Student confidence has a significant effect on everything a student does. It affects their personal and social life and how they deal with challenges. Self-confidence can also have a substantial impact on the student’s academic performance. There’s no room for doubt in a school’s highly competitive environment and having high self-confidence is key to success.
That said, there are many things a student can do to increase their self-confidence, including getting advice and academic assistance from professional tutors like those from TutorMe. These online tutors also create a positive learning environment for their learners and give them opportunities to participate in online forums like question and answers sessions where they freely interact with each other. They also support their students mentally, all of which helps boost their confidence.
Apart from getting advice, students could increase their confidence in the following ways.
1. Avoid Missing Classes
Missing classes is one of the most common mistakes many students make that has long-term effects when it comes to self-confidence. When you miss classes, you’ll find it difficult to understand the topics or concepts taught. In addition, you may also end up performing poorly academically. If you’re unable to perform well in class, you’ll feel nervous and conscious, which may lead to loss of confidence.
2. Avoid The Bubble Busters
These are people who will never appreciate you even when you’ve achieved something big. You’ll always come across these people, and sometimes they may happen to be your teacher, parents, or close friends. While it isn’t possible to completely avoid such people, try to steer clear of them. Improve on their positive comments and for the negative ones, try to take them constructively if possible.
3. Find A Mentor
Most schools have mentorship programs where students can meet with professionals who can provide support. These professionals can be the ongoing students or alumni of the school. These programs can help with several issues, including developing your career and professional networks. Interacting with these people in those programs will help to build self-confidence in the school.
4. Join School Clubs And Societies
After joining the school, find out what type of clubs and societies are there and subscribe to those that meet your interest. By joining these societies, you’ll meet like-minded students in a friendly environment, and in no time, you’ll find your self-esteem increasing. Clubs and societies could also help you to learn to become independent or meet new people.
5. Have Positive Friends
Even if you’re making every little effort to grow your confidence, it might be hard if you’re surrounded by negativity. Friends are the people you spend the most time with, but if they often let you down, you may need to leave them and find new friends. It’s essential to have friends who understand you and who support your academic goals.
Similarly, establishing connections with active and positive friends is also a useful way to enable them to express their opinions on issues that may be similar to yours. By sharing your problems with your friends, you can learn from other’s experiences. This could help you grow your confidence.
6. Turn Off The Little Voice
Students with low self-esteem often experience whispering defeating messages telling them they aren’t capable and everybody else in the class is more qualified than them. Don’t listen to those nagging voices. Otherwise, you won’t succeed in school. Keep reminding yourself you can manage since there’s much you’ve achieved in the past and this situation is no different.
7. Realize You’re Not Alone
Don’t believe you’re the only one experiencing the self-esteem challenge. Most students around you also doubt themselves. It’s common for most students to feel inadequate, especially during their first semester in school. So, if you’re not sure about yourself, remember you’re in a distinguished group. Most of your school colleagues are experiencing just what you’re going through.
8. Reinforce Yourself
Reward yourself even if no one else is willing to appreciate you for your achievements. Whether a small or a big accomplishment, you can always get yourself a glass of juice or a piece of cake. That positive reinforcement will help grow your confidence and make it easier to study hard in class.
9. Do A Trial Test
Most schools will allow you to perform a no-risk practice run before doing the real thing. For instance, you can decide to take a practice test before the actual exam or trying out your oral presentation before the section meeting. You can also choose to go through the study guide and discuss the provided answers with your study group before sitting for the exam. All these can help build your confidence before sitting for the actual exam.
10. Get Feedback Early
You can increase your confidence by consulting your teacher early in the term. Whether it’s a concept you didn’t understand or you’re worried about how to prepare for your exams, you’ll feel much better after your teacher has shown you the right direction. Most students with low esteem issues are afraid to talk to their teachers, which may only make the situation worse than before.
11. Take Teacher’s Comments Positively
Most students see every comment on their papers as criticism and end up doing nothing about them. Try to see these comments from a positive angle since your teacher is trying to help you to do better in your next assignment. Going through those comments to improve on your studies is one of the most effective self-confidence boosters.
Takeaway
School life is the most memorable experience of a student’s life. It’s where you gain new friends, experiences, and learn other new things. A school is a place where most students find their passions and discover their purposes in life.
A school also provides ways and means for students to pursue their goals and lays the foundations for their professions. You may find it difficult to achieve all these if you have a low self-confidence. The above tips are simple yet vital tips to boost your confidence which is a crucial component to your academic success.
