After 18 weeks of struggling, first semester is over! So this article is for those of you who may have have gotten a few F’s along the way. We all have our slacker moments or the times we just slump in class because we can’t deal with anything anymore. School is tough and life is just ridiculous in general, so it’s probable that we may fail at something at least once in our lifetime. So now what?

First, look a your options for recovering credit. If you failed a math class your guidance counselor has probably already placed you in a makeup class to repeat the first semester during second semester and the second semester of that math during the first semester of next year. For core classes this option is not available so you will have to repeat it next year.

Second, ponder over what you did wrong in 2014. Did you come to class late because Chic-Fil-A was just to tempting? Did you not show up at all? Did you do the homework? Did you study for the tests? Did you even understand what was going on in class half the time? Find the one thing that is keeping you down and think of ways to beat the problem. Plan out a way to improve your study habits and your grade book. Keep track of the change on StudentVUE.

Finally, take action. Take your plan and execute it swiftly. Talk with graduation coaches Rosalyn Taylor and Dennis Zollicoffer or your guidance counselor and make sure you’re in classes you can handle. There’s no shame in dropping to a lower level of a class if you feel it is too difficult. “Take advantage of opportunities,” says Guidance director Ms. Lorraine Adkins. “Stay after, turn in work.” Do your best to earn better grades this semester, Monarchs!