Good grades can be the result of hard work, prior knowledge, or sometimes random luck. Photo courtesy of Juniper Patrick-Miernicki
Students at San Luis Obispo High School are fortunate to have access to many resources that other public schools lack. With a great counseling department, teaching staff, and a generally healthy learning environment, many students leave feeling like they have succeeded academically. However, countless seniors agree that there are things they wish they could have done better to get what they want beyond secondary education. What do they wish they could tell incoming freshmen? What do they wish they had done differently, and what are the key ingredients to the recipe of success?
“Find what you’re genuinely interested in. It’s okay to try a bunch of things and not enjoy them, your plan is probably going to change. Don’t just take the hardest science class that you’re not interested in for the GPA boost; make sure you’re motivated in the subject,” said 2025 SLOHS graduate Holly Speake.
Other students share Speake’s sentiments, and for good reason; if you are interested in a subject, you are more likely to learn and put your best effort in. Unfortunately, there will inevitably be a class you must take that you do not find enjoyable at all. How can you find motivation when taking your fourth year of required English as someone more math-driven? The answer might simply rely on old-fashioned parental pressure.
“My parents pressured me into having a good education because they didn’t. They didn’t have the opportunity to finish high school, so they wanted me to have the opportunity, which made me feel special and wanted to make them proud,” said 2025 SLOHS graduate Liz Vargas Acevedo.
Outside pressures, such as family and friends, can play a huge role in your academic success. This is a double-edged sword, however; too much pressure can lead to burnout, which often harms academic performance.
Some juniors are already too familiar with these pressures, but have learned ways to deal with them and share them with underclassmen.
“Stay on task with school, make sure you turn things in on time. Don’t push things off; check Aeries and put in the effort. You get out what you put in,” said senior Joseph Bernardo. This simple advice goes a long way, but stress and constant overstimulation tend to overcomplicate academic success.
Overall, the recipe for academic success won’t have the same ratios for everyone, but the key ingredients remain the same: a mixture of effort, staying on task, and deciding what you are interested in will push you in the right direction. Do your best, Tigers, and don’t be afraid to make your recipe for success.
