Hopkinton High School educators shared their thoughts on what defines a successful student, offering advice to to students to help them excel in their studies and find balance in their lives. Their insights highlight the importance of preparation, curiosity, and engagement.

Lorelle Govoni, an AP Calculus and Pre-Calculus math teacher, emphasized the value of curiosity and self-motivation.

She encouraged students to go beyond review packets and tackle additional practice problems, especially on topics they find difficult. Govoni believes that fully grasping challenging material requires effort beyond what is assigned in class.

“To have a true math student, it’s the student that’s going to take on the work themselves and choose to investigate and be a little curious and actually do the due diligence,” Govoni said.

She also spoke to the importance of work ethic. She noted the various observations she makes as a teacher, such as participation, contributing to partner work, and engagement.

“I think all students should get as much as they can out of the class,” Govoni said. “From me and their peers and contributing.”

In preparation for tackling the math section of the SAT, Govoni advises students to avoid relying on multiple-choice answers and to work through problems, using their knowledge first.

“Use your knowledge, start with what you know, and work through it,” Govoni said.

Benjamin Lally, an English teacher, explained how to find success in reading and writing.

Having two children himself, Lally understands the importance of completing work and taking it seriously without making it overwhelming. He recommends students avoid overburdening their schedules and manage their expectations to prevent school from becoming a grind.

Lally also shares a personal gripe with reading, expressing frustration with how much harder it has become to read deeply and well, with many reading opportunities being geared toward quick satisfaction. He explains how building reading stamina drives his class.

In addition to reading deeply and well, Lally spoke to reading outside of class for fun.

“If you’re just reading because your teacher tells you to… it’s gonna be something that you learn to resent, and it’s a kind of burden,” Lally said. “You go on in with the wrong mindset…[you have to] lock in and focus and mute all the distractions.”

To make reading easier, Lally recommended breaking up assignments into bite-sized, more manageable chunks and constantly reading to keep the book fresh in students’ minds.

“I think a lot of people will put [reading] off until it’s urgent, and then all of a sudden they’ll be in panic mode when they’re reading 75 pages and it’s already 10:15 at night and they’re starting to get drowsy,” Lally said.

Lally highlighted the importance of active engagement when reading and writing. He encourages students to focus on patterns and deeper meanings in texts to enhance their understanding and discussions in class.

“Pick up story and substance, not just the story,” Lally said.

Lally explained that active engagement and focusing on the deeper meaning of the text makes it easier to create thoughtful analyses, the key to great writing.

To perfect essays, Lally recalled a mistake he made when he wrote essays in high school. Instead of completing an essay and submitting it, he recommends printing and reading drafts aloud to refine ideas and identify mistakes.

“You catch so many of the little places where the essay that’s in your brain doesn’t match the one that’s on the page,” Lally said. “You know your thought process, and you know what you’re trying to say, and then when you read what you actually said, it sometimes doesn’t match.”

Biology teacher Michelle Odierna stressed the importance of maximizing class time, studying strategically, and putting learning before grades.

“A good student works hard and asks good questions, not just going through the motions and trying to get the grade, but is really prioritizing their understanding first,” Odierna said.

Odierna also recommended active recall and connecting new information to existing knowledge, a technique called interweaving, as an effective study technique. She also emphasized incorporating structure, like the Pomodoro Technique, and adding a reward system to make studying easier.

In addition to these techniques, Odierna spotlighted studying in advance and avoiding procrastination to help absorb information into long-term memory, focusing on difficult topics and how the brain learns.

“Identify strengths and weaknesses to tailor your preparation,” Odierna said.

For test-taking, she suggests prioritizing easier questions first and returning to the difficult ones later to manage time effectively.

“Make sure that those tougher questions aren’t costing you some of the easier questions,” Odierna said. “Get to all the questions, all the points you possibly can, and then go back to the ones that look like they’re really gonna be tricky for you.”

Odierna also spoke to the importance of communication with teachers.

“Your teachers want to help you, but we also want you to work hard, and so communication is a big piece of that. It’s how teachers gauge how hard students are working,” Odierna said.

In terms of structure, Odierna underscored the delicate balance and understanding of how activities and extracurriculars will impact the time for academics.

“We don’t want this to be all work, but we also don’t want school to be all play either. You’ve got to find a nice balance between the two,” Odierna said.

She also added that setting reasonable expectations for oneself is just as important.

“Make smart choices about how you’re gonna spend your time. Don’t expect too much because if you expect too much from yourself, then you’re up to one or two A.M. trying to do work, and nobody wants that,” Odierna said.

Each of these educators pointed to curiosity, engagement, and balance as essential qualities in the equation for a successful student. They encourage students to embrace challenges, develop their skills, and make the most of their time in high school, not just academically, but socially and personally as well.

But beyond the classroom, Govoni recognizes the importance of enjoying high school and appreciating the opportunities it offers.

“It’s hard to deal with the stress of Hopkinton High School going and the high expectations, but at the end of the day, enjoy this time in your life, you don’t get this back again. It’s not a rehearsal. So try as best you can to enjoy,” said Govoni.

Lally similarly makes it a point to stress the importance of life outside of school. He believes students should balance academics with hobbies and personal interests to stay motivated and avoid burnout.

“Don’t let school be the only reason you get up in the morning,” Lally said.

Odierna has similar sentiments surrounding high school’s impact on life.

“Just enjoy this time. You’re really supposed to be exploring in high school,” said Odierna. “Nobody is expecting you to commit to a career at this stage in your life, and so enjoying the many experiences that you have in high school, both academic and non-academic, is really important because you’re going to make memories that you’ll think about for the rest of your life.”