The Eighth Page

Precocious Junior Shares Insightful Study Tips with Appreciative Class

Announcing his desire to “get a head start” on exams so as to “succeed in all his classes,” well-liked local boarding student Gustave Ducrest ’18 shared with his classmates a range of preparation tricks for the upcoming week of finals.

“I just want to do well,” shared Ducrest, prior to the bell beginning seventh period. “That’s why I’m starting early and making flash cards now. You know, a lot of people make digital sets on Quizlet, but I really find that writing the stuff out by hand actually helps me to memorize it even better!!” he remarked while his classmates sat attentively and fully engaged.

The academic prodigy continued, “I know it’s crazy to begin now, but it’s really not crazy. I mean, there’s not that much material.

“I just don’t ever procrastinate; I don’t know why. In fact, whenever I’m doing work, I shut off my phone so I don’t get distracted. I don’t know why more people don’t do that… Just go a couple hours at a time.”

He glanced graciously at several students texting and offered a kind and forgiving smile.

One classmate said, “I was deeply grateful for all of Gus’s help on how to prepare. I was confused about how I should study, but his explanation of visual mnemonics resonated with me. Boy, am I glad he spoke up!”

Time management, according to the straight-six student, is the most important part of preparing.

“I’m not sure if you guys know this, but it’s key that you lay out everything you’re going to do before you do it. Every night, I make a schedule for all my subjects and email it to my ‘team,’ remembering to leave in twenty-one and a half minutes for dinner and an hour for cello practice, as well as an hour for schedule-constructing. It seriously helps!!!!”

As his peers ogled, completely impressed and hoping for another great pearl of wisdom, the intelligent-beyond-his-years Junior explained the differences between writing and problem solving, the importance of sleep and the advantages of working in a quiet, clean space.

One of his teachers reportedly overheard Ducrest receiving enthusiastic applause from the other kids and immediately decided to give the intellectual mastermind a six.