One of my academic coaching clients just bounded into my office, joy bubbling over. She’d made an A on a test and had improved her overall grades in all her classes into the A & B range.

She’s so proud, and I wanted to harness her feeling of momentum. I asked her to giver her former self — the one who struggled with school — some advice about how to “do school.” I also asked her to explain why she was giving herself this advice. The list was so brilliant, I took a picture of the white board to share with the world. Because it’s so hard to read, here’s a transcription (with a little reorganization by yours truly):

ADVICE: Do homework at school and not at home
WHY?: No stress from mom.

ADVICE:Eat more food at school
WHY: It keeps me energized

ADVICE: Do homework with friends and not by myself
WHY: If I have a question I can ask and I don’t have to struggle through it

ADVICE: Go to bed earlier (8:30pm)
WHY: So I have more energy to do homework and other things

ADVICE: Ask questions in class
WHY: So I know how to do things and not struggle on tests

ADVICE: Study right before tests:
WHY: I can remember things better.

ADVICE: Use class time to finish homework rather than talk to my friends
WHY: I can get more sleep, less stress, and eat more. (Note: This student has identified that stress makes her eat less which makes it harder to concentrate; therefore, having less stress helps her eat more which in turn improves her focus.)

I love this list because it reveals how much awareness this student has about what works and what doesn’t work for for her.  This student started the school floundering! Her tips might not be the greatest for every student (like the advice do homework with friends); but it’s such a good sign that she noticed what works for her and and chose more of it .

It’s the skill of NOTICING that I hope to foster in more of my clients. That, plus ACTING ON what they notice.  And I’m thrilled that my client got to experience the joy that comes with her own ability to improve her situation. Yay!!