Having been a journalism professor at two universities for the past several years, I know a thing or two about why some students succeed, and others fail, and believe me, I have seen just about every kind of student in my classroom. I’ll be completely frank…there were times when I was dumbfounded by a student’s utter disinterest, disrespect and doltishness in class. But there were many occasions when I was blown away by the intelligence and maturity of a student. Here’s the thing, though…it really isn’t just sheer intelligence that makes or breaks a college student. The secret sauce is a combination of genuine curiosity, drive and humility. That last trait is one of the most important because humility is what will keep your mind open to new and challenging ideas. Humility is what will keep you grounded. And humility is so much more attractive than arrogance. I’ve had very arrogant students in my class who thought they already knew EVERYTHING. Guess what, they didn’t know shit, but because of their attitude, they didn’t learn and grow as much as they could have. I would often think, “What a waste of money and time for this student and their parents (if they were paying the tuition).”
I have a mountain of advice for how to succeed in college, but here are some of the most important and practical tips you can use right now. And if you’re a parent of a college student, take notes!
1. Don’t: Feel like you must have it all figured out immediately (no matter how much pressure your parents put on you). College is a brand-new experience and for many of you, it’s the first time you’ve been living away from home for an extended period. There’s a lot going on when you start school…moving into the dorm, registering for classes, discovering clubs and organizations, getting to know professors and classmates. The list is endless! So don’t think you have to every step you’re going to take on this collegiate journey mapped out because, guess what, you will likely change your mind about what you want to major in, what classes you want to take, what friends you want to make, what clubs you want to join. I have (and still have) a mentee who I met when she was a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed freshman. She was SO eager to do everything and have everything figured out from day one. I loved her enthusiasm and energy, but I told her right away that she didn’t need to have it all perfectly mapped out. College is all about trying anything and everything and in time you will know what your calling is. My mentee is now entering her senior year and, sure enough, after a few years of experimentation, trial and error, she is focused, mature and confident. DO NOT fall prey to the idea that you must have it all together at the start of college. Be free to find what you enjoy, what inspires you, and what allows you to be who you truly want to be.
2. Do: Manage your time. Time management is challenging for everyone, especially when you’re drowning in too much to do in too little time. In college, you’re going to feel that way often. There’s homework, projects, mid-terms, club meetings, sports, social events and on and on. Even more reason to prioritize your to-do list and get things done in a timely manner. Easier said than done, I know, but if you can manage your time, you’ll be far less stressed and a lot more productive. The students that I had who regularly completed assignments on time always seemed more relaxed because they didn’t have the crushing feeling of meeting deadlines at the last minute. Procrastination is something we all deal with at times, but if you do a little planning, you’ll save yourself A LOT of stress and misery.
3. Don’t: Succumb to peer pressure…be true to yourself and what feels right. There’s a lot of pressure from your peers to act a certain way, dress according to trends and take on different identities. But here’s the problem I see often…students take on identities that aren’t their own. We’ve all done that at one point or another and adults still do that! But the sooner you can discover your OWN identity and your OWN voice, the better off you’ll be pursuing a more authentic path for yourself.
4. Do: Be respectful towards your professors, advisors and staff. We’ve seen just about everything, had to deal with a lot of issues and know more than you think. Let’s put it this way, we weren’t born yesterday so don’t look at us as “clueless” about what’s up. Well, maybe some are, but overall, your professors and others are doing the work because they care about education. We certainly don’t do it for the money because the pay is pretty crap for what we’re asked to do. That’s an overarching problem in the U.S. with educators. Too much responsibility for very little pay. However, educators who truly do care are there for YOU. Our main goal isn’t just to educate, but to motivate, inspire and empower you. I always feel so fulfilled when a student tells me that they’ve been powerfully impacted by me in some way. So read up on your professors. Learn about their background. Engage with them in and out of class. Respect them as your teachers, but also has human beings.
5. Don’t: Be afraid to make mistakes…it’s college, this is where you can screw up and learn from it! The key…LEARN from those mistakes and if you’re worried about being embarrassed, GET OVER IT! No one is paying attention to you as much as you think they are because they’re paying more attention to themselves. Once you realize this, life becomes much easier.
6. Do: Push beyond your comfort zone. Get out of your silos. Connect with people who aren’t like you and have meaningful conversations with them. We live in a time of great division politically, socially, economically and racially. But college is one of the best places to meet people from all walks of life so why not take advantage of that and make connections. In nearly all my journalism classes, I have asked students to interview a peer outside of their usual circle who is noticeably different from their community. Every student comes back more enlightened, informed and empathetic. Reaching beyond your comfort zone helps you develop that empathy as well as break down stereotypes that we all have of each other.
7. Don’t: Be too idealistic and impractical. Some of you might not like this tip, but hear me out. Yes, college is a place to experiment (like I said above), but it’s also a place where you should really find a path that will lead you to a realistic future. In other words, move towards a vocation that will give you both fulfillment AND economic sustainability. I had my share of students who, for example, wanted to travel the world as a documentarian. Sounds exciting and glamorous, but they weren’t factoring in things like pitching the idea, getting funding, production and distribution. There’s NO money until the doc is sold and even then, the money isn’t great. Very few documentarians can sustain a comfortable living. I’m not suggesting that you give up on a dream if you are 1000% committed and determined to make it happen, but having a more realistic plan that will still feed your soul is a smart strategy.
8. Do: Have FUN! No further explanation needed.
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