EXCELLING AS A STUDENTDebidutta Pattnaik, CFA (ICFAI)

Excellence• Derived from the Greek word “Excellentia”• Being extremely good at something, to be

exceptionally good at it• Being your best • Being better tomorrow than you were yesterday • Matching your practice with your potential • Rising above the level of mediocrity

Bible and Excellence• The word “excellence” in the New Testament

comes from the Greek word `Diaphero’ which literally means transport, differ, best, vital, better things, the highest…

• The Hebrew word for “excellence” is `alah’, which means to ascend.

• Thus Biblical excellence means, to ascend or carry above the normal.

• The word of God reminds us to pursue what is excellent – Philippians 4:8

Discussion• Describe what you saw in single words/phrases• What’s required to attain such level of expertise?• What are the challenges that would have come

their way?

Why to Excel?• Primary Responsibility as a Student/Professional• Fulfills the purpose of our Life• Satisfaction• God created all • Parents and Siblings• As the Salt and Light of the world (Matt.

5:13,14), it is our duty to glorify God by excelling in our studies.

Excelling as a Student• Doesn’t mean to top the class always• It does mean that we match our rank / grade /

score with our potential• It means we must keep improving with our

efforts every week / test / year.

Where ?• Classes • Quizzes • Assignments • Exams • Co-Curricular activities • Current affairs • ….

When ?

• All through the academic year • Throughout our life

How ?

1. Learn Each Day

Learning

Gro

wth

Lear

ning

Age

2. Set your Goal • Specific • Measurable • Realistic

• Achievable• Time Bound (Tangible)

3. Plan Each Day

4. Manage Your Time

• Time can’t be stopped, stored or purchased.• Time can’t be taken on credit from others.• Time can’t be stretched (It can’t be invested or

multiplied like FD)• Time is an irreversible resource (once spent

cannot be given again)• Time is a Great Equalizer: Be it Bill Gates, Bill

Clinton or any Beggar (Same for all, 24 hours, not less or more)

4.1. Why Manage Time ?

4.2. Prioritize Your Tasks

4.3. Important vs Urgent

4.4. Reassess the list

5. Improve your Concentration

6. Focus on Productive Time

7. Take Ample Breaks

8. Keep Track of your Progress

9. Sufficient Sleep / Rest

10. Work on improving Your Memory

11. Work the SQ3R way• Survey – Big Picture, Roadmap• Question – What, Why, When, Who, Where and

How of study content • Read – Read to answer questions you have

asked• Recite – Recall what you have read, Heading,

Ideas Concepts • Review - Just after you have finished studying

something, Revise … not just before exams

Some useful Tips• Avoid Perfectionism• Conquer Procrastination• Learn to say ‘No’• Right Self-Esteem• Overcoming Failure

So, how to excel in studies?• Attend all classes without fail. Read the topics in

advance before the class. Be attentive in the class. Write the class notes.

• Do assignments / home work on your own. Do not copy home work / plagiarize assignments. If you are not able to understand and solve, discuss with friends / seniors.

• Be honest with faculty members and take their help. Spend time with faculty members and take material / guidance.

• Make sure that you revise your running notes on the same day. If you don’t revise, you will forget 60% of what you learnt in the classroom.

• Read the complete syllabus. Read the textbooks thoroughly and understand all the chapters. Repeatedly write and practice. Revise once or twice

• Spend time in the Library. Read other books related to the subject. Make your own notes. Solve questions at the end of the chapter. Solve old question papers.

Few more Hows...• Teach other students what you know. Compete with

better students and evaluate yourself.

• Concentrate on concepts, think and apply. Effective thinking skills cannot be studied, but be built up over a period of time. Good thinkers see possibilities where others see only dead-ends.

• Read general knowledge books as well. Read newspapers for current affairs.

12. Don’t give up…

Become an Excellent StudentThank You

Questions• I have plan of work for each day/week.• I stick to my plans.• I do not let interruptions sidetrack me from my

tasks.• I do things in the order of Priority.• I am working up to my Potential that God has

given me.• I tackle difficult tasks without procrastination.• I meet deadlines without rushing at the last

minute.

Questions• I usually try to study with the TV or Music Player

turned on.• I usually take notes at lectures.• I fail or get low marks in Surprise tests.• I do most of the revision the night before exams.• I go to class, but I usually doodle, daydream, or

fall asleep .• I spend too much time on trivial matters.• I am not winning at work though working hard.