We have reached the last month of the year--December. This means we are on the brink of a brand new year. Some of you may look at this month and think to yourself "it is already the end so why keep trying?" BUT WAIT! It's not! I have one simple word for you-FINISH. It is a simple word, yet most people find it to be a difficult task to accomplish. To finish means to bring a task or activity to an end. According to research by the University of Scranton, 92% of people who set goals do not complete them. This means only 8% of people do. That is a huge number of people who start the race but stop somewhere along the way.

Stop worrying about how long it takes and who else is in the race, and FINISH your own race. Developing a habit of completing tasks now is one that carries throughout adulthood. There is somebody waiting for you to finish what you have started.

Let's think for a moment. What would you do without your precious cellphone

cradled in your hand? Imagine a life without them. If Martin Cooper, a Motorola researcher, hadn't finished his model for a handheld mobile phone, would we have mobile phones? We can't answer that question definitively because we may have. What we can say, however, is that without his brilliant mind, we wouldn't have had something to build upon. The world was waiting on him to complete his project and we didn't even know it.

I think about so many great things and people that have been impacted by my ability to finish my goals and all of the things I have been impacted by, due to others finishing their goals. It matters! We want to see you reach your full potential by finishing your goals out to the end.

Here is a recap of all of our words of the week. They all connect to you finishing.

Success- favorable or desired outcome

Strive- (1) to exert oneself vigorously; try hard (2) to make strenuous efforts toward any goal.

Commitment- an agreement or pledge to do something in the future.

Diligent- characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort.

Accountability- the quality or state of being accountable, an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to

account for one's actions.

Motivation- to take action.

FINISH- to bring a task or activity to an end; complete.

Audrey Palmer, Academic Coach

I am so proud of our Upward Bound students! I know that each of you have incredible potential to succeed. Have you ever heard the quote, “Good things come to people who wait, but better things come to those who go out and get them.” Being committed to Upward Bound shows that you have the desire to go out and get the things you want in life. It is investing in your future towards graduation, college degree, and a better life. For that, you should also be proud of yourself. I want to encourage each of you to continue the hard work, be committed to our program, and have the desire to be successful.

I hope each of you have a wonderful holiday season and come back with a new zeal in 2019!

Ms. Webber, Administrative Assistant

10 HABITS OF SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS

1. Get Organized. Making a plan for what you're going to do and when you're going to do it will make sure you're always ahead of the curve - literally.
2. Don't multitask. Studies have shown that multitasking is physically impossible.
3. Divide it up. Studying isn't fun to begin with, and forcing yourself through a study marathon will only make it worse. Dividing your work
4. into manageable chunks and rewarding yourself when you finish each chunk will make studying (more) fun.
4. Sleep. Don't underestimate the importance of those eight hours of zzz's every night! Getting a good night's rest will sharpen your focus and improve your working memory.
5. Set a schedule. Do you work better right after school or after you've eaten dinner? Are you more productive in 90-minute blocks or half-hour spurts? Find a schedule that works for you, and stick to it.
6. Take notes. Taking notes will not only keep you more engaged during class, but will also help you narrow down what you need to study when exam time rolls around. It's much easier to reread your notes than to reread your entire textbook!
7. Study. This one might be obvious, but did you know that there's a right and a wrong way to study? Review your material several days ahead of time, in small chunks, and in different manners (for example, write flashcards one day and take practice tests the next). In other words, don't cram.
8. Manage your study space. Find a place that will maximize your productivity. Look for places away from the television and other distractions. Whether it's your local library or just the desk in your bedroom, set aside a study space that you'll want to spend time in.
9. Find a study group. Sitting down with a group of people who are learning the same things as you is a great way to go over confusing class material or prepare for a big test. You can quiz each other, reteach material, and make sure that everyone is on the same page. After all, teaching someone else is the best way to learn.
10. Ask questions. You're in school to learn, so don't be afraid to do just that! Asking for help - from a teacher, a tutor or your friends - is a surefire way to make sure you truly understand the material.

https://opportunity.org/learn/lists/10-habits-of-successful-students