What types of students will get good grades? What kind of students will fail many classes during their time at school? These questions may seem simple. Many will say that good students will get good grades and bad students will fail. Most would be correct with this assumption. But how many people know that the real differences between a student who excels and a student who doesn't actually have a lot to do with the character of the student? How many really know how or why these differences in character make one student shine and another dull? Most people don't realize that the type of student they choose to be not only affects the grades they will receive, but also signals to others key traits of their character. Before we discuss the differences between students who excel and mediocre students, there are, in fact, some similarities between them. Many people may think that these two types of students have nothing in common, but they might. The fact is that many students want good grades. Both types also want to enjoy the benefits that a good education can bring, such as greater financial success and prestige. It is not the aspiration of good grades that will give them these advantages. A commonly observed difference between an excellent student and an ordinary student is that of motivation or drive. However, drive and desire should not be confused. Desire is the desire for something. Driving, on the other hand, is like gasoline in a car. It’s what drives a person to get things done. Many students desire good grades, but it is the motivated student, the one who is willing to go above and beyond, who will use that motivation to get what they want. Undistinguished students have middle of paper......an education can be valuable. The late South African President Nelson Mandela once said: “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” » We discussed the obvious benefits of a good education above, but it is this ability to change the world a person lives in that is the truly valuable benefit of an education. It is this ability that should motivate more people to become good students and do their best to receive an excellent education. Many people forget or do not understand that poor students do not receive the knowledge or character necessary to bring about change on such a large scale. One by one, forget the power of an educated mind, fall into the habits of a bad student, and never look back. Imagine what the world would be like if even half of all poor performers knew the great power that is within their reach..