Feel Like You’re Not Smart Enough for School? Read These 5 Tips

By Stephen Hancock

Professor of English, Brigham Young University–Hawaii

Some students enter the classroom believing that either they have what it takes to succeed or they don’t.

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young woman looking at a stack of books

Let me start by telling you about two students—based on a lot of students I have taught or known. The first student, let’s call her Emma, comes to a class thinking, “I can’t do this. I’m just not good at it.” This student has already decided she doesn’t have the “smarts” to succeed. The second student, let’s call him Jacob, comes to the same class thinking, “This is my subject. Of course I will do well. This class won’t take much effort.”

These two students seem very different. But both have the same problem—they think either they have it or they don’t. Emma may not try because she thinks she can’t do well. And Jacob may not work hard enough because he thinks he’s a natural.

The truth is that school is a learning experience. Learning itself is a skill that you can develop. There may be differences in natural ability, but a positive attitude, hard work, preparation, and the right techniques are important in determining our success. The key is first believing that you can learn and then being willing to work hard and develop as a learner.

What does this mean for you? Here are a few tips to maximize what you get out of school and your ability to learn:

1. Expect some things to be difficult or scary.
A math class might seem terrifying if you haven’t done well in math in the past. But perhaps you need to spend more time on that subject or approach it differently. School is about learning to extend yourself beyond your natural capabilities.
Learning can be challenging, but you can learn if you put in the effort in the right ways. Having a “growth mindset”¹ can play a factor in whether you will succeed in any endeavor. Never think anything is too tough for you. You just need to find the right way from here to there. And if there’s nothing difficult for you in school, you might not be challenging yourself—and you might not be growing.
2. Try some hard things and expect to fail occasionally.
Taking classes outside your comfort zone can be a great experience. Don’t avoid challenging classes or projects out of fear of getting a lower grade. You might not excel at some things, but you will undoubtedly learn more than you would have by only taking classes that are “easy” for you. This doesn’t mean that you can’t take fun classes or that you need to overload yourself with difficult classes. But if you think you can’t take a class because you assume you won’t get a good grade, then you have missed the point. School should be a place to learn and grow—and that takes sincere effort.
3. Learn how to learn.
Learning is a skill. There are many ways to learn, and it’s helpful to identify the ways you learn best. In fact, when you’re frustrated or feeling like you’re not smart enough, you might just not know the right learning strategies. Be willing to seek out resources and try new forms of learning.² That might save you a lot of time and help you learn more effectively.
4. Reach out for support.
When you take classes that stretch you mentally, it’s normal to need help. Reach out to your teachers or professors. Most of the time they will be glad to see you putting effort into learning. Find out about tutoring services and academic support at your school. Or even create a study group with fellow students or friends. Many students find that this contributes to their success. And if you find that you need help learning time management or could use mental or emotional support, you are not the only one! Identifying and seeking support can help you learn more than just academically.
And most importantly, turn to your Father in Heaven. When Nephi was asked to build a ship, he didn’t know how, but he knew that God could teach him anything (see 1 Nephi 17:51). And if God could teach Nephi to build a ship, He can help you learn algebra or chemistry or how to write a paper. The Holy Ghost can “teach you all things” (John 14:26), and that doesn’t mean just spiritual things. Seek help wherever you can find it, especially from heaven.
5. Remember to still make time for yourself.
Finally, remember to take care of yourself and have fun while you’re at school. Stress, lack of sleep, and the mental health issues that come with them can have a huge impact on your success in school. Remember that “it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength” (Mosiah 4:27). Take time to sleep and eat well. Spend time with friends and take a reasonable course load. Recognize the progress you are making.

As you apply these five tips, your capability for learning will increase. Learning is a principle of the gospel that will help you throughout your lifetime. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “Learning to love learning equips us for an ever-changing and unpredictable future. Knowing how to learn prepares us to discern and act upon opportunities that others may not readily recognize.”³

God will provide you with opportunities, and He will prepare you for those things. Almost certainly He sees more potential in you than you see in yourself. The gospel is about learning and growing into who the Lord needs us to be, and you can become anything He wants you to be. So don’t worry about whether you are smart enough—just enjoy growing into that person.