Note: this piece is written for students and parents alike. The wisdom here may be simple, but it can make a real difference in your child’s growth and academic performance.
Master Chi has been swamped these past couple of days — balancing family time with a pile of business matters that needed handling. Just now, I finally had a moment to pick up my phone in the car, only to find my feed flooded with teary-eyed emojis. Then it hit me: school starts tomorrow.
So let me write you a piece of life advice — consider it a small back-to-school gift from me.
Whether you’re in primary school or at university, these points will serve you well:
1 — Don’t stress over poor grades. As long as your mind works normally and your study method is right, there’s really no reason you can’t break into the top tier. Ninety-five percent of students try to improve by grinding through repetitive drills — so outperforming them isn’t about working harder, it’s about working in the right direction.
2 — The most powerful way to improve is not mechanical repetition. Instead of burning through 100 problems, take that same time and completely break down the thinking behind 10 classic problems. Follow this approach consistently and your results will improve noticeably.
3 — School is essentially a small society. And in any society, the company you keep shapes who you become. When your grades are slipping, make the effort to befriend the students who are excelling — humbly ask about their problem-solving strategies and techniques. Don’t band together with the lowest-performing kids and form a “rebel alliance” of mutual comfort.
4 — Pour yourself wholeheartedly into self-improvement — whether it’s studying, solving problems, or pursuing your interests. In everything, aim to give your best. Keep this up and even if your grades are average, you’ll develop strong self-discipline — and that alone will ensure your life doesn’t turn out badly.
5 — Stop seeing yourself as just a child. Once you’re past twelve, you’re essentially a “young adult.” So if you want to receive things — care, love, support — meet them with matching warmth and kindness in return. Make the people who give so much to you — your parents, family, friends — feel that it’s worth it.
6 — Keep each coming day simple. Just focus on truly understanding that day’s material and running through the practice a few more times. Your goal isn’t to rack up repetition counts — it’s to raise the quality of your thinking. Stay on that path and your future will be bright.
Because the world, at its core, is remarkably simple: point your effort in the right direction, pair it with consistent time, and the outcome won’t be bad.
Finally — get to bed early tonight. Even just lying down and letting your mind go blank for half an hour is deeply restorative.
Goodnight, brave little warrior.