Relatively speaking, it can be almost as good to show strong grade improvement as having straight A’s.

According to Mrs. Gibbons, MBHS’s college advisor, “colleges like to see academic improvement over time that indicates that the student will continue to do so.” Metaphorically speaking, “if a stock goes up then it is going to lead to an investment.” Mrs. Gibbons explained that when your GPA increases, so do your chances of being accepted to the school of your dreams.

Fellow MBHS student, Kristina Rodriguez said regarding grade improvement is that she “feels good about progress” and that colleges who “see low grades in the beginning of your freshman year like improvement over the years.”

Before transferring to Millennium Brooklyn High School, I spent my first two years at a different school. The transfer from this school to MBHS revealed a major change in my grades between my freshman and sophomore years. In my freshman year, I received grades ranging from 65 to 80. My sophomore year grades ranged from 85 to 95: proof of change in my academic improvement. This gave me a change in perspective of myself in school, realizing that I have the potential to get amazing grades.

Grades do not define you as a whole student. In fact, work ethic plays a major factor. Teachers and colleges adore seeing an upward trend in grades. It can be quite depressing to see a grade that you know you don’t deserve, but seeing it from a positive view can help you get to a higher average overall.

In order to succeed in life it’s important to fail, since failures are stepping stones towards progress. You should change your perspective of a bad grade, and instead use bad grades as motivation to do better in the future. The next step is looking back on your mistakes, learning from them and assuring yourself to avoid making them a second time.

Some tips to avoid your mistakes include to make weekly check-ins of your grades in your Pupil-Path account. Approach your teacher(s) and have one-on-one conversations about your grades and school work. Take the advantage of office hours to complete school work with your teacher and peers, as being in a school-like environment will result in having your work done without any distractions. Do not allow bad grades to deter you from making better academic decisions in the future. You can learn from your academic mistakes in order to become an A student. Keep in mind that colleges like to see progress over time, so do not feel discouraged at the beginning. Realize that you have the potential to do better.