Building Study Skills For Success: Story Of Riley N.

" Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Don’t be afraid. No one will laugh at you. No one will make fun of you. Don’t be afraid. "

-Riley Namba-

The Importance Of Study Skills

Riley grew up hearing about study skills and how important it was for his success, but he never bought it. Consequently, his teachers and advisors slowly just passed him on from grade to grade. When Riley finally wanted to turn things around and develop good study habits, he was struggling in his junior year of high school with a 2.3 GPA. Lucky for him, he had a track coach that cared a lot and a mother that would stop at nothing to advocate for her son. Now, they just needed to find him an academic mentor that could get through Riley’s high walls and teach him the study skills strategies he needed for success. Riley and his mom were overwhelmed with the college application process. There were ACT’s, grades, essays, and graduating. With 6 months until applications were due, Riley needed some massive improvements to his study skills.

Riley's Story

Riley’s mom called EFC frantically searching for a study skills coach that can cover everything from ACT to school to college applications. We worked out a game plan and Riley was in the very next day. To all of us at EFC, Riley may have needed help developing study habits, but he was not short of work ethic. Riley knew he wanted to run track for college and in order to do that he needed to overcome some pretty daring obstacles. He came in almost every day during that summer and worked on study skills strategies for the ACT and his college applications. We worked with him on planning and advocating for himself. His study skills coach had to really push him to start believing in his education. If he wanted to run, he had to start recognizing where he needed help. We oftentimes don’t know this, but advocacy is one the most important study skills to master.

A Successful Outcome

After a long road with Riley, EFC can fondly say that he has mastered the art of studying. Today he is happily pursuing a degree in History at the Western Colorado University, where he is also running. We are proud that he just ran another personal record in the 400m and that he is about to make the dean’s list with a 4.0. Riley’s study habits have carried him far from the student that didn’t believe in himself. He always has his notebook filled to the brim with questions for his professor and teaching assistants. Similar to a lot of student’s in his position, Riley was afraid to ask for help. He didn’t have the study skills strategies he needed in place for success. However, Riley learned that he should never give up and that there is always someone willing to help. Can you master your study skills?