As this new school year opens, I would like to share a few thoughts with students. An academic year is like a journey. We begin with energy and enthusiasm. As the trip progresses, we are prone to whine, “Are we there yet?”

On the first day, you cannot see the 180 days stretching before you. June and next summer seem so far away. To help you with your academic journey, I’d like to share my “Bees” of success.

            First: “Bee there.”

A student with a spotty attendance record rarely performs well. Think of your education as building a brick wall. Each day, you add new bricks to that wall. Missing a day of school means you miss bricks you need to add to your wall. Those missing bricks become unsightly “holes” in your learning. You fail to understand a new concept today because of something you missed earlier.

            Second: “Bee on time.”

The rule in my classroom was “BIC” when the tardy bell rings. “BIC” stands for “butt in chair.” Teachers want to start quickly and use the precious time they have to teach you. Waiting for students to mill around and take a seat reduces instructional time.

            Third: “Bee prepared.”

 If you come to class without a pencil, paper, textbook, or computer, you are not ready to do your job. Getting an education is your job as a student. Imagine: A plumber shows up to fix a leaking faucet but then asks you for the tools to do the job. How much would you trust that plumber? I have never heard of a surgeon asking the patient for a scalpel. Show up on the job with what you need to be a good learner.

            Part of being prepared is doing your homework. Teachers assume you will complete your assignments when they plan activities for class the next day.

            Fourth: “Bee respectful.”

You need to respect yourself, your classmates, and your teachers. Students often become angry when they think a teacher has “dissed” them. I cannot tell you the times I have heard students say, “You got to give respect to get respect.” Most of the time, students say these words right after they have shown disrespect.

Being respectful goes a long way to healing the wounds that frustrations in the classroom can bring. Teachers should model respectful behavior. So should parents.

One more thought on respect: Teachers show respect for their students when teachers refuse to allow students to turn in shoddy, substandard work. By providing constructive criticism and encouraging students to work harder, teachers are showing respect for the abilities students have.

Fifth: “Bee cooperative.”

Teachers want students to succeed. They have a plan in place. Frankly, some students act like balky mules. Their lack of cooperation usually stems from one of two things. First, adolescent arrogance makes young people think they know everything they need to know for the future. You don't.

Fear is the second cause. Some students believe even if they try, they will fail – so why try? But teachers are equipped to prepare you to succeed. They want you to succeed. In today’s test-crazy educational setting, the success of students reflects on their teachers. Do you think teachers want you to look unprepared and untaught?

            Sixth: “Bee responsible.”

Students, take charge of your education. You decide how much effort to give. Part of doing your job as a student is accepting responsibilities that come with the job. Stop making excuses for lack of performance.

            Seventh: “Bee kind.”

The world is often cruel and hurtful. A classroom should be a haven – a place without fears of taunts, bullying, and ridicule. Nowhere is The Golden Rule more appropriate than in the classroom: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

            Eighth: “Bee honest.”

Begin by being honest with yourself. If you fool yourself, you are a fool indeed. Be honest with your teachers. During my years of teaching, I heard thousands of lies. One of my mantras is: “An excuse is the skin of a reason stuffed with a lie.”

Finally, be honest with your parents. Stop blaming your teacher for “giving” you a bad grade. When grading entered the picture, I was an accountant punching numbers into a grade book program. Any student unhappy with the result needed to work harder and prepare better.

I hated when a student came to me at the end of a grading period – or semester – and ask me to raise the grade a point or two. Do you understand how many “points” one point on a marking period grade represents? A hundred or so points comprise that one “point” you are requesting.

If you begin this year by taking these “Bees” to heart, you won’t have to worry about being stung at school. You will be shocked at the success you experience.

Have a great school year.

Mike Parker is a columnist for the Neuse News. You can reach him at mparker16@gmail.com.