School is a journey as much as it is an educational institution. It is where and how we learn the life skills and knowledge we need in order to survive and responsibly perform our roles as citizens of society. It is where we learn about how the natural world works, how to count and compute, and how to communicate verbally and in writing, and how diverse our cultures and histories are. Have you ever wondered what it would be like if we never learned how to multiply or what that big, bright ball in the sky is?
Although school can be hard and stressful sometimes, we wouldn’t be as brilliant and aware as we are now if it weren’t for our education, no matter how imperfect it is. So if we struggle with our academics, we must remember that our education is a great blessing, and we should surrender our troubles to the Lord through this prayer for school success.
Prayer for school success
Lord God, my Divine Teacher,
I praise You for Your wisdom, for You gave me the best counsel in times of confusion and strife. I am in awe of Your goodness, for You gave me divine inspiration when I was at my lowest. I bow before Your glory, for You are the King of all kings, clothed in beauty and majesty. I humbly ask for forgiveness for the countless sins I’ve committed. Look upon me with mercy, O Lord, and drive away any evil around me. Thank You for Your faithfulness and unconditional love.
Be with me as I go to school each day. Bless my studies and help me successfully finish my education and make my family and myself proud. With this prayer for struggling in school, I humbly ask for wisdom and passion for learning as I deal with all my academic struggles.
All this I do for Your honor and glory.
Amen.
Short prayer for struggling in school
Gracious Lord,
I pray for wisdom and success in school. The price of academic success is steep, but I fear not because You are with me. Help me understand and digest all my lessons and enjoy the learning process. May I find happiness, inspiration, and growth in school. May I graduate with Your banner held high, for it is only You who can help me attain my goals.
Amen.
The Word of God
For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 NRSVUE
do not fear, for I am with you;
Isaiah 41:10 NRSVUE
do not be afraid, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you; I will help you;
I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.
My brothers and sisters, whenever you face various trials, consider it all joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance complete its work, so that you may be complete and whole, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-4 NRSVUE
Intercessory prayer to Saint Scholastica
Saint Scholastica, intelligent and wise,
Thank you for being the guardian and protector of education and wisdom. The Lord chose you well, for you have guided students throughout their journey and education, helping them hone their skills and knowledge while powering through obstacles.
The problems I face at school are too heavy for me to bear alone. Saint Scholastica, hear my plea and help me survive the challenges I encounter. You’ve seen my hardships and felt my despair. I beg you to have mercy on me and pray for my success. Help me escape my misery and hopelessness. Give me the strength to push forward despite the difficulties. May you shed a ray of your wisdom upon me so I can see the real problems and develop effective solutions.
With each passing day at school, help me to learn and understand all my lessons. Education is a privilege, and so I want to make the most out of this God-given gift. Aid me as I study for my exams and organize my notes. May school provide the social support I need whenever I have problems with teachers or other students; let calmness and wisdom settle all disputes. May I find happiness in school, whether that is through friendship or involvement in school clubs that will encourage my own personal growth outside the classroom.
Let no low score nor challenging topic stop me from finishing my education and graduating with flying colors.
Saint Scholastica, pray for me. Amen.
Further reflection
If we struggle with school or with certain subjects, it’s not too late to improve ourselves and get help. If we find we are really struggling with assignments or subjects, we can always talk with our teachers and do our best to explain why we’re having trouble. In some schools, it’s possible to arrange for remedial classes after school to help process the material at a more comfortable pace, making it easier to ask questions without fear of judgment. Alternatively, it’s also possible to book a tutor who’s well-experienced in the subject that is difficult.
We can identify our strengths and weaknesses and work on those. For example, some people are good at mental math but bad at analyzing situational problems. We should use our strengths to our advantage and develop a solid plan to improve our weaknesses and turn them into strengths.
Don’t forget it can also help to assess study habits and learning styles. If we’re visual learners and we struggle with a class wherein the teacher focuses on verbal lectures and uses little to no visual aids and demonstrations, that may be a reason why we’re having difficulties. We all have our own learning styles, and being aware of ours is the first step in mastering our academic struggles. Similarly, our study methods and habits are also important. For visual learners, a way of making notes more effective is by converting paragraphs into charts and graphs. Having a consistent study routine that is tailored to our own needs is essential when studying for exams or just digesting lessons in general. If we happen to have a short attention span, choosing to break the day into short blocks of study sessions might be more effective than scheduling long hours of work at a time only to read the same page over and over again.
This is a lot to take in, which is why we should also remember to stay organized and plan well. Don’t forget to take breaks and have little rewards for all the hard work and progress.
If our problems lie outside academics and require privacy and sensitivity, talk to the guidance counselor or a teacher and explain the situation. Talking to our parents or family can be helpful as well. From there, we can decide the best course of action for the future. In the end, having a support system and a solid grasp of what kind of student we are (and using that to our advantage) can help us through school problems and achieve our goals. Enjoy the journey!
