You are designed for excellence. Just don't limit yourself to any grade. Grow everyday and let the world see a better you than what they had seen yesterday.

1. EXCELLING AS A
STUDENT
Debidutta Pattnaik, CFA (ICFAI)

2. Excellence
• Derived from the Greek word “Excellentia”
• Being extremely good at something, to be
exceptionally good at it
• Being your best
• Being better tomorrow than you were yesterday
• Matching your practice with your potential
• Rising above the level of mediocrity

3. Bible and Excellence
• The word “excellence” in the New Testament
comes from the Greek word `Diaphero’ which
literally means transport, differ, best, vital, better
things, the highest…
• The Hebrew word for “excellence” is `alah’,
which means to ascend.
• Thus Biblical excellence means, to ascend or
carry above the normal.
• The word of God reminds us to pursue what is
excellent – Philippians 4:8

5. Discussion
• Describe what you saw in single words/phrases
• What’s required to attain such level of expertise?
• What are the challenges that would have come
their way?

6. Why to Excel?
• Primary Responsibility as a Student/Professional
• Fulfills the purpose of our Life
• Satisfaction
• God created all
• Parents and Siblings
• As the Salt and Light of the world (Matt.
5:13,14), it is our duty to glorify God by excelling
in our studies.

7. Excelling as a Student
• Doesn’t mean to top the class always
• It does mean that we match our rank / grade /
score with our potential
• It means we must keep improving with our
efforts every week / test / year.

8. Where ?
• Classes
• Quizzes
• Assignments
• Exams
• Co-Curricular activities
• Current affairs
• ….

9. When ?
• All through the academic year
• Throughout our life

10. How ?

11. 1. Learn Each Day
Learning
Growth
Learning
Age

12. 2. Set your Goal
• Specific
• Measurable
• Realistic
• Achievable
• Time Bound (Tangible)

13. 3. Plan Each Day

14. 4. Manage Your Time

15. • Time can’t be stopped, stored or purchased.
• Time can’t be taken on credit from others.
• Time can’t be stretched (It can’t be invested or
multiplied like FD)
• Time is an irreversible resource (once spent
cannot be given again)
• Time is a Great Equalizer: Be it Bill Gates, Bill
Clinton or any Beggar (Same for all, 24 hours, not
less or more)
4.1. Why Manage Time ?

16. 4.2. Prioritize Your Tasks

17. 4.3. Important vs Urgent

18. 4.4. Reassess the list

19. 5. Improve your Concentration

20. 6. Focus on Productive Time

21. 7. Take Ample Breaks

22. 8. Keep Track of your Progress

23. 9. Sufficient Sleep / Rest

24. 10. Work on improving Your Memory

25. 11. Work the SQ3R way
• Survey – Big Picture, Roadmap
• Question – What, Why, When, Who, Where and
How of study content
• Read – Read to answer questions you have
asked
• Recite – Recall what you have read, Heading,
Ideas Concepts
• Review - Just after you have finished studying
something, Revise … not just before exams

26. Some useful Tips
• Avoid Perfectionism
• Conquer Procrastination
• Learn to say ‘No’
• Right Self-Esteem
• Overcoming Failure

27. So, how to excel in studies?
• Attend all classes without fail. Read the topics in
advance before the class. Be attentive in the class. Write
the class notes.
• Do assignments / home work on your own. Do not copy
home work / plagiarize assignments. If you are not able
to understand and solve, discuss with friends / seniors.
• Be honest with faculty members and take their help.
Spend time with faculty members and take material /
guidance.

28. • Make sure that you revise your running notes on the
same day. If you don’t revise, you will forget 60% of what
you learnt in the classroom.
• Read the complete syllabus. Read the textbooks
thoroughly and understand all the chapters. Repeatedly
write and practice. Revise once or twice
• Spend time in the Library. Read other books related to
the subject. Make your own notes. Solve questions at
the end of the chapter. Solve old question papers.

29. Few more Hows...
• Teach other students what you know. Compete with
better students and evaluate yourself.
• Concentrate on concepts, think and apply. Effective
thinking skills cannot be studied, but be built up over a
period of time. Good thinkers see possibilities where
others see only dead-ends.
• Read general knowledge books as well. Read
newspapers for current affairs.

30. 12. Don’t give up…

31. Become an Excellent Student
Thank You

32. Questions
• I have plan of work for each day/week.
• I stick to my plans.
• I do not let interruptions sidetrack me from my
tasks.
• I do things in the order of Priority.
• I am working up to my Potential that God has
given me.
• I tackle difficult tasks without procrastination.
• I meet deadlines without rushing at the last
minute.

33. Questions
• I usually try to study with the TV or Music Player
turned on.
• I usually take notes at lectures.
• I fail or get low marks in Surprise tests.
• I do most of the revision the night before exams.
• I go to class, but I usually doodle, daydream, or
fall asleep .
• I spend too much time on trivial matters.
• I am not winning at work though working hard.