College Success: Arrive to class early

Arrive at least 5 minutes before your classes begin.

Your professors expect you to be ready to go when the lecture begins.  This means not swaggering in 5, 10, 15 minutes late, and not prepared to join the class.  It means having everything you need to take notes and participate in class on your desk before you will need them. 

A good reputation will take you far.  There's plenty of time between classes and after College Hour to get your butt into your seat before the professor begins talking.  You will feel more relaxed, your mind will be open to learn, and you'll look good to the teacher.  Promise.

(c)2011-16 Robyn King.  All Rights Reserved.

Setting Goals, Part 1: Are you doing it the SMART way?

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You've set the goal to come to college, and you're pretty sure of where that goal ends.  You're feeling excited and hopeful.  You look forward to graduation.  You can't wait until you're working in a job you love which pays well.  You're absolutely certain that nothing is going to prevent you from getting to where you want to be!

Truth is, many students tell me they often feel overwhelmed, guilty or upset because their goal:
1) is harder than they expected
2) is so large they have no clue what to do next
3) no longer holds interest for them
4) makes them feel hopeless because the finish line seems light years away. 

So they abandon their plans, and the student feels like a failure.  The reality is that they are not failures; they simply hadn't been taught how to correctly plan the trip to get from point A to point B. 

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As a result of witnessing many, many people struggle with the same difficulty, I've developed a plan by which anyone can set goals concretely by using methods to:

• stay on track
• modify goals as interests and circumstances change
• know when to abandon a goal and establish a new one when necessary
• watch the progress they're making every day to get to the finish line 

Using a travel-plan metaphor, I named this plan "GPS to the Finish Line:  Mapping Your Goals the SMART Way" (c)2012-15.

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STEP 1:  Assessing the goal (Is it the right one for me?)
a.  Choose a goal and write it down.  Research says that when a goal is written down and displayed where it can be seen regularly, the likelihood that the goal will be reached increases more than goals that stay up in people's heads.

b.  Using the SMART acronym (the part of the plan I did not develop), here's how to test whether your goal destination is right for you:


S = Specific
Goals need to be clearly defined and emphasize specifically what you want to happen.  Ask yourself these questions:  What am I going to do?  Why is this important to do now?  How am I going to do it?

For example, saying "I want to be happy"  is too vague.  "I want to buy my own home" is easy to identify. 


    M = Measurable
A goal needs to be measured in order to manage it.  How will you know when you've reached your goal?  Create a way to map your progress so you'll always know how close you are to the finish line.



A = Attainable
Can you reach your goal?  Major goals set too far out in the future are the ones you won't stick to.  Instead, break down the larger goal into many smaller tasks (what I call "Mile-markers")--they will be easier to complete, and you'll feel more motivated to keep plugging along.



R = Realistic
Take an honest look at your skills, talents, abilities, personal circumstances, where you live and financial resources.  Based on this information, how likely is it that you have what it takes to reach your goal? 

T = Time limit
Choosing a deadline on your goal gives you a clear target toward your Point B.  When there is no specific time frame to follow, there's no urgency to start taking action immediately and you're likely to give up.  The deadline you choose also must be measurable, attainable, and realistic.

In my next post, I offer a reality-check on what needs to be done next, and to pack your bags for the trip ahead.

QUESTION:  Was there ever a goal that you had to give up?  What about a goal that you persisted to the end?


Source:  http://www.goal-setting-guide.com/goal-setting-tutorials/smart-goal-setting
All images courtesy of Google Images, unless otherwise noted.

(c)2012-15 Robyn Posson King

College Success: Study smart.

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I suspect that many students on our campus are in freak-out mode right about now.  Finals are around the corner, and the pressure to do well is ON.

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Break up the time you'll need to study into smaller, more manageable chunks.  For example, set a timer for a specific amount of quiet, uninterrupted study time (45 minutes to an hour) and focus, focus, focus.  Then give yourself a break for 15-20 minutes to have a snack, bathroom break or go outside for some fresh air.  Then get back to it.  Repeat as necessary.

If it's helpful to have a study buddy with you, have at it.  Just git 'er dun, cuz cramming never works.  Ever.

redbubble.com

College Success: Lifelong Learning

Your education does not stop at graduation.

Your college degree has a very short shelf life.  In this economy, plan to commit yourself to lifelong learning.

Continue your education...Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate...whatever is right for you. 

Learning also comes from reading all you can about your career: attending workshops, seminars and conferences, and learning from more experienced co-workers.

Education is like running a marathon without a finish line.  

Never stop learning and maintain your stride.

(c)2011-16 Robyn King.  All Rights Reserved.

College Success: Take care of what's bothering you.

Realize that if you have time to whine and complain about something, then you have time to do something about it.


Is something going on in your personal, work or college life that's bothering you or taking your focus away from your college responsibilities?

You can take immediate action by asking for help.

Make a check-in appointment with a counselor (518.381.1365) and discuss the problem openly.  The counselor is a highly-trained, non-judgmental listener, and will partner with you to find the right course of action.  You'll also receive unconditional support as you work through your issue.

(c)2011-2016 Robyn King.  All Rights Reserved.

College Success: The choice is yours.

You can decide and take an active part in building your future.  If you don't, someone else surely will.

Who's steering your ship?

This is a reminder that you have complete control over the choices you make.  You get to decide whether you are the captain of your ship, or the one taking orders.

Sometimes, it seems difficult to think beyond this semester, or academic year, or college degree.  But as an adult, you must consider how your actions today could (and most definitely will) impact your future 5, 10, 20 years ahead.

How do you do this?  

Ask yourself if what you're doing today is something you'd be proud to report on the 6:00 news tonight.  

If not, re-think your decision.  



(c)2011-2016 Robyn King. All Rights Reserved.

College Success: It's supposed to be difficult.

Live every moment as though it is impossible for you to fail.

There's a saying that goes, "If you think you'll succeed or if you think you'll fail, you're right."  In other words, whatever you tell yourself will happen, will happen.  [Every time.]  

Our minds and attitudes are powerful influences on how we behave and what we believe.

Tom Hanks as Jimmy Dugan
"A League of Their Own"

Pursuing a college education is hard.  Damn hard. 

"It's supposed to be hard.  If it was easy, everyone would do it.  The hard is what makes it great."  

I'll bet you know lots of people who chose not to go to college because they didn't see the value or believed they couldn't handle the work. 

That didn't stop you, though.

Just because something is challenging doesn't mean you shouldn't be doing it.  

Tell yourself that even though reading a big chapter or taking an exam will be difficult, you can do it.  It is impossible to fail.  You will do it.  You will be successful.  You'll earn decent grades.  You will graduate.

Did you know that it takes just as much of your energy to pump yourself up as it does to knock yourself down?  

Which kind of energy will you be using this semester?




(c)2011-2016 Robyn King.  All Rights Reserved.

College Success: Pay it forward.

Write thank you notes to people who add value to your life, for even the smallest of things.

Perhaps a professor gave you an extension on a paper or project.  

Maybe the cashier lady in the Commons is especially helpful and nice to you.  

A classmate offers to carry some of your stuff, or gives you a compliment.  

A security guard walks you to your car and waits until you're safely inside and the car starts.

These are all acts of kindness, and they deserve your recognition.

A short note expressing your appreciation for the specific gesture is not only good manners, but it will make the person feel great for having been nice to you, and it shows that you acknowledge that what they've done for you affected you in a positive way.  [Wouldn't you want someone to appreciate something you've done for them?]

This little note can make a big difference.

Slip the note under the professor's door, put it on your classmate's seat, hand it to the cashier lady when you pay for your food, or hand it to the security supervisor and let her know that one of her crew went out of his/her way for you.  

Your benefactors will be surprised and happy, and they'll be encouraged to continue doing good deeds.  As a bonus, thank-yous are a way for you to pay it forward and do something nice for someone else in return.

(c)2011-2016 Robyn King.  All Rights Reserved.

College Success: Appreciate different points of view.

You can learn a lot from people who view the world differently than you do.

The way you view the world is not the only way to view the world.  

An important part of the college experience is to expose students to various perspectives, opinions, and beliefs.  As you mature, you may find that your current beliefs are no longer relevant. 

I found this great quote:  "See the commonality of diversity so that you may see the diversity of commonality."  

Keep your mind and heart open to the diversity around you, and give others the same respect you expect for yourself.

(c)2011-2016 Robyn King. All Rights Reserved.

College Success: Midterms are coming. Everyone who's freaking out, raise your hands.

This is a point in the semester when the number of students seeking my help increases dramatically.  Sadly, I hear all too often,  "I'm so freaked out!"  "I don't know if I'm gonna pass my midterms." "I am so overwhelmed I don't know where to start."

The primary reason people find themselves feeling like this is because they haven't made college a priority and therefore haven't done the amount of work that's required.  Period.  I can't tell you how many students admit that, in the sixth or seventh week of the semester, they haven't yet opened their textbooks.  Seriously. And they wonder why they're freaked out.

But I'm not here to scold or shame anyone.  I'd like to help.  Here are some tips to help you make a plan to study for midterms:


1.  Schedule time to study.
Yes, I said schedule.  Block out chunks of time on your calendar for each course and stick to the plan.

2.  Find a quiet place to study where you will not be interrupted.
Your room (but not on your bed), dining room (if you live alone), the campus Library, the public library, the campus Learning Center.  Be sure to sit at a desk or table with good light, and a sturdy chair to support your back.  Your bed or sofa is too comfy, and you might be tempted to grab a quick nap when you had planned to study.

3.  Gather your materials
Pull together your textbooks, notebooks, and any other relevant materials for each course, including Power Point slides, homework, quizzes, writing assignments.  Have all of the school supplies you'll need for each subject, and a clock to manage your time (one with a timer is even better).

4.  Divide and conquer
Put the materials for each course in separate piles.  Tackle the subject you've scheduled first, and set the timer to one hour.  Study one chapter only during this time.  Breaking it down to smaller tasks will make you feel less overwhelmed, and you'll be more motivated to continue.

5.  Plan how to study
Start with your textbook, and review the questions at the end of each chapter.  If you can correctly answer most of them, you're on the right track; if not, take the time to read the chapter again.  Use your class notes as well, because a lot of information professors offer during a lecture often doesn't come from the book. Since they made the effort to give more material to help you understand, it will likely be on a test. 

A tip I use when studying is to copy my notes over in another notebook.  This gives me the freedom to scribble down what I can in class.  Not only do I end up with neatly organized notes, I remember what I'm writing and it helps me to better understand the topic.  Index cards as a study tool works well, too.

If you need help with taking notes or studying for exams, please visit the nice people in the Learning Center in Elston 523.

6.  Attend review sessions, study groups, professor's office hours

If your professor offers review sessions, GO.  Bring questions you have, and be prepared to add to your notes.  You may also consider getting a study buddy, or start a study group for each class. Sometimes another student can explain things in terms that another student can understand.

7.  Set reasonable goals
Don't plan to study more than an hour at a time; your brain can handle only so much at once.  Which leads me to... 

8.  Give yourself a break!
Plan a break to give your mind and body a rest after each hour of studying. The best breaks include some type of physical exercise: 10-minute fast walk outside, stretching exercises for the muscles that tighten as we concentrate so hard are great, a phone call with your BFF, healthy food break, and whatever else may work for you.  Break for no more than 15-20 minutes, so you can get back to studying feeling refreshed and motivated; more than that will set you up to extend the break to 30 minutes...an hour...two...  You get my point.

9.  Tips for the night before an exam

Stop studying at least an hour before you go to bed.  You've done a lot of work to prepare, so be confident in what you know.  Do something unrelated to studying, like watching a favorite TV show, a hot shower, catch up on Facebook, and so on.  Wind down to prepare yourself to get a good night's rest (as corny as that sounds)...at least 8 hours.  Research has proven that students perform better when they are alert and calm.

10.  Exam Day
Eat breakfast, get to campus early and take time to relax.  Breathing deeply for a few minutes can help calm your jitters and get you focused.  Do not study more; cramming will do nothing but get you whipped up into a tizzy and you'll undo all of the great studying you've done.  Let your mind rest so you're ready to go in there and nail it.



Source:  http://www.nkaleidoscope.com/confetti/2012/01/13/how-to-prepare-for-midterm-exams/
(All images courtesy of Google Images, unless otherwise indicated.)

(c) Copyright 2012-2014 Robyn M.Posson King.  All Rights Reserved.