Have you ever envied your classmate for being Numero Uno in everything?
Stop! Stop wishing you have the life of your classmate because every minute you spend wishing you had someone else’s life, is a minute spent wasting yours.
Drawing inspiration and Envious of someone else are two different things. While one works positively, the latter hurts your own life. Get inspired by others but do not envy or wish you had their lives.
As a student, it can be difficult to live up to people’s expectations. Your parents have dreams you have to fulfil and your teachers and mentors are banking on you.
The bottom line is to try to be a successful student. A successful student is a student who enjoys student life, is academically diligent, and finally comes out a topper.
18 Qualities of a Successful Student
Below we have enlisted a few characteristics of a successful student. Adopting these qualities will finally aid you in fulfilling your professional goals.
1. Self Confidence
One of the most important qualities of a student is self-confidence. So, why is self-confidence considered important? There are many reasons for this:
Self-confidence gives you a greater sense of achievement. You know that you are in a place today that took a lot of effort and hard work. Your hard work has paid off.
Also, self-confidence is like placing trust in yourself and telling yourself that nothing is impossible. It is a kind of self-motivation.
Self-confidence helps to grow your personality. A confident personality is always more appealing than a reserved and introverted type of personality.
2. Independent Thinker and Team Worker
Having the ability to think and work independently while at the same time being able to work in a group is one of the best qualities of a student.
Being able to think and work independently are traits of being good and confident at your work. However, at the same time, being able to work in a group is also important.
Teamwork is as important as being able to think and work independently.
The greatest quality of a student is being able to think independently even in a group. You must be able to put forth your opinions even if the group is of a different opinion. The art of convincing your teammates rests upon your shoulders.
3. Leadership Skills
Another important quality for students is possessing leadership qualities. Leadership qualities encompass various other skills like the art of communication, analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, and amiable personality.
Therefore it is important to possess leadership skills for students. It is particularly important as it will help in career growth and life as a whole.
Taking initiative, being social and friendly are some of the best leadership qualities students must possess in order to be successful.
4. Explore Your Potential
One of the successful student traits is to explore your strength. You never know what is actually your strong point if you do not try it out.
Never be afraid to try out something new. There is an old saying “If it scares you, it might be a good thing to try.”
For example, your college has announced an intercollegiate debate competition. Participate in it. Even if you have never debated before.
Participating in these activities gives you a lot of exposure apart from confidence and self-belief. Exploration is the true sense of the human spirit.
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5. Be Curious
One of the qualities a good student should have is to be curious in nature. The future belongs to those who are curious.
Quoting the famous Mr. Walt Disney “When you’re curious, you find a lot of interesting things to do.” Only if you are curious, you can be surrounded by great ideas.
History stands testament to the fact that curiosity is the catalyst to inventions and innovations. It was curiosity that made great scientists like Einstein and Eddison emerge successfully.
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6. Never Be Afraid of Asking Questions
The first and foremost rule of achieving success is that you should never be afraid to ask questions. If you have a doubt or you have not understood a concept clearly, make sure you ask for further explanations.
As the former president of the United States of America, Mr. Barack Obama once said “Don’t be afraid to ask questions, don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength. It shows that you have the courage to admit when you don’t know something, and to learn something new.”
7. Never Be Afraid to Answer
Just the opposite of the above trait. It is also important to never be afraid to answer questions.
Never be afraid of being ridiculed or mocked even if you come up with a wrong answer or an answer different from others.
8. Improve Communication Skills
Another very important characteristic of a successful student is the skill of communicating. Successful students are always able to communicate with others, irrespective of gender, or background of others.
Communication skills usually centre around the command over the language. Learning new languages and being able to communicate with others almost always ensures success.
Also being able to communicate or convey what you have learned is important. Often students can comprehend a particular concept but when asked to convey the concept to others, they find it difficult.
This is where communication skills come into play.
To help improve communication skills, one of the best self-help methods is to stand in front of the mirror and make presentations to yourself. It is the best self-correcting method.
Participating in debates and discussions also contributes to improving communication skills.
Written communication is as important as verbal communication. One of the most important qualities for students is to have great written communication skills.
A student who is able to communicate well in writing will be able to convey the right message to the right person. Especially as a student, being able to write examinations well is part of good written communication skills.
9. Self-Motivate
Students usually look up to others to motivate them to do better in school or college. It may be a superhero, or a politician or a scientist, or even a person who has achieved something against all odds.
Finding self-motivating methods is a surer way of being successful.
In this regard, TED Conferences LLC, an American organisation, holds and posts talks online. The talks are usually motivationally inspired talks by regular people.
The slogan of TED talks is “ideas worth spreading”. You can log on to their official website and watch motivational videos on various topics.
Closer home, many Indian motivational speakers can help students, parents, and teachers alike.
10. Analytical Skills
Developing analytical skills is a very important quality of a good student. Analytical thinking is the ability to solve problems quickly and successfully. It is the ability to think step by step and arrive at solutions.
Analytical thinking helps to solve complex problems. A few steps to improve analytical skills are
- Read – being a voracious reader helps to improve your analytical thinking. Reading during your free time engages and occupies your mind.
- Be inquisitive – Be inquisitive about how things work. Knowing how things work, improves your knowledge about the science around you. A simple toaster in the kitchen can kindle an inquisitive note inside you. Learn how it works and engage your mind.
- Brain games – Playing brain games like crossword puzzles, sudoku, and word games can go a long way in building your power of analytical thinking.
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11. Time Management Skills
Another quality of a successful student is being able to manage time well. A student’s life is very hectic. Balancing all the various aspects of a student’s life is tough. Successful students are finally the ones who manage the time well.
Being able to concentrate on studies, submitting homework and assignments, and at the same time being able to socialise, and partake in extracurricular activities and hobbies is one of the characteristics of a successful student.
12. Keep an Open Mind
Never be closed to the ideas of others. Listening to other’s ideas can spark new ideas for yourself too. Having an open mind and being receptive to other suggestions and proposals is an important quality of a successful student.
13. Respect Authority
A successful student always respects others, be it parents, teachers, friends, or even the auxiliary staff. A successful student knows that there is something to learn from everyone.
Treat others with dignity and civility and you will get the same respect in return. This dignity you receive in return will help you at all stages in your life, as a student or even otherwise.
14. Follow Rules
A successful student is always a stickler to rules. Rules by schools and colleges ensure discipline and regulation. Students must follow rules to feel a part of the institution.
15. Write Down Your Goals
It is easier to set one goal at a time and tick them off as you achieve them. This encourages you. Setting too many goals may be difficult to fulfill at once and being unable to fulfill them will demotivate you.
16. Announce Your Goals to Those Around You
When you tell everyone around you about the goals you have in mind, they knowingly or unknowingly try to contribute to fulfilling your goals. Let your parents, friends, and family know what you have in mind, they will be more than happy to help you achieve it. After all, your success is something everyone will cherish.
17. One Step at A Time
Fulfilling your goals is important, but haste is always a waste. Slow and steady wins the race. Remember there are no short cut methods to achieve success
18. Strive, No Matter What
When you have a goal in mind always strive to achieve it no matter the odds that come your way. “Arise, Awake and Stop not till the goal is reached.” Swami Vivekananda.
19. Do Away with Negativity
Pessimism and cynicism should not find their way to your dictionary. Positive thinking always creates an aura of hope and faith.
20. Believe in Yourself – You Are Unstoppable
Last but not least students must believe in themselves. If you believe in yourself, anything is possible.
Remember, you are braver than you think, more talented than you know, and capable of more than you can imagine. Success is yours if you believe in it.
Conclusion
There is umpteen number of qualities students must possess. Being able to achieve some of the qualities is itself the greatest quality.
It is important to realise that it is possible to acquire qualities as you move on in life. Some qualities will be learned early while some at a later stage. Embrace these qualities as you move ahead in life’s goals.
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