Good Hope High School senior James McWhorter gives academic advice to students at Good Hope Elementary Friday afternoon.

GOOD HOPE — Good Hope Elementary students got the chance to hear some advice from one of their older peers Friday afternoon when senior James McWhorter stopped by to share some tips for academic success.

McWhorter, who scored a perfect 36 on the ACT college admissions test, spoke to the students about the importance of their education and gave some advice that has worked for him during his time as a student.

As part of the advice he gave to the students, he encouraged them to do their homework, read books and learn their multiplication tables.

He said getting homework done early instead of waiting until late at night will lead to better grades in all levels of school, from elementary school through college, and reading more books at school and in their free time will lead to more academic success.

“Read a book about something that interests you,” he said. “It makes you smart. It really does.”

Learning multiplication tables —and math in general — may not seem very fun for young students right now, but it will help later in life, McWhorter said.

“Trust me, when you’re trying to see how much gas you can put in your car with how much money that you have, it will come in handy,” he said.

McWhorter said he found his love of science and math when he was in sixth grade, and has carried that love through high school and plans to attend the University of Alabama in Huntsville to be an aerospace engineer and work at NASA.

He said he was able to find his dream and is getting the chance to follow it, and he encouraged the students to find their own dreams and put in the work in school that will let them follow theirs.

“You have to take school seriously,” he said. “What you learn in school will help you in life. From there, it’s up to you about what you want to do.”

While success is important, McWhorter also reminded the elementary students that they’re only in school once, and said they should embrace their time in school and make sure they enjoy it.

“You only get to be third, fourth and fifth graders right now,” he said. “The main thing to do now is learn all you can and have fun doing it.”