How to Have a Successful School Year

Beginning a new school year can be full of energy but also a lot of pressure to get everything right. 

At the beginning of every new school year, semester, or venture, we all want our journey to be successful.

But when we think about it, what does that actually mean?

Defining Success

Before anyone can tell you how to have a successful school year, you need to ask yourself a fundamental question. 

What does “success” mean?

You may also want to ask your child, if you are a parent. The similarities or differences in your answer may be telling!

And that’s part of the point. There are many ways to define success. 

In fact, the more ways you can define success for yourself or for your child, the more chances they have to be successful.

Defining success in more than one way also fosters confidence, resilience, and persistence. If we only define success in one way, and then experience a set back, it can feel too demoralizing to continue to make any effort. On the other hand, if we define success in many ways, we always have opportunities to celebrate and grow our positive energy and effort.

First, think of a few domains that may define a successful school year. For instance, academics may be at the top of mind, but perhaps a successful school year may also be defined by social engagement, family time, athletic involvement, healthy habits development, a balanced mindset, or improved independence. 

Next, within each of these areas, there may be even more specific ways of defining success. For instance, academics may include grades in each class, or may have to do with improving coping with test anxiety, getting homework done on time, writing skills, improving a grade in a difficult subject, or even being able to ask for help. 

Consider both outcomes and intended behaviors. For instance, you can have both a goal of achieving a certain grade, and a goal of keeping up a good study schedule. Both can be important, and can be equally valuable. 

If you’re stuck with defining goals, a psychologist can help you expand or focus on what matters most. 

Connect “Success” with Values

Ask yourself and your family what their top values are. Here is also where a psychologist may help you and your family find some clarity in understanding what your values are. Next, you can connect your goals with your values. 

For instance, if an important value in the family is trying your best, then how can your goal reflect that? 

Build in Flexibility

As we have all learned throughout the last few years, things don’t always go as planned. There are so many personal and societal factors, both predictable and unpredictable, that can get in the way of our plans.

The best laid plans offer flexibility and adaptability. Make sure your goals don’t rely on everything going according to plan, and also offer the opportunity to make a comeback. This is what helps develop resilience for life.

Find the Joy!

A silver medal-winning swimmer at the Paris Olympics in 2024 was asked how she felt about just missing out on the gold medal. She responded thoughtfully that if she only swam for gold, she would really struggle to keep swimming every day and keep getting better. Instead, she focuses on the joy she gets from swimming and competing, and that keeps her energy, motivation, and persistence up. 

We can all learn to balance effort, focus, and joy together in pursuit of what is valuable to us. A psychologist can help you or your child figure out what is important, and how to build resilience and dedication in daily action toward long term dreams. If you or your child could benefit from support in setting and achieving goals this school year, the first step is simple- just click the Get Started button at the top right of your screen.