Dear freshmen, your road map to academic success

Tanvi Ravella, Naila Ali, and Karen Mascarenhas

March 27, 2026

Short, focused study sessions followed by rewards can boost productivity. The Sidekick sports photography editor/social media manager Naila Ali and staff photographers Karen Mascarenhas and Tanvi Ravella give freshman students advice to increase efficiency while studying.

“Dear Freshmen” is a series where a sophomore, junior and senior staff member each give personal anecdotes along with advice about a certain topic with the aim of helping the incoming sophomores and current freshmen.

In this edition of Dear Freshmen, The Sidekick staffers advise about how to stay focused and get the desired results in academics along with what study tips can benefit students on their road to success. Read more to find out what they have to say:

Tanvi Ravella - Staff Photographer

Reflecting on my freshman year, one of the most important lessons I learned is that practice makes a huge impact.

High school can feel overwhelming at first, especially with harder material and fast-paced classes. I quickly realized that the key to improving my grades was not just reviewing notes, but actively practicing. This helped me in classes like AP Human Geography, when I started adding examples to go along with vocabulary words to help me better remember the definitions.

Completing as many practice questions as possible across different topics was a game changer.

When I studied this way, I was able to clearly see which concepts I understood and which ones I struggled with.

Instead of avoiding the topics I missed the most questions on, I made it a priority to focus on them. I would redo similar problems, review my mistakes carefully, and continue practicing until I developed a stronger understanding and confidence in that area.

For example, I’ve struggled with chemistry throughout most of the year, specifically stoichiometry. To combat that, I focused only on this unit by using videos from a channel on YouTube called The Organic Chemistry Tutor.

After spending time strengthening my weak points, I would go back and attempt the original practice questions again. Most of the time, I noticed significant improvement.

This method not only helped raise my test scores but also built my problem-solving skills and confidence.

By staying consistent, identifying your weaknesses, and putting in focused effort to improve them, you can set yourself up for long-term success.

Naila Ali - Sports Photography Editor/Social Media Manager

Looking back I was a whole different person: the way I carried myself, the way I dressed, the way I acted, but not in the way I studied.

I was the student that breezed through middle school. I became the kid who never studied besides a quick look over during lunch before my class.

Little did I know I was in for a reality check in ninth grade.

I started with all AP and GT expecting a breeze like years prior. I was wrong. So wrong.

One thing led to another and I did not know what I was doing or how to get better.

My AP Human Geography teacher Brittany Scruggs pulled me aside and told me I needed to study to which I responded, “I have to what?”

I thought studying was a quick look over and paying attention in class, but that was not studying.

Seeing the immense confusion on my face, Scruggs told me to find something I love to use as a reward and it worked.

Set a goal and a reward for studying for a test. I set a goal to achieve a 100 on a practice test and in return I could get to do something fun, such as hanging out with friends, going out to eat, or in my case, a gym run.

The biggest key is self control. Try super hard to do it right and that will lead to success. Make sure the reward after studying is something that is REALLY desirable!

Karen Mascarenhas - Staff Photographer

Throughout high school, I’ve experimented with a lot of different study tips, trying to figure out what actually works for me. One method that truly made a difference was timing myself. It didn’t seem like much at first, but it completely changed how I approached studying and managing my time.

Studying has always been challenging for me. I consider myself a slow learner, so it often took me longer than others to fully understand new material.

Because of that, I knew I needed to find strategies that would help me stay focused and make better use of my time. Without structure, I would get distracted easily or feel overwhelmed, which made studying even harder.

The method that helped me the most was studying for 20 minutes, then taking a 10-minute break, and repeating that cycle. During those 20 minutes, I would eliminate all distractions by turning off my phone and focusing only on my work. Then, during my break I would grab a snack or briefly check my phone, making that the only time I allowed myself to do so.

This technique helped me stay disciplined while also giving my brain the rest it needed. It made studying feel more manageable and kept me from burning out. I was able to concentrate better and actually retain what I was learning.

Now, as a senior, I wish I had discovered this method earlier. My freshman self would have benefited so much from it, and it probably would have saved my grades. Still, I’m glad I found something that works for me, and it’s a habit I’ll continue to use beyond high school.

This is a good way to stay accountable when studying while still giving yourself a break.

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About the Contributors

Tanvi Ravella, Staff Photographer

Tanvi Ravella is a sophomore first year in The Sidekick.

She joined the program because she wanted to expand her knowledge on photography journalism as a whole, which started off as a hobby.

During her free time, you can find Tanvi listening to various music artists such as Drake, The Neighborhood and Tate McRae. She loves puppies, his name is Arno the Lab and she loves to play and spend time with him.

You can contact Tanvi via email at [email protected] or on Instagram at @tanvi.ravella

Naila Ali, Sports Photography Editor/Social Media Manager

Naila Ali is a junior and the Sports Photography Editor/Social Media Manager for The Sidekick After joining yearbook in 8th grade as a fun extracurricular, Naila fell in love with writing and photography. After completing her first year in the program, she found her ultimate passion in sports photography. When she’s not working on Sidekick assignments, you can find her hanging out with friends and family, FaceTiming for hours, watching Texas Longhorn football games, doing something outdoors, studying, or playing soccer. You can contact her at [email protected] or @nailas.lens for sports photography.

Karen Mascarenhas, Staff Photographer

Karen Mascarenhas is a senior and a second-year staff member for The Sidekick. She enjoys taking photos and designing for the program. Her favorite fast food places are Tacobelle and Wingstop. Her favorite movie is “10 Things I Hate About You.” Her hobbies include dance, art and fashion. You can contact her via email at @[email protected]

Riya Suresh, Staff Writer

Riya Suresh is a junior and a second-year staff writer for The Sidekick. Despite joining The Sidekick to be a writer, she loves exploring other positions such as photography and design. When she’s not doing homework or working on a story, Riya is always down to work out, try new foods, shop around at Southlake Town Square or watch horror movies. She also plays the New York Times games religiously, and she specifically enjoys Pips. Outside of The Sidekick, she is involved in other organizations: the girls powerlifting team and Collections4Champs, her nonprofit. You can contact her at [email protected] or on Instagram @riyasureshh_.

Coppell Student Media

Coppell Student Media

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Dear freshmen, your road map to academic success

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