Disclaimer: This probably won’t work, and you may want to have started studying before December.

It’s understandable.  You had more important things to do than study… you know, like painting your nails for the fifth time because the color wasn’t quite right the first four times, or hitting the Wildwood Town Center with the crew, or maybe you don’t have a crew to distract you but just had to catch the last twenty episodes of Modern Family. You’re not alone.  There are many just like you.  And so, lhsimage.com is here for the rescue.  It’s time to get your parents off your back and change some of those failing grades to fabulous (read, not so failing) grades just in time for your parents to go holiday shopping.

Day One:

Turn that can’t-do attitude into a might-be-able-to-do attitude.  You also may want to log into Infinite Campus.  You probably don’t know how to do this.  It’s okay.  The school actually hires people to help you accomplish this.  You might know them as your counselor.  You will want to do this in the morning, because we both know that as time goes on, your motivation wanes.  Knowing this will help you go far.  Now, check those grades.  It’s painful. But necessary.  Write them down on your hand as a constant reminder that you really do need to do this. 

Day Two:

Now that you have the information you need, you may want to actually begin to take action.  For starts, just open that math book.  You may want to blow off the dust first.  Or find it.  While this may seem hard at first, just know that all your teachers want is effort.  Nothing on that page of homework actually has to be correct.  But you need to look like you did something. Rather than trying to gain something from this experience (If you were going to do this, you may want to have started back in September), your main focus in the next couple of days is playing the ‘point game.’   Gain as many of these as you can.  And if you’re a gamer, for lives, Emergen-C and coffee will help with that.

Day Three:

Continue with the point game.  But now, it’s time to take it up a notch.  Turning it in might be a help.  Paying attention in class will also aid in your journey to a better report card.  If you’re beginning to think this is impossible, it might be.  For you, at least.  Just give up.  You don’t really need to finish high school in four or five years, anyways.  For the rest of you, continue to day four.

Day Four:

One word: teacher’s pet.  Or, if you want to get that language grade up, consider it two words.  They all hate you, and it’s time to change that.  Baking brownies, bringing apples, and generally trying to change your slacker image will help.  There’s no way they’re going to change your grade if they don’t like you to begin with.  Students will hate you, and you’ll probably lose your crew (if you had one to begin with) but all that holiday money your parents will spend on you will make it worth it.  Who needs friends, anyhow?

Day Five:

This is the time to get down to business.  If you’re serious about this, then you have to get your assignments from friends and skip school and do some last minute cram studying.  If you want to pull out with a “fab grade” this is a must.  Don’t go to the mall, or the Valley, or the Wildwood Town Center today.  Stay home.  Unplug the TV.  And the computer.  And turn off your phone.  Pull out the books, familiarize yourselves with the front covers, and then open them up and begin to study.  Understandably, this is a foreign concept to you.  But that’s okay.  The first step is to read over the material.  Then teach it to someone- a pet dog or a pet cat or a pet rock if you’re parents hate animals.  A friend will work too.  It doesn’t matter.  Once said student understands the material, you should too.

Day Six:

Lay low.  Continue working, and most of all, do NOT lose motivation.  You need this.  You can do this.  There you go, now go back to the books.

Day Seven:

It’s hard to do work if you’re not used to it.  Take today off, or you may explode later on in the ten-day period.  Get a massage or hang with your crew or get a mani-pedi or whatever you West County folks like to do.  This day should probably be a weekend day.  You don’t want to miss any homework assignments (if you truly plan on getting your grade up).  Plan accordingly.  You deserve to take one day off.  But remember, tomorrow is back to work.

Day Eight:

Back to work.  Remind your parents how awesome of a kid you’re being.  You’ve already set a pretty low standard, so the fact that you’ve turned in anything at all should make them giddy.  Also hint at that new Xbox game you want or that new pair of Sperry’s, or the red Mercedes convertible.  Finish with repeating what an awesome kid you are.

Day Nine:

Get your testing outfit in order.  Set it out for tomorrow.  Dress for success.  A sweater vest might work, or glasses.  Dress like you’re smart if you want a grade like you’re smart. 

Day Ten:

Get ready for it.  Do some mental push-ups or jumping jacks.  Review your material one last time.  Cross your fingers and enter the testing room.  Good luck!  If it doesn’t work, hack into Infinite Campus.

Even if you fail, your good will account with parents and teachers has gone up considerably because of the minimal effort you put in in the last ten days of the semester.  So…. Enjoy the Holidays and reap the benefits of your “hard work.”