New semester equals new start
Rawly Bransom
editor-in-chief

 A new year and a new semester bring millions of students back to school hoping for scholastic success.
Few students enter a semester with dreams of D’s and F’s. Even with the best of intentions, students often fall into the same old rut.
Success is often hard to attain. So to help my fellow students, I have put together a sure-fire system to pull those below-the-curb grades into B’s and possibly even A’s.
Step 1: Attend Class. Yes, the teacher may be monotone, and the subject might not be as interesting as the transvestites on today’s Jerry Springer Show, but attending class and receiving instructions are the easiest way to improve grades. Also, teachers seem more helpful to students who at least appear to be trying, and students at home with their 17th case of food poisoning are a bit suspect.
Step 2: Try not to procrastinate. It’s Monday night, and you have a test on Thursday. You have a choice of watching wrestling or studying. Well Stone Cold Steve Austin it is. Putting in a minimum of one extra hour of study time will help add the information into your long-term memory. Often students wait until Wednesday around midnight to start studying for that test. Cramming has been proven to fail over and over again, and studying all night just leads to ink marks on a student’s forehead. If you put in the extra effort and don’t leave everything to the last second, then you can achieve your goals.
Step 3: Get enough rest. Students across the country will tell you that leaning back in your seat with a cap over your eyes is the best sleep you can receive. WRONG. I once knew a guy who would walk into class, put down his tape recorder and before roll was finished was snoring like a freight train. Needless to say, he did not pass. Do your sleeping at home in a bed where you are supposed to do it.
Step 4: Socialize outside class. We’ve all sat near the person who was always talking. Osmosis might work sometimes, but paying attention works better. Take notes, pay attention to lectures and wait until after class to tell your friend about the latest episode of Survivor.
Following these steps may not earn you a 4.0, but it will improve grades, guaranteed.