How to maintain academic momentum amid Covid-19 and school pressures
As the majority of schools are now moving into their first test series of the academic year, online school, Brainline, says it is important for students to remain motivated and emotionally fit to sustain them throughout the rest of the year. Brainline Mentor, Liezel Bruwer, says many learners are still suffering from Covid-19 and lockdown fatigue from the previous year.
‘COVID-19 has brought about a complex array of factors such as uncertainty, social isolation, and angst that have an impact on the mental health of children and adolescents. Predictability is a stabilizing force for children and adolescents, but it has been disrupted since the COVID-19 outbreak. While there has been a return to a normal state of affairs with schools reopening earlier this year, many are still suffering in the aftermath of last year’s uncertainty,’ she says.
Bruwer says many students have started the year on a high note, but it is possible that they will not be able to maintain high levels of momentum as the year progresses.
‘The adrenaline and excitement that marked the return to school period will soon waver as reality sets in. Learners will now have to adapt to normal classroom hours, tasks and tests that were not part of their daily routine in 2020. A number of students may experience fatigue and feel overwhelmed. It is therefore important that parents to seek an evaluation for their children if they have any concerns about their mental health or overall well-being. Early intervention may prevent long term mental health consequences from this COVID-19 pandemic,’ Bruwer says.
Bruwer says it is important for learners to remember that perseverance plays a vital role in success.
‘Perseverance means never giving up when things become challenging. It is easy to give up when tasks and tests become harder. Taking an easy way like quitting, avoiding the tasks and tests or cheating does not make the challenges go way. However, persevering and sticking it out will ensure that you feel confident and victorious.’
She says setbacks such as poor results should also not act as a deterrent.
‘One disappointing mark or result should not negatively influence your attitude regarding tasks, tests and exams for the remainder of the year. In fact, you should see it as a challenge to improve and show others that sticking it out always remain the best option.’
Bruwer says perseverance is not only important with regards to school work, but also a valuable skill to have in life.
‘We are all different and we all face different challenges. What might be easy for you, might seem impossible for someone else. Make your goal for 2021 to keep on trying, continue working hard and to keep on keeping on.’
Here are a few basic tips to hone your perseverance skills:
- Focus on your strengths: It’s important to understand there are so many things that are easy and enjoyable, and that there’s more to life than where you are challenged.
- Start Small: When you start with small simple task, you get to enjoy your growing success with every step forward.
- Choose reasonable expectations: There is long path of education, maturing, self-discovery, failure and success ahead of you. This means there is no real rush to accomplish much.
Brainline is IEB recognised, which means that learners follow the South African National Curriculum (similar to the curriculum offered in South African schools) resulting in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) upon successful completion of their matric exams.
