R.I.S.E. to the Challenge: Ross School of Business Supplement Anonymous

“You may choose your partner now,” my teacher said after explaining the guidelines on the energy-machine project. As I scanned the room, I noticed numerous empty seats and many sleeping students. Why was no one paying attention? Student engagement, or the amount of attention and interest students have in school and towards learning, is a prominent issue in my student community. It is significant because it plays a huge role in academic success and may hinder academics beyond high school. Higher engagement levels make students more self-motivated and more effective workers.

Although my high school, Mission San Jose HS, is a highly competitive and prestigious school ranked #12 in California, students are still often frustrated and disheartened. Many complain about the lack of recognition of student efforts, absence of personal connection between faculty and students, deficit in resources, and shortfall of real-world skills taught at school. Therefore, I propose a solution to this lack of student engagement through my four-part plan R.I.S.E: Recognize students, Improve student-teacher relationships, Show more resources, and Educate students about real-world skills.

While tangible rewards such as candies, prizes, or money can...