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Nate did really well in school.
He got straight A’s on his final exams in Grade 10 (in thirteen subjects).
He’d always been pretty chill about school, not overly stressed, and confident in his academic abilities.
So when his Mom expressed concerns about the difficulty of the International Baccalaureate (IB) – the rigorous program he was starting in Grade 11 – he wasn’t worried.
He thought it might be hard for others, but not for him – he was “built different.”
Then reality hit. School felt more demanding, more overwhelming, more intense.
Despite straight A’s before, his first math test in Grade 11 came back with a 2/7.
Nate could have:
- questioned whether he’s smart enough to be there,
- accepted that stress and overwhelm were the new normal,
- tried to ‘work harder’ and sacrificed his free time,
- blamed the teachers, or
- disengaged.
He didn’t do these things. Instead, he:
- chose to level up his skills and mindsets,
- learned how to set up and manage his own calendar,
- started breaking down and planning his tasks,
- used a structured, repeatable system to tackle assignments so he never had to start from scratch.
In Nate’s own words:
“Whether you’ve been doing great and are just beginning to struggle, or it’s rough already – that feeling of reaching the top of the hill that was so far away at one point is incredible.And it’s a lot simpler than people realize.”
Nate’s is a story of learning how to learn and succeed in whatever academic environment you’re in.
But the main reason I really hope you and your teen tune in to Nate’s story in his own words (below) is his honesty.
He did NOT want to use a calendar at first. When he finally did, it ‘“blew his mind” that it became EASIER to protect his free time and safeguard spontaneity.
He thinks a lot of what happens in the classroom is useless. If teachers don’t teach in a way he gets, he learns for himself to still get the success he wants.
He prioritizes what he wants for himself and his own well-being. If you’re not well, how are you going to do well in school?
A few days ago, Nate got his first college admissions…with $150,000 in scholarship offers.
A lot of his insights will resonate with your teen (and you). Check out his story in his own words here:
