Why What You Do Now Matters

Why What You Do Now Matters

The Two Paths: Success or Setbacks

Your Future Starts Now

Failing a Class: What Happens Next?

Graduation Tip

Success in core subjects ensures a smooth journey toward graduation and future opportunities. Completing your required credits and pathways will open doors to college, technical careers, and more.

Setbacks

Failing classes can lead to delayed graduation, retaking courses, and limited future options. Missing credits means you'll have to make up classes, which can take away from electives or extracurriculars.

Testimonial

"Staying focused on my core classes made a huge difference. By the time I graduated, I had options—college, scholarships, even job offers in tech. Don’t underestimate how much your grades and credits matter. They truly shape your future opportunities." - Alejandro, RHS Graduate (Class of 2023)

Testimonial

"Failing math my freshman year set me back more than I expected. I had to retake it during summer, which meant way more work and time doing something I already did last year. It really limited my choices later on. If I could go back, I’d work harder to stay on track." - Alex, RHS Graduate (Class of 2022)

Retaking a class might seem like a quick fix, but it can take up valuable time. You may need to give up elective slots, after-school activities, or even your summer break to make up credits. This can limit your ability to explore subjects you're passionate about or participate in extracurriculars.

Retaking Courses

Failing key classes can lead to delayed graduation. Did you know that students who fall behind in credits are 30% more likely to extend their time in high school? This can impact your future plans, like starting college or entering the workforce on time. Stay on track to graduate with your class!

Delayed Graduation

Failing core courses like math or science can close doors to important career pathways. Many CTE programs and military options require strong performance in these areas. Without passing grades, you may miss out on industry certifications, technical careers, or military readiness opportunities.

Limited Career Options

Impact on Career Path: By catching up on math, Emma stayed on track for a college readiness pathway and earned a scholarship in STEM.

Emma – Failed Algebra but Recovered in Summer School

Emma always struggled with math, and failing Algebra her freshman year hit hard. It meant missing out on electives the next semester to focus on retaking the course during summer school. At first, it felt like a setback, but the small class sizes and extra support helped her pass with flying colors. More importantly, retaking Algebra on time allowed her to continue on the college prep track. By senior year, she was even taking Pre-Calculus, opening doors to a scholarship at her dream university. Summer school wasn't her first choice, but it became the stepping stone to her success.

Impact on Career Path: Noah’s improved English skills helped him succeed in Running Start, setting him up for college success and opening doors to a future in communications.

Noah – Struggled in English but Found Success with a Tutor

Noah found English difficult. Essays, grammar, and reading comprehension always seemed like a challenge, and he failed English 10 his sophomore year. He knew he couldn’t afford to fall further behind, so he got help from a tutor. Weekly tutoring sessions helped him understand the material and build his confidence. By junior year, his grades improved enough to join the Running Start program. He began taking college-level English courses and even earned college credit before graduation. What seemed like failure at first became an opportunity to excel.

Impact on Career Path: Mia's extra effort in science helped her enter the BioMed CTE pathway, keeping her dream of a healthcare career alive.

Mia – Failed Biology, but Recovered with Extra Lab Hours

Mia had always wanted to go into medicine, but failing Biology 1 during her sophomore year was a huge blow. It was a required course for both her CTE health pathway and her future career plans. Instead of giving up, she signed up for after-school lab sessions and worked with her teacher to review the material. By attending these extra lab hours, she not only passed Biology on her second attempt but also reignited her passion for the subject. Her dedication paid off when she got into the BioMed program, setting her on track to become a healthcare professional.

Impact on Career Path: Mastering Geometry allowed Carlos to succeed in the Engineering CTE pathway, preparing him for a future in the field of mechanical engineering.

Carlos – Struggled with Geometry, Found Success with Online Help

Carlos found Geometry to be his toughest subject. By mid-year, he was failing, and his confidence dropped. His counselor suggested using an online math resource to help him. Carlos committed to watching tutorial videos and practicing problems each night. By the end of the year, he passed Geometry with a B. This improvement gave him the confidence to pursue other challenging courses, and he later completed a CTE program in engineering. His early struggles with math no longer defined him, and he plans to study mechanical engineering after graduation.

Impact on Career Path: By improving her history grade, Sarah was able to stay on track for graduation and used her study skills to explore leadership opportunities.

Sarah – Failed History but Joined a Study Group and Recovered

Sarah didn’t think she needed help in history until she failed her first big exam in U.S. History. After that, things started to spiral, and by the end of the semester, she was failing the class. Instead of giving up, Sarah joined a study group with classmates who were also struggling. Together, they quizzed each other, discussed key events, and prepared for the final exam. With the help of her peers, she turned her grade around, passing the class with a C+. This experience taught her the value of teamwork, and she eventually became a study group leader herself.

Impact on Career Path: Ethan’s recovery in chemistry helped him continue in advanced science courses, leading him toward a career in chemical engineering.

Ethan – Struggled with Chemistry, Found Success Through Peer Mentoring

Ethan failed his first chemistry test and felt completely lost. He considered giving up on the subject altogether, but his teacher paired him with a peer mentor—another student who had excelled in chemistry. With his mentor’s help, Ethan was able to review the concepts he didn’t understand and practice hands-on experiments. His grade slowly improved, and by the end of the year, he had passed with a B. This success motivated him to apply for AP Chemistry, and he’s now considering a career in chemical engineering.