School is falling into normalcy again as the first progress report of the semester has been handed out and rankings e-mailed out. Students either got a wake-up call or a confirmation that they’re heading in the right direction.

However, grades from the past are completely independent from the grades you get right now. You can still slip up.

For some students, it’s easy to switch gears from relaxing during Winter Break to doing homework after the long hours of school without getting distracted. For others, like me, the transition is rocky. My progress report was definitely a wake-up call and my ranking, even though it was great, was a reminder that I have to keep working hard in order to maintain it. Thus, the things that can push students to keep their grades up are goals, incentives and support.

First off, make a goal for yourself. Of course, you might not follow through with some goals, but if you don’t set up a finish line for yourself, there’s minimal chance you’ll start to work hard towards anything at all. Also, goals are not supposed to be moderate; they go above your past standards because why not? If you’ve already reached a certain level, just aim a little higher.

If the journey towards your goal turns out dull or excruciating, then that’s where incentives come into play. For instance, if you have a major project due in a couple weeks then don’t push it off until later, just work at it a little at a time. For any assignment, try to work on it right when you first have the chance to so that there is time afterward for fun. And even after each little round of working, give yourself some free time because breaks are healthy to have. Just don’t over-indulge yourself.

Lastly, have a support group and choose the people in it wisely. Choose friends who work really hard and are organized. Hanging out with them allows their good traits and methods to rub off on you. Also, having people who relate to you is comforting. You can struggle through together and push each other to work more diligently. Believe it or not, competition can be helpful. If you’re at the top, you have the want to maintain your status. If you’re falling behind, you have the want to catch up.

Everything is accomplished through dedication and motivation. It’s easy to get discouraged but you need a steady, positive mindset in order to succeed. You have to remember to keep moving forward.