Archive for the 'College Success' Category

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Grand Finale for High School Grads

High school seniors are about to say goodbye to their high schools and move forward along their journey in life. Each student going their own unique way, brings many seniors excitement. But how sure are these students in the choices they have already made or are about to make for their futures? 

It’s very common for students to go off to college or a career after high school and not really know what they want to do. As a high school freshman, I was a criminal justice major. I wanted to be a criminal attorney. How did I pick that career? It was simple. I liked detective television shows (Law and Order), and I figured I’d make a lot of money being a lawyer, so I thought it was a perfect match.  Come to find out, it was the worst match ever. I hated all of the legal classes, and I was scared to even work in a field that dealt with crime.

Then I became a journalism major because I loved to write. I did work in that field for a few years before becoming a professor and then a business owner, but it was well worth the experience. However, changing majors towards the end of my senior year cost my single mother a lot more money and cost me a lot more time. I ended up taking classes throughout an entire summer to make up for the change.

My story is common. The only twist is that some college students just stick with the distasteful major, and then try to find a job in something else upon graduation.

What can you do avoid this pitfall as a high school graduate? Take these three tips to help you along your way:

1. Network and get to know people in the career field you are choosing. Asking them questions about their careers will give you the inside scoop of what it’s really going to be like in that field.

2. If you are unsure that you’ve chosen the right major, change to undecided and take your required classes in the first two years of school. Mix in a few electives with your schedule and try some classes out.

3. Hire a career coach.  A full assessment of yourself and what fulfills you will be helpful for your career and all the other areas of your life as well.

Published on Monday June 7, 2010 in College Success. 0 Comments

Open Your Mouth: Communication Between Parents and Students

On the last day of class, I have one-on-one conferences with my students. I discuss what each student needs to work on in their next class, whether the student needs to retake the class or is moving on to the next level.

In one of my end of the semester conferences, I asked my student the question I’d been wanting to ask him all year. I acknowledged that he was a great person but never seemed to put any effort into his work. I asked him, “What’s preventing you from giving your all in class?” He said, “I don’t want to be in college. My mother is making me come.”

That comment spoke volumes to me. If someone doesn’t feel they have a choice, they will not put the effort into their work. This student is very smart and could have completed the class with an “A.” Instead, he got an, “F,” and had to retake the class.

We all have our own journey in life. Parents, allow your children to make choices about their future. They really do know what they want to do and will succeed in it if they’re given the choice to pursue it. Students, tell your parents what you want. If you open up the lines of communication, parents will understand your point of view.

Published on Tuesday May 18, 2010 in Choosing a Career and College Success. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

The Responsibility Factor

Often times teachers will say their students need to be more responsible. Many students will say that it’s their teacher’s responsibility to make sure that they pass the class. Who’s really responsible?

You are!

Whether you are a teacher or a student, your own responsibility lies within you.

One of my students came into class today without anything – without the textbook, without a pen or pencil, and without any paper or notebook. I asked him, “Where are your things?” He looked at me curiously and said, “At home….”

Just as my blood pressure began to rise over a student coming to class unprepared, I changed my perspective and my reaction. I said,” Well, just like it’s my responsibility to be prepared to teach you, it’s your responsibility to be prepared to learn. It’s like a pact we made when you signed up for the class. So, I’m going to be standing up here doing what I do, and hopefully you can take action right now to be as prepared as you possibly can with the resources around you.”

He said, “What resources? I didn’t bring anything.”

I said, “There are 19 other students in this classroom right now. What items do they have that you don’t have right now?”

He said, “They have everything I don’t have.”

I said, “Okay, so who might be able to help you get what you need?”

Then the lightbulb turned on in his head. He smiled. He asked the girl next to him for paper and a pen. Then he asked her if she could share her book. He raised his hand to answer every question I asked throughout the class period. And he was very eager to pay attention and participate in the discussion.

With both of us fulfilling our end of our own responsibility, learning happened for both of us. He learned his responsibility, and I learned not to let my blood pressure rise in a situation that seemed incomprehensible at the time.

Published on Monday February 1, 2010 in College Success and On the Job. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Ask For What You Want

I was talking to a mother of a college student a few weeks ago, and she was concerned because she felt like her son was drowning in his extremely rigorous engineering program. With the school year coming up around the corner, she contacted a counselor at the school to see if her son could get some one on one attention at a very large and prestigous school located in the northeast region. She knew her son didn’t have the personality to contact someone himself, so she figured she would do it. To her dismay, there was not much assistance available to her son. However, she finally got the help she was looking for after visiting the school and asking around campus.

As a college professor, I constantly hear students complaining about the lack of assistance they are offered to pick classes, figure out a plan for graduation, or even help them figure out what they want to do with the rest of their lives. Time after time I’ve seen students drop out of school because they don’t know what they want to do and lack guidance on figuring it out.

Don’t give up. Demand attention because you know you deserve it! Ask your instructors for advice. Dive into their lists of contacts and talk to people from different careers you might consider.

Visit the career center at your school. Don’t be afraid to ask for an internship. You might not make a lot of money, but you’ll certainly get your foot in the door. That internship might lead to your future job upon completing college.

Being persistent is the key! You pay a lot of money to go to school, so get the help you need. Colleges have a ton of business connections, but you often have to ask in order to tap into them. And many times you have to ask several times and several people before you get an answer, but it’s definitely worth the information.



Published on Monday August 17, 2009 in Choosing a Career and College Success. 0 Comments Tags: , , .