Uni 101: What Makes a Good Student? (Qualities of Good Students)

I firmly believe that whatever it is that one sets out to do deserves to be done very very well. Being a student isn’t an exception. Sometimes, you might get tired, that’s okay. You’re allowed to rest, catch your breath and then continue from where you stopped. So, what really makes a good student? In some classes, there are usually all those over-sabi over-sabi. One might conclude being one of them is how to be a good student – to be in the teachers’ good books and in your fellow students’ irritating books is NOT what it takes to be a good a student. 

A good student is good not only for teachers but for their fellow students as well. A good student takes the feelings of his fellow students into consideration. They do not throw their classmates under the bus just to score some good points with the teachers. There are three things that make a good student – good grades, hard-working and discipline. A good student works hard to make good grades and succeed in school, not just academically but in other areas as well. A good student is disciplined enough, goal-driven, determined, diligent, resourceful and a team player. 

They look out for others as much as they do for themselves. They actively participate in class, both academically and socially. A good student must have a willingness to push himself to become better. They’re competitive not towards their classmates or friends but with themselves. They challenge themselves to do better constantly. A good student must be organised, friendly and confident. Believe in yourself even when nobody does. Learn how to raise your head high above all things that seek to subdue you. A good student lives a balanced, well-rounded life. It isn’t just about school for them; their social and spiritual life, too, is taken into consideration. They balance the other aspects of their life efficiently with their academic life. 

A good student knows how to take care of his finances. He knows how to manage his finances efficiently. He knows how to value money and how to spend it. He knows how to take care of himself in school in case his guardians are not financially buoyant enough to take care of their responsibilities towards him. A good student is self-reliant and responsible. A good student is teachable. There is a reason why you’re in school and it is to learn. If you claim to know it all, you might as well just leave since you can’t be taught what you already know. A good student must be humble enough to acknowledge the fact that he doesn’t know everything. He must acknowledge the fact that there is always something a teacher has to offer to him. 

A good student knows how to stand up for himself. He must know how to fight for his rights when they’re being violated. He must be discerning enough to realise when something is not right and speak up for himself. He must know when to speak up and when not to. A good student should try to enjoy his stay in school. Party hard but study harder. Know when to draw the line between the two. When one starts infringing on the other, step back to reassess the situation and find ways to bring balance.