How to be the sharpest knife in the drawer

(EDITOR'S NOTE: The following article describes a study regime involving abstinence from tobacco, actually attending classes and other unorthodox conduct that may be impractical or even dangerous for students unaccustomed to such behaviour. To learn how to achieve a perfect grade average by spending all weekday evenings watching sitcoms, be sure to read to the end of the article.)

That's Sarah Monette grinning for our camera, and that round thingie she's holding is the Governor General's Academic Medal, bestowed each year on the Sault College student attaining the highest academic standing in the final year of his or her program.

Monette, who hails from Desbarats, was one of more than 200 Sault College students recognized Tuesday night during the school’s annual Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards Night at the Best Western.

She's a graduate of the child and youth worker program, where she had a three-year grade average of 3.96.

But for two recent semesters, she attained a perfect average of 4.0.

How to be the sharpest knife in the drawer

A lot of Monette's study secrets are pretty straightforward stuff.

She gets to all her classes and takes careful notes.

She considers it important to be alert while learning, so she tries to get to bed by 11 p.m. and to have a good breakfast every morning.

'I don't do that morning thing'

There's no such thing as an early-morning study session in Monette's world.

"I don't do that morning thing," she says.

After classes, Monette decompresses with some television and supper, then hits the books around 7 p.m. She religiously reads assigned materials every night because it helps to already know the material that's presented in class.

Exam prep

Because of her disciplined study regime throughout the school year, Monette doesn't find it necessary to cram for examinations.

Her exam prep routine begins three days before the big day, when she starts to prepare special study notes from her class notes.

Monette reviews her study notes the night before, but she says the real learning occurs as she's preparing those notes.

'I got better grades after I quit smoking'

But the real secret to killer grades, Monette insists, is giving up smoking.

She says her marks took a decided turn for the better recently when she gave up the habit.

"About halfway through class, all I could think about was 'I want a smoke.'

"I think you can concentrate better when you're not smoking. I got better marks after I quit," Monette tells SooToday.com.

An alternative way to study

Some students, however, might prefer the study techniques of Glenda Wilson, last year's recipient of the Governor General's Academic Medal.

Wilson, who spends her weeknight evenings watching television, achieved 4.0 grade averages over five semesters.

To read about her study regime, please click here.

Full list of this year's winners

To view the full list of students recognized at Sault College's 2003 Awards Night, please click here.