You’ll have an easier time remembering the information you study if it’s something that you care about or can get excited about. Now, some stuff in school will be naturally interesting for you, but other stuff may seem really boring on the surface. When this happens, you’ll have to find a way to get yourself interested in the material. There are lots of different ways to go about this, but you can try:  Finding a reason why the information will be useful to you later in life. For example, the math you’re learning can help you calculate how much money you’ll need to save in order to retire. Be smart, and you might even be able to figure out how to retire early. Make the information into a story. For example, if you’re studying history, find a way to adapt what you’re learning into your own episode of Game of Thrones. If you’re studying science, think of a way that the science could be used to make your superhero origin story. If you pay very close attention during the original lectures, not only will you have an easier time remembering the information but you’ll also be able to study more efficiently because your brain will have an easier time recalling the information. Really work to listen when you’re in class and keep yourself engaged with the conversation of learning by asking questions and really getting involved with the lessons. . Another good way to “listen” to the lecture is to take notes. This will help keep you on track for paying attention, but it will also give you great material to study from later. Remember, when you take notes, the idea isn’t to write down everything that your teacher says. Instead, write down the important stuff. Write down the outline of the lecture and fill it in with facts, and explanations for the tough concepts that you know you’ll struggle with. For example, if you were taking notes on each article, you’d probably break your notes down for each section of the article, and write one or two takeaways for each step. You can help yourself remember what you learn and also help yourself get more interested in what you’re studying by taking ownership of your education and looking for more information outside of what your teacher talks about. This can help you better understand the concepts but also give you a more solid framework on which you can build with the information covered in class. You might even find interesting things that you think are really cool! For example, let’s say you’re studying chemistry and your teacher is talking about the discovery of all sorts of new compounds around the late 1800s and early 1900s. You might stop and think to yourself, “What did people do with all this new stuff?” If you did some research, you’d find out that all those new compounds were used to make new, brightly colored paints. These new colors were responsible for an artistic revolution which gave us painters like Van Gogh and Monet. If you’re having a hard time following along with what your teacher is saying, try giving yourself a bit more context for the information. Sometimes, when you can more clearly visualize what’s being discussed, you’ll have an easier time understanding what’s happening and keep track of new information as it comes in. For example, if you’re studying history but you find you just can’t keep track of everything that’s happening, try going to a museum or watching a documentary that deals with that subject. This will give you something to imagine as you learn and it might even explain some ideas in a different and better way than your teacher.

Summary: Find things to enjoy. Actively listen. Take notes Do your own research. Get some context.


At school, many kids will stick to their different cliques or groups of friends. Skateboarders hang out together, cheerleaders hang out with other cheerleaders, athletes will hang out with their teammates. Don't restrict yourself to one group of friends. Make friends with anyone who you enjoy being around. Chew gum in class. Interrupt the teacher and challenge their lesson if you don't think it makes sense or see the point. You can even prank or joke around, just be aware of the consequences if you get caught pushing your freedoms too far. If you don't agree with a rule, argue it at a school meeting or see the principal. You can also start a petition and turn your rebellion into a movement. Most people think that being a rebel means that you have to misbehave or get into trouble. This can lead to behavior that is harmful to yourself or others. Being a rebel is about challenging the status quo, not fighting against the system. Act in a way that still benefits you and allows you to learn, without accepting whatever they tell you without question. Don't think you need to quit a team sport to be a rebel. If you like baseball, you can still play and be a rebel, too. Think about Charlie Sheen's character in the movie "Major League." He played baseball with a mohawk and geeky glasses and stood out from everyone else on the team. Stand up and help others that go against expectations. Don't tolerate or support bullying. Do not let any other students push you around. Usually, bullying is just a way that people reject someone for being different from the norm, which is what being a rebel is all about too.

Summary: Do your own thing. Break the rules. Demand change. Maintain your personal interests. Take a stand.


Make sure it is big enough to cover the area you want to shade. Take notes of the measurements of the tarp for when you drill holes in the wall.  You can use a tarp instead of a canvas drop cloth. You can get a canvas drop cloth for the canopy at a home center. If it doesn’t have grommets in it, ask the home center staff if they can put some in using a grommet tool. in the wall closer than the length of 1 side of the drop cloth. Make the holes at least 1 ft (0.30 m) closer than the distance between 2 grommets on 1 side of the drop cloth, and 7 ft (2.1 m) high off the ground. This will allow you to create a peak in the canopy at the end. Make sure to use a drill bit slightly smaller than the screw eyes or hooks that you will screw in. Place metal screw eyes or hooks into the holes you drilled and screw them in tightly. These will be used to secure the drop cloth to the wall. Screw eyes are metal loops that have a screw on one end. You can get metal screw eyes or hooks at a hardware store. Use a short length of cord to tie 2 corners of the canopy to the wall. Tie the cord around each grommet at 1 end and around the screw eyes or hooks at the other end. Try to tie the drop cloth as close to the wall as possible. Use 2 fresh 10 ft (3.0 m) pieces of strong cord to tie 1 tip of the poles to the grommets by tying 1 end of the cord through the grommet and around the tips of the tent poles. Stretch out the canopy so it is taut and push the other ends of the poles firmly into the ground.  You can use aluminum tent poles, bamboo poles, or wooden poles. Make sure to leave the excess cord attached to the poles because you will use it to secure the canopy with tent stakes. Pull the cords out from each corner as far as they will go, and place tent stakes in the ground where the ends reach. Tie the cord to the stakes to secure the canopy. It is a good idea to have someone hold the tent poles firmly in place while you stretch out and secure the cords. Place 1 end of a 8 ft (2.4 m) pole underneath the canopy in the middle. Push the other end of the pole firmly into the ground.  The tension of the canopy and the 1 end of the pole pushed into the ground will hold the middle pole in place. If you don’t want to create a peak, you can drill the holes for the backside of the canopy slightly higher than the poles you are using for the front to create a slope. This will allow rainwater to drain off just as well.
Summary: Get a canvas drop cloth of the size you want with grommets in the corners. Drill two holes Screw 2 screw eyes or hooks into the wall. Tie the drop cloth to the screw eyes or hooks with strong cord. Tie a pole to each front corner and stick the poles in the ground. Stretch out the 2 cords in the front and tie them to tent stakes in the ground. Put 1 longer pole in the middle of the canopy to create a peak.