Need advice on how to improve grades, Problem: im poor and have family problems?

Question

yea so, my grades have been slipping ever since the second half of the eighth grade (I used to be an honors all A's student) but my one of my parents lost their jobs and so we had to leave our home and were put on to the street. We were homeless untill we found a cramped motel to live in(i have a large family). We soon were kicked out of there and had to stay with another family, which was terribly embarrassing. All the while my grades in math slipped and inhibited me from being put into honors math in 9th grade.

We stayed there for a month or so and they kicked us out and then we found another motel to live in which turned out to be another horrible experience. Ninth grade started and my mother moved out of the motel (it was basically a divorce but it isnt final) and i havent seen her since. I pleaded with my teachers to let me into honors math but i was rejected because of my bad grade that year. Now i dont really care about school as much and have been horribly depressed.

Answer 1

Please talk to your counselor and a teacher you trust about what has happened in your life. There are kind hearted people out there who will help you if you are willing to trust them. Good luck.

Answer 2

This experience would be enough to make most people slip in their grades. The fact that you care enough to ask for help though proves you still have hope.

As embarrassing as it might be, inform the school about your situation. You can talk to the Principal or a teacher you trust. Ask what you can do to improve your grades. It may mean doing extra work to catch up. Stay after school or come early to work with your teachers or a tutor if that service is available through the school.

As long as you make contact and demonstrate that you want to improve, your teachers will (or at least should) help you. If you find that you are honestly trying and not receiving the help you need, talk to the Principal or counselor.

There is no shame in asking for help when you need it. We all have rough times, I hope things get better for you and your family.

Answer 3

Well naturally, you have been through a terrible ordeal. So you and your siblings are living with your dad now? It is quite understandable that you aren't keeping up at school. Your teachers probably thought that if you were in honors math, you wouldn't be able to do it well under the circumstances, despite your obvious talent.
Please please! Don't give up! Do what you have to do to survive your family crisis, and don't blame yourself for having a hard time getting the work done.
Your mom and dad have not been able to support you the way they should (I'm not placing blame here; I don't even know them) and you are in a hard spot. None of this is your fault and there is nothing for you to be embarrassed about, although your feelings are natural. Whenever somebody helps you out, show and tell them how you appreciate it.
Realize that you are going to have to motivate yourself to a large extent.
I hope your situation will stabilize soon. If not, keep looking for a solution. Don't look for it in drugs or sex either. Get support anywhere you can, work hard, and don't lose hope. Your life is ahead of you.
God bless you.

Answer 4

Whew. Well I will tell you I made choices just as bad, just different ones. The thing is to always remember today is the first day of the rest of your life. You are correct without a universality qualification life will be a lot harder. But I will also tell you when it really sunk into my head I had to do it I went from a student that basically failed HS to a straight honors student as a math and computer science major. The difference was I decided to make the number one priority study, study and more study. For example when I got an assignment instead of putting it off until the last minute I did it immediately. I took notes during lectures and rewrote it out to cement it in my mind. If you are really determined and are willing to do the work you will succeed easily. What I would do is have a chat to the councilors at UC Irvine and see what can be done - they are in the best position to know the details of what needs to be done to get you back on track. I believe they will probably let you back into UCI but on some kind of probation - I don't think you need go the CC route, I knew guys who stuffed up just as bad and they weren't kicked out. Thanks Bill

Answer 5

i know you don't want people to pity you for your condition, but know that it is ok. You will sooner or later pull yourself together. People have ups and downs in their lives and right now, this is just the downs for you, it'll soon pass, don't give up. our society frowns upon the uneducated, they have no respect, so you have to push yourself to do better. It is ok, you should know that ultimately there is no one who love you more than yourself, everyone is going to try to screw you in one way or another for their own benefit, so don't give up. think of your future, think about how, all the terrible things are going be paid off when you graduate and find yourself a suitable career. Always remember that there is always someone out there who is in a far worse position than you. If you work hard, I'm sure you can pull your self back together, plus there is a huge deal of difference between the middle school and high school method of teaching, thus you should not feel like a failure, rather take it as a challenge that you need to accomplish.
Hope that what somewhat of a help to you

Answer 6

If you are still in the ninth grade, then you are doing quite well with your written communication!

Your life is a really a tough one; its something no young person should have to endure. Unfortunately, there is probably little you can do to improve your situation right now. You need to keep yourself focused on the next four years. No matter how tough, keep up your hard work in school; there will be a payoff one day soon.

You should view school as a life preserver you can cling to as you weather life's stormy seas. If you let go of it, you will surely drown.

Reading through your words, I get the feeling that you are a very intelligent and insightful young person and you will make it one day. You will have the life you dream of every night. it will just take a little more time and a little more hard work.

Do it for yourself...keep at it!

Goo Luck!

;o)

Answer 7

i know sometimes the WORST possible things happen at the WORST possible times, it happens and it sucks, im sorry.
but if it is a studying issue i would reccomend staying on campus AS LONG AS POSSIBLE, if you can study in the library, with a teacher, etc. Or find a person at school willing to let you come over and study, but dont blow it by messing around or distracting that person.
i had a similar issue with grades slipping because of parent/home problems in the eight grade, so my freshman year i would go to a friends (or even just a kid i confronted and blatantly asked "hey, i see you're doing really well in this class, and lately i have had trouble studying alone, would it be alright if we tried studying together?" study anywhere, park, library, their house, if it works ask if it isnt too much trouble to make it a daily, twice weekly, etc. if they have a hectic schedule, try [as much as you can, dont do anything too drastic thought] to accomodate them.) house and study for hours, and usually the friends mom would even understand and drive me home.
or go to a public library or park to study, both are pretty good study environments.
once you do get your grades up, if the situation is still bad, i would suggest looking into a boarding school (on scholarship). i ended up in boarding school and it was the BEST thing that ever happened to me, it was a good school and i managed to get into college. BUT beware with boarding schools many dont offer scholarships to first year students, so ask around, research, CALL THE SCHOOL talk to the admissions officer, make yourself an ASSET to the school, if you make the school look good, they will want you, and will be willing to pay for you. although, one cost not included is transportation to and from the school, plane tickets are not cheap, some schools have sponsor families that take in a scholarship student and cover their travel fees. ask about that too.

i wish you so much luck and i hope that you luck out like i did. really, boarding school sounds like it is going to suck, but really it doesnt especially when it comes to a housing/family situation.


good luck, i know you are in a situation that is wicked tough to get out of, and i know for you to get the same grades as other kids you will have to be twice as dilligent.

Answer 8

Ask for help from anyone who will listen, your teachers, your counselor, your principal, priest/pastors, church people, social workers, friends parents.

Just hang in there, you can get there. I believe in you, and I dont eve know you. Those people that do know you, will no doubt do what they can to help.
God Bless

Answer 9

Go to child serveses.. Tell you teacher your story.. and.. if you have been kicked out of all of these places then why the hell are you on the computer? Tell someone you trust.

Answer 10

ask your teachers for help, most teachers are willing to put forth extra effort to help you do better, they want you to do better, and if your teacher does not help you, ask her if there is any other teachers tutoring, and i promise you, that your grades will start to go up, if you go in for the extra help, and do all homework, and show up to every class, every day