With that said, the following are 5 keys you should consider in achieving success in your collegiate career. While I cannot guarantee these ideas will ensure your success, I can guarantee that they will reshape your outlook on your collegiate experience.
Create a Job, Don’t Find One
This aspect is vital and should be at the forefront of your daily assault on life. The biggest misconception today is the following, “going to college ensures you get a great job”. Well, I hate to be the baron of bad news, but that stereotype went out the window decades ago. I can best convey my message by referring to the fallacy of luck. Most people correlate luck with just being in the right place at the right time. While that is true, to some extent, lucky people are merely those who work hard, are prepared, and make the best of the “right” situation when it presents itself. With that said, you are in college, the epicenter for creativity and productivity. Embrace your personal interests, build upon them, and formulate new ideas. Why? Because when you graduate, you are not always guaranteed a great job, so why wait for it to come? Go out and create a company, with a service or product that can not only change the world, but change your world. Start putting to use all those sketches and doodles you had growing up, yes, I am referring to all your ideas. Get to it.
Get Involved
A boring resume is usually a good indicator of what? Bingo, a boring person. There is nothing worse than going into a post-graduation interview with a resume that states only your name, contact information, a list of self proclaimed qualities, and a group of classes you took that you feel matches the position you’re applying for. Whether it is sports, student government, Greek life, community outreach programs, or local non-profit agencies, the key phrase is “get involved”. Being involved in activities other than just your books is crucial, it gives you a label of being diverse, out-going, able to adapt to different environments, the ability to communicate, and a host of other priceless characteristics you don’t even have to list. Why? Because they speak for themselves. More importantly, they give your potential employer something to talk about; it creates a level of trust, comfort, or the good old phrase of “breaking the ice”.
Facebook Relationship Status “Single”
Seriously, when you are in college, your focus should be on one person, you. It sounds selfish but in all reality it is necessary that you identify things that make you happy, want to pursue, and most importantly, want to live for. Now I am not saying to lock yourself in your dorm room in exile of the opposite sex, or same for some. What I am saying is to commit you to YOU. College is the period in your life where you define the person you want to become and start building a foundation for what we like to call, life. Take all that into consideration, along with the stressors of the college education that are at the forefront of your late night study session and it is safe to say that you have little time. I say stay away from relationships because they take up exactly what you do not have, time. Late night arguments, those phone calls with endless awkward silence, and the set of stressors that relationships entail will only slow down your quest for personal excellence. Besides, you have plenty of time after to find miss or mister right, and if you find them right now, more power to you, but let’s face it. How many college relationships really pan out? Rhetorical.
Network
I cannot stress to you more the importance of networking in college. Whether it is building your contact list with your fellow students or professors, who you know is key to success today. Building a network allows for you to communicate your ideas, business plans, resume, and any other ventures you may wish to take up either during or after college. There is no value that can be placed on a well rounded network; it is like the Visa commercials you see every day, priceless. Furthermore, do not just let your contact list build up and build up without ever sending a message. Prioritize your contact list, identify, and distinguish who not only is a “good time” to be around, but more importantly, who will be there to help you when push comes to shove. I’m not talking about a bar fight, I am talking the tussle you will take on with this thing we call “life”.
Get your Balls WET!!!
Get your mind out of the gutter your adolescent perverts. I am referring to the good old game of beer pong. No I am not condoning underage drinking; by all means I am in no way attempting to crucify myself. What I am conveying is to simply, let loose from time to time. In the midst of college and all that it represents, some students forget that the essence of it all is to not only find you, but have a hell of a time doing it. Do not be afraid to put the books down from time to time and just kick off your shoes and relax your feet. Too much focus and effort is a recipe for disaster. You need to understand, but more importantly, be able to balance your work and play. Believe me, it helps. You will feel refreshed and most importantly be continually motivated because you will see these free times as reward for your week of hard work. Cheers.
