How do you help a student whose ambitious goal makes them anxious and derails their progress?
Heather was an exceptional student who earned the highest marks and was highly regarded by her teachers. Her goal was to attend a specific elite university in the United States, one that would be hard to get into even for one with her impressive credentials.
Compounding the challenge was Heather’s initial difficulty with standardized testing. She did not perform badly on practice tests, but she performed well below what her very high grades led her to expect.
Not only did that gap make Heather anxious, but it caused her to doubt her intelligence. Other students with grades comparable to hers were breezing through the standardized testing process. "Perhaps," she thought, "I’m not as smart as they are?"
Heather needed a more effective way of approaching her goal. She needed to learn to SET GOALS, BUT FOCUS ON THE PATH.
Set goals. Make them as lofty as you like., because high goals can be inspiring, energizing.
But then, mentally file those goals away and consider them no further. Focus only on the path, the sequential steps that move you in the direction of your goal.
We at MuchSmarter teach that standardized tests and assessments, like most games, have a well-defined path to mastery. All we ever need do is get a clear view of the path and then follow it one step at a time.
In fact, what we really do on any given day is focus only on the step we are taking that day!
Heather changed her approached her challenge, and eventually she did achieve a standardized test score that was commensurate with her grades.
And she did, in fact, get admitted to that elite university that she had dreamed of attending.
