You never know when an illness or family emergency will strike. However, if this absence is planned, let all your teachers and the school administration know in advance. That way, they can get make-up work to you as soon as possible. Say something like, "I'm sorry, but I'll be out of class tomorrow for a family reunion. Please let me know what I need to do to stay on top of my work." You may need to provide a note from a doctor or parent. Check with your school administration to find out. Stay after class to talk with your teacher one-on-one, or head to their office during your free time. Explain the situation, let them know you're trying your best to catch up, and ask what you missed. If you've missed several days, it's a good idea to email your teacher instead of waiting to talk in person. Say something like, "I'm so sorry I was out yesterday with the flu. I'm doing my best to get back on schedule. Is there anything important that I missed?" Sometimes, you might forget to complete an assignment, run out of time, or simply feel too tired. In cases like these, it's important to be honest with your teacher about the situation. Explain why you missed the work and tell them you're ready to work hard to get back on track, You might say, "I'm sorry, I've been really busy with soccer lately and I've fallen behind on some assignments. I want to do everything I can to catch up. What would you recommend that I do?" Take note of any rules your teacher has regarding missed assignments. For example, they may require that you submit papers by email if you can't get to class to turn in a hard copy. Your friends can fill you in on information covered and any assignments or activities you missed. They may also be able to lend you their notes. While talking to students is helpful, it shouldn't be a substitute for communicating with your teacher. Ideally, you should do both. If you were already having a hard time in a class, missing school can make it even worse. If you feel lost or overwhelmed, reach out to your teacher, TA, classmates, or a tutor for help. You may be able to meet with your teacher before or after class for extra help. Keep in mind that your teacher probably won't have time to re-explain the entire lecture. Look over all your notes and materials beforehand so you're as prepared as possible. It may be helpful to come in with a list of questions.
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One-sentence summary -- Let your teacher know of your absence in advance, if possible. Communicate with your teacher after unexpected absences. Be honest if the missed work wasn't absence-related. Be aware of class policies. Talk to friends about what you missed. Get help for difficult subjects.

Do you require a more utilitarian, functional style? Do you prefer a sexier look to hit the club circuit? Is it the wholesomeness of country dress that fits your personality? Knowing what your intentions are will help you personalize your wardrobe. A different top, some new boots, or the right skirt will put you on the right path. It can be jarring to adopt a new look overnight. Ease into it, experiment to find out what works for you and what should be left on the sale rack.
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One-sentence summary -- Determine your reasons for adopting a country style. Start small.

If you want to be more daring, this usually means taking some risks. Figure out how you want to be more daring and then set attainable goals for yourself. Use the SMART method as a guideline for your goals. SMART stands for: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, timely. For example, maybe you want to try paragliding. Your goal might be "I want to get over my fear of heights so that I can enjoy the view from above. I'll work on getting used to being in higher buildings and looking out so that I can celebrate my next birthday by paragliding with a partner." Put your goals on paper to reinforces them. Update your goals whenever you meet them. Consider reevaluating your goals at regular intervals to ensure they're still attainable. Make sure that your desire to be more daring is within the realm of the realistic for you. This can keep you from not reaching your goals, which in turn might undermine your confidence and willingness to be daring. See if your goals are realistic by talking to others or researching them. For example, if you want to be a gymnast but are a bit older, it may be difficult to get to the Olympics. But that doesn't mean that you can't enjoy gymnastics classes or competitions. Any time you try something new, you're being daring because there's a chance you may not enjoy it or fail at it. Trying new activities or having different experiences whenever you can not only makes you more daring, but it can also boost your confidence and help you be more outgoing with others. Keep an open mind to anything you haven't tried yet. For example, if a friend invites you to try a new cuisine, don't hesitate going. Chances are, you may find something you like and even if you don't, you can say that you tried it. Participate in new or different activities. Get out of your comfort zone and join a club or try changing up your routine. For example, maybe you run every day but would like to jazz up your workout. You could try out Crossfit or another sport such as yoga, both of which can challenge you in different ways than running. Rise above your fears. Any time you try something new, there may be an element of fear to it. Take a deep breath and reassure yourself that this is good for you. Every individual experiences change in their life at some point. Many times, the change involves having courage or being more daring in your life. Welcome change whenever it comes your way, which can help you more readily take risks in the future. Remember that you are capable of handling anything life throws your way. This can give you the confidence to persevere. When in doubt, take a step back, relax, and let go. Take small steps to accept the changes in your life. Breaking up change into manageable pieces can make it easier to embrace and may make you more willing to take risks related to it. Just like change, failure happens to most people. But how you deal with that failure can make you more daring and confident. Keep moving forward because many risk-takers experience setbacks before finding success. Figure out what caused your failure and apply this for future success. For example, if the design of your Smartphone app didn't catch on, read comments and make tweaks to a new design based on the feedback. Ask for help whenever and wherever you need it. Not only can this help you be more daring in the future, but simply asking for help can help you be more outgoing, too.
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One-sentence summary --
Set goals for yourself. Have realistic expectations. Try new experiences. Embrace changes. Accept failure.