| Only a few weeks into the school year, a 9th | | | | classes, go to the tutoring center and review the |
| grader at a very academic private high school is | | | | material with a tutor. THIS IS NOT A STIGMA! |
| feeling overwhelmed. This is not an unusual feeling | | | | Many people believe that getting help implies |
| for high-achieving students because the pressure | | | | weakness rather than indicating strength. It is |
| today to do well and "beat the competition" is | | | | actually a much better plan for life to recognize |
| intense. | | | | when free services can strengthen your position |
| Yet the FLIPPING BURGERS philosophy is | | | | and to take advantage of this available |
| somewhat different than the "get the highest | | | | opportunity. |
| grades and highest test scores" philosophy for | | | | Each person learns in a different way, yet |
| getting into top colleges. | | | | repetition of new material can probably help |
| The FLIPPING BURGERS philosophy says that you | | | | everyone. And, if you're going over new material |
| should follow your passion in high school. This | | | | with a tutor, you might discover that you |
| means trying to arrange a challenging but not | | | | misunderstood something that, if not corrected, |
| overwhelming school schedule so that you have | | | | could set you off in a major wrong direction. |
| time to follow your passion outside of school. | | | | Thus, by reviewing new material with a tutor, you |
| And the advantage of following your passion | | | | can quickly discover where you're about to go off |
| outside school is that you will have to pursue | | | | track. |
| activities that are not handed to you on a silver | | | | If your school offers such services and these |
| platter (the school's own activities). Why, for | | | | services could be of help to you, do not refuse to |
| example, join the high school drama club when | | | | go because you're afraid this would make you |
| you can join a local theater group near your | | | | look dumb. Instead, getting help makes you look |
| home? In this way you will demonstrate initiative | | | | smart - smart to take advantage of any help you |
| to the colleges to which you apply and your | | | | can in order to make sure you're on the right |
| experience may be richer for having to learn how | | | | track. |
| to "work" act) around adults of various ages. | | | | If even with tutoring you are just not |
| If you are overwhelmed already and this is still | | | | understanding a subject, you might consider |
| early in the school year, consider whether you | | | | whether you have an unidentified learning disability |
| may be able to re-adjust your school schedule so | | | | that is interfering with your success with this |
| that you have more time to pursue your passion | | | | subject. Frequently students are able to |
| and still take academically challenging (but not | | | | unconsciously cope with learning disabilities until |
| overwhelming) courses. | | | | high school, when the subject matter gets too |
| For example, this re-adjustment may mean | | | | difficult to cope without having learned specific |
| saving physics until summer school where you can | | | | coping skills for your learning issues. |
| really focus on this subject and, in place of this | | | | Whatever you do, keep an open mind. It is only |
| course during the school year, take a | | | | by being willing to fail that you can learn |
| less-strenuous one that will give you more free | | | | something new. If you are set on always |
| time after school. | | | | appearing smart, you will be prevented from |
| In addition, take advantage if your school has free | | | | taking risks that can lead you to new |
| tutoring on any subject. Don't wait until you fall | | | | understanding. |
| behind. After you're done on the first day of | | | | |