What Defines a Good Student?

October 27, 2026 - Harper Wahler (10)

If you are enrolled in any level of education, you’ve likely been told by your parents at least once in your life to be a “good student.” Beyond this bit of advice, students don’t often get any explicit direction as to how they should go about achieving this status. In general, it is a loose term which typically refers to a member of the student body who keeps their head down and gets good grades. I argue, however, that this generalization is more harmful as a guideline than motivating.

Working diligently to be the best in your class is a great goal in theory, but in practice it cannot stand alone as a general rule of thumb. A “good student” practices time management, balancing out educational subjects with their own personal and social life. Good grades should never come before your own well-being, as everyone needs time to themselves after a long, stressful day of school and work. What truly defines a “good student” is someone who can find a meaningful balance between the two. For instance, I struggled in the beginning of the year with time management. Immediately after coming home from work, I would sleep the night away, leaving no time for homework or social activities. Because of this, I fell behind in my classes, and my grades suffered. Now, I put my needs in order of priority.

Assignments that are due sooner or are worth a higher value in the gradebook should always come before leisure time. Following the completion of these assignments, you should then think of what matter is most pressing to you personally. If you haven’t had time to take care of yourself in recent days, center your efforts on hygiene and hobbies you enjoy. If you are depriving yourself of social interaction, make time for activities with friends and family. The most important thing, however, is not to overwork yourself. A machine can only function properly if it receives due maintenance. To put it simply, you will not be able to complete assignments to your full potential if you’re too exhausted to focus. Constantly running off of fumes will only ever end with you burnt out halfway through the school year, achieving the direct opposite of your academic goal.

Beyond these baseline qualifications, a “good student” doesn’t act simply out of necessity. Just completing an assignment and filling every requirement doesn’t help you retain information nearly as much as you might think. Simply applying yourself to whatever you do will vastly improve the quality of your work, ensuring that you aren’t just mindlessly carrying out tasks, but instead exercising your mind and stretching your capabilities to an amazing extent.

All this to say, the concept of a “good student” is largely up for interpretation. For some, the best way to maintain good grades is to knock out all of your assignments at once. For others, their priorities may lie in maintaining a healthy social, mental, and emotional state. Regardless of how you choose to define this term, every scholar should put forth the effort to be the best learner they can be, while also ensuring that they take care of themselves in the context of their personal lives. It is up to you how you go about it.