There are many articles out there on how to survive in college. I am hoping to provide a different perspective as I reflect on what I have learned during my undergraduate years. Please feel free share your experiences by commenting below.
Read more after the break>>>
Read more after the break>>>
- Find Your Passion: This is by far the hardest thing to do. People spend many years trying to figure out their "calling" and most never do. Once you find your passion "you will never work again, but you will always be working," -Chris Jordan. The best advice I can give is: Spend time to think introspectively, think long term, be self aware and experience as many things as you possibly can.
- Create a Vision: This could be defined as a plan to pursue your passion. Set a time every week to reflect, think deeply and about your long term goals. Once you have a rough idea of where or what you want to be, plan and act accordingly. "If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there." -Lewis Carroll
3. Never Stop Looking: This ties in with the previous two points. You never know what is out there, so even if you are contempt with where you are in your life, "stay hungry, stay foolish" -Steve Jobs.
4. Get Involved: Most universities have a wide array of groups and activities to benefit from. Do not push this back to your upper class years and get involved in as many things as you can immediately. Ultimately, try to become a leader in one or many of these student groups. This has many positive side effects, but is probably the only way you will get your money's worth.
5. Network: This goes hand in hand with the previous point. I have found that most opportunities don't come just from hard work, but also from personal or professional connections. Who would you hire, somebody you know and trust, or somebody who seems qualified on paper but know nothing about regarding his attitude or personality? Even though it might seem unfair, hiring this way is much more effective and tangibly cheaper for companies.
6. Realize that the World is a Playground: There is nothing you can't do. Sooner or later you will realize that there is no such thing as scary people, deep inside everybody is just a young boy or girl with similar needs and emotions. Everybody wants recognition, everybody is working towards the same goal. Learn how to use this knowledge to your advantage and you will succeed.
7. Surround Yourself With People You Admire: It is a popular belief that you tend to become the average of the people you spend most time with. This is repeatable and I see it everywhere I go. Naturally, the people you spend time with will rub off on you so think twice about who you surround yourself with.
8. Plan Your Days: Uncertainty is directly proportional to stress, planning reduces uncertainty therefore stress will also be reduced. If you plan things out, you will have a rough idea of what is coming your way and your days will be spent getting things done instead of wandering aimlessly.
9. Focus: When getting things done, do not multitask, you will be happier and you will never be as efficient as doing things one at a time.
10. Stop and Think: Given today's fast paced media and behavior, our brains are getting wired to think shallowly and frequently jump from task to task (again, multitasking). If we continue to live like this, our life will go by and one day (hopefully) we will realize we have not explored our existence and have spent all this time simply acting and doing on instinct rather than thinking. Read books often, meditate and take it slowly.
11. Don't Slack Off During High School Summer Break: College classes will most likely hit you hard. If you are lucky enough to be in the summer break between graduation and college freshman year, make sure you read books and stay sharp.
4. Get Involved: Most universities have a wide array of groups and activities to benefit from. Do not push this back to your upper class years and get involved in as many things as you can immediately. Ultimately, try to become a leader in one or many of these student groups. This has many positive side effects, but is probably the only way you will get your money's worth.
5. Network: This goes hand in hand with the previous point. I have found that most opportunities don't come just from hard work, but also from personal or professional connections. Who would you hire, somebody you know and trust, or somebody who seems qualified on paper but know nothing about regarding his attitude or personality? Even though it might seem unfair, hiring this way is much more effective and tangibly cheaper for companies.
6. Realize that the World is a Playground: There is nothing you can't do. Sooner or later you will realize that there is no such thing as scary people, deep inside everybody is just a young boy or girl with similar needs and emotions. Everybody wants recognition, everybody is working towards the same goal. Learn how to use this knowledge to your advantage and you will succeed.
7. Surround Yourself With People You Admire: It is a popular belief that you tend to become the average of the people you spend most time with. This is repeatable and I see it everywhere I go. Naturally, the people you spend time with will rub off on you so think twice about who you surround yourself with.
8. Plan Your Days: Uncertainty is directly proportional to stress, planning reduces uncertainty therefore stress will also be reduced. If you plan things out, you will have a rough idea of what is coming your way and your days will be spent getting things done instead of wandering aimlessly.
9. Focus: When getting things done, do not multitask, you will be happier and you will never be as efficient as doing things one at a time.
10. Stop and Think: Given today's fast paced media and behavior, our brains are getting wired to think shallowly and frequently jump from task to task (again, multitasking). If we continue to live like this, our life will go by and one day (hopefully) we will realize we have not explored our existence and have spent all this time simply acting and doing on instinct rather than thinking. Read books often, meditate and take it slowly.
11. Don't Slack Off During High School Summer Break: College classes will most likely hit you hard. If you are lucky enough to be in the summer break between graduation and college freshman year, make sure you read books and stay sharp.
