text: please tell me effective ways on being the topnotcher in class aside from studying.?   studying is a big part of being a top performer, but it's not enough.  you need to have the desire to learn!  for me, the easiest way to build this desire is to try to mentally apply all lessons to something in life outside of school.  this worked for me with everything except algebra. for years i would ask "why do i need to know this?" i never got any good answers until i was out of school for 9 years. the answer was quite simple ... algebra teaches you to think!  i really wish i knew this when i was in school. i barely passed with a d in high school, and had to take algebra 098 in college to get into other math.  when you have a desire to learn, studying doesn't really exist. you are on a quest for knowledge. you'll often need to find more resources to fulfill your need to know.  it's a wonderful adventure, continuing your whole life, not ending when the last bell sounds in your senior year.  good luck, i hope you can build this desire!