I think diligence is the most important factor that students need to have.
People usually say that hard work compensates for lack of intelligence. And it's definitely true in any time.
It's no matter who you are, a wise man or a slow learner. There are so many knowledge that you don't know. If you are good at a specific field, let become a professional in that field, then go to other fields that you are not good, because life is non-stop learning. If you are slower, you should have time to understand an issue, keep going, searching and learning about it, you will have an excellent result if you invest time in it.
Finally, set this in your mind, we are the same in the beginning, we can go far and further or not, it belongs to your effort.
