1. No one was born to lose. The best of my students understand this principle like the backs of their hands. No, there is no inherent genetic formula or organic compound you can use to get an A in a class. We are all products of our hardwork and investments. Whoever decides to put in excellent work will definitely reap excellent results.
2. Always aim for gold. Have you heard that there is a pot of gold lying somewhere at the end of the rainbow? It's true! Okay, I'm just joking, but my best students always aim for the gold. The very best. As, not Bs, or Cs, or Ds. Just the very best. The one thing people don't think they are capable of achieving is the best. The top of the class. Or the valedictorian.
3. Never settle for less. My best students are innovative, inquisitive thinkers. They tend to think outside the box, never settling for "just what they got from class." They love to use real life examples and explore how theory comes alive in their personal experiences. Life is much more than just passing exams. There's so much profound knowledge hiding in parts of the earth, just waiting to be unraveled.
4. Preparation is key. I love students who send me anything useful before a session: hand-outs, PowerPoint lectures, textbook excerpts, exam questions, etc. Who doesn't want a smart tutor? Who doesn't want someone who already knows what you're about to ask? I would, if I were the student.
5. Share the love and embed it in kindness. The students I've taught who are passionate about the subject matter have softened my heart. They make me want to cross the oceans for them. Or go through fire for them. They make me want to answer phone calls in the middle of the night and research answers to questions they ask me. They make me want to be the best tutor I could possibly be. And if you're reading this, and you're one of my favorite students, I want to say "thank you for being you."