To be successful in anything in life, it takes commitment, whether it be to home and family, a job or the process of learning.  

Along with the commitment to learning comes the proper use of study skills.

Take responsibility for yourself
Recognize that in order to succeed you need to make decisions about your priorities, your time, and your resources

Center yourself around your values and principles
Don't let friends and acquaintances dictate what you consider important

Put first things first
Follow up on the priorities you have set for yourself, and don't let others, or other interests, distract you from your goals

Discover your key productivity periods and places
Morning, afternoon, or evening?
Find spaces where you can be the most focused and productive.  Prioritize these for your most difficult study challenges

Consider yourself in a win-win situation
When you contribute your best to a class, you, your fellow students, and even your teacher will benefit. Your grade can then be one additional check on your performance

First understand others, then attempt to be understood
When you have an issue with an instructor (a questionable grade, an assignment deadline, etc.) put yourself in the instructor's place. Now ask yourself how you can best make your argument given his/her situation

Look for better solutions to problems
For example, if you don't understand the course material, don't just re-read it. Try something else! Consult with the professor, a tutor, an academic advisor, a classmate, a study group, or your school's study skills center

Look to continually challenge yourself

Partially adapted from the audio cassette by Steven Covey, 
Seven Habits of Highly Effective People