I‘m wearing

Am I scaring them away
Or attracting them to stay
Is something wrong with my hair
Oh why? This long, persistent stare

Is there something on my face
Or my blouse of lace
Though separated by the distance
What could he be thinking?
I am his last chance
Or does he want to dance

This stranger staring down on me
What could he possible want to see
Perhaps engage talk
Make a date
Go to the park

Is he thinking how beautiful I am
Admiring my complexion
OMG! Is he seeing my reaction?
What does he want from me
I turned and saw him smiling
So I smiled in returned

Am I too concerned?
For my number he yearns
Wanting to come over and say hi
I am afraid not
For now, its goodbye

The jealous husbands problem

Three married couples must cross a river using a boat which can hold at most two people, subject to the constraint that no woman can be in the presence of another man unless her husband is also present. How would you get all three couples safely across the river?

What is driving you?

Someone or something
Driving you to work
Driving you to school
Driving you amidst the conflict
To keep your cool

~~~~

Driving you to go
Driving you to stay
Driving you back home
Driving you away

~~~~

Someone or something
Driving you crazy
Driving you sane
Driving you to remain lazy
Driving your pain

~~~~

Someone or something
Driving your thinking
Driving your disbelieving
Driving your failing
Driving your achieving

~~~~

We just keep on going
There is always someone driving
Always something motivating
So be sure of where you want to go
Where you are going

~~~~

If your tank is empty
Then it may just interrupt your journey
One thing is certain even if you stop a while
Soon you’ll be driven another mile

Sleepers v Dreamers

Most people who dream never fully understand the importance of waking up and living it.

They are in love with sleep and sleep often times love them back.

The language of laughter

What language is laughter?
I speak Italian and you German
Yet you understood my very laughter expression

I am amazed at this little fact of life
It seems all the things we ought to share with each other
Is easily understood by another

Laugh while you can
Laughter, a feature of man

It is true for love
The same for laughter
It is true for crying and for a smile

It really doesn’t matter
There comes a point when words alone just won’t do
The laughter is much too much not to do

Laugh when it seems too crazy to laugh about
Laugh when it seems too heavy to bear
Laugh when there’s no reason to

Laugh while you can
Laughter, a feature of man

Laugh yourself to better days
Laugh at your complex maze

Even when your laughter offends
Your own heart break you may need to mend

So whatever language you speak
The sound of laughter is always sweet

Laugh while you can
Laughter, a feature of man

Laugh yourself to better days
Laugh at your complex maze

The Shadow-side effect

Today as I traveled to work I came up on an object in the road.
I was traveling east and the morning sun had cast a shadow on the object in the middle of the road.
The object seemed dark and was difficult to identify. But as I drew closer and closer, my vision got a little clearer and I saw what appeared to be a little dog that was unfortunately run over by an earlier vehicle and by now had become motionless.

As I drove around it and looked back in my rear view mirror, it became even clearer what it was. It was a little white puppy with brown stripes and black spots. As I pondered on the whole experience I realized even in this there was a beautiful morning lesson.

As I approached the object it was difficult and perhaps impossible to see clearly what was in the road. The shadow effect had created a blur, a distraction and an illusion. This reminded me of life and how often we fail to see things for their real value and color as our perception is affected by shadows around; Shadows that cause us to only see the pain and not the gain from each experience; Shadows that cause us to focus on the hurt instead of the chance of a new birth.

As I continued the rest of my journey I began to notice the same thing even with each tree along the road side. To see the tree’s real color, type and worth I had to view it from the side with the sun light and not its shadow-side. An amazing lesson it was for me and I pray it will be for you too. The shadow-side is not the best angle to judge your current troubles and problems. If you really want to see them for what they are worth, view them from the side of the light. Allow the light to cause you to see life for what it really is.

In light of this unfortunate accident with the puppy I chose not to allow my emotional-side to cause me to miss this ah! ah! moment or my morning dew.
In John 8 v 12, Jesus is described as the light of the world.
The shadow side also causes us to be filled with fear, for the shadows often times bring scary darkness. If you are not looking from the sunny-side, the Jesus-side, then you are viewing life from its shadow-side.

~~~~~~

Trust and open mind

An evil man must defend the good he has done and his reasons in a similar way a man of good character must truly convince us that he has done an evil thing. When we have reinforced perceptions of a person's character it is hard for us to see them in another form, even when presented with the facts...Therefore, an "open mind" is the solution

Leadership and followship

Leadership is of no necessity when there is no one following.
Most often people complain about the absence of leadership without also recognizing the absence of followship.
Just as how it is important to train our leaders to lead effectively we must begin to consider guiding the followers on how to be responsible and effective followers.
In this twenty first century there is much emphasis on leadership training and we are being coached in understanding the essential qualities and characteristics of a good leader.

I have attended a few training sessions myself and have purchased books, DVDs and so on about leading and leading effectively. My aim is to lead to the best of my ability and beyond. However I have seen many failures in leadership and quite often the people who are being led tend to divorce themselves from the failures of their leaders.

I have seen failures in our political, religious, corporate, community and family leaders that have affected whether are not we want to be led further. Not many corrective measures have been taken in the evaluation process to address present and future leadership issues.

Take for example the ‘trust’ issue which has been hanging over our heads for many decades. We have seen dishonest leaders who are known to have mismanage and misappropriate huge sums of the public funds yet they walk scotch free while we imprison an ordinary man for five years for stealing two mangoes. We have seen leaders lacking in integrity, fairness, justice and wisdom and many of us have not been able to live above the betrayal in some instance.

I believe I can categorically state that we as a people, in this side of the world, simply just don’t trust our leaders. We have been hurt, lied to, cheated and exploited. The demon of trust still haunts us today as a nation, as a region and as a people. This demon which prevents our leaders from leading effectively also prevents our followers from following responsibly.

Leadership is a partnership. The willingness and ability to lead must be coupled with the consent to be led. If I were to ask you whether you are a leader or a follower, what would your response be?

Unfortunately, too often there are many leaders and just not enough followers. I have always believed that good leaders are also good followers and the best followers are the ones who understand the important role they play in this whole business of leadership.

Much resource is being expended on developing our leaders and it is becoming increasingly more difficult to lead for the fundamental reason that our people are finding it more difficult to follow. Why not therefore, divert some of the resources toward developing better followers?
Why not teach our people how to serve and serve without servitude?
After all, those who are exemplary followers are soon promoted to leadership.

In order to have effective leadership and responsible followship a very key ingredient must be present, that of oneness of purpose, unity and collaboration. It is neither good nor bad to lead or follow but it is always good to serve.

Serving is hard work, no wonder we are having such diffiuclty following, but even more frightening is the fact that leading requires an even greater level of serving.

If we are going to become better leaders without being losers then we must also become better followers. Forgiveness and starting a fresh is now required. The change for a better tomorrow, as echoed many times before, must begin with me. God bless you and let us commit to being better followers.