Student Success

     For me, student success is a combination of several components. The foundation is work ethic. Student success roots from the student’s ability and desire to work hard. At this level, the motivation is not as important as is the basic idea that the student is capable of turning in assignments on time and in a neat manner. If a student values going out with friends on a Tuesday over being prepared for class, or if the student does not even feel the need to attend class in the first place, none of the other components will matter. The work ethic foundation is fundamental.

     The next level is a student’s motivation. There are many motivations that lead people to the classroom these days. For some, it is the future; aspirations that will only be accomplished with a degree. For others, it is the expectation that college is not an option. It is mom and dad reminding you how much they have spent on your education. With the right work ethic, motivation does not determine success, however, the students who are attending college because they have a sense of passion of learning, they are excited about being in the room with professionals in a variety of fields, and they want to be challenged and stretched; those are the students who will ultimately reach student success.

     Student success is understanding the world around us with deeper contemplation. It is not so much about being able to regurgitate facts and get strait-A’s, as it is about learning to respect professors and classmates alike, work hard, even if you do not enjoy the task, and question things. I was recently talking to a woman who designs packaging for almost all of the organic products we see at grocery stores. I asked her about how college prepared her for that line of work, and she said, “If I am being honest, on a day-to-day basis, I only use maybe 1-5% of facts, techniques, stuff like that I learned in college. The other part is learned in the workplace. College prepares you, but not in the way you think. It prepares you for working with others, respecting authority, completing tasks the way you are asked, building relationships and so much more that is absolutely crucial!” That really stuck with me, and I believe it can be incorporated into my definition of student success. It’s about learning, yes, but it is also about growing, understanding and questioning.

     The conditions I need to be successful can really vary. For example, I need professors who are going to set the bar high for me and make me work for my A, but who are also excited to help me out if I begin to fall behind. I need professors who see me as a person and treat me as such. I need classmates who are excited to learn and who will respect that I am in the classroom to grow. I need an environment that shows me that I am valued, even if that just means it is clean. I need time to work on my own and figure things out, but I also need time to work with strangers and learn how to manage that. As you can see, my list of “needs” is seemingly wishy-washy. I guess that is because I am still learning about myself and what I need to be successful.

     As of right now, according to my definition, I am a successful student. Sure, I am on the Dean’s List and I am a member of the President’s Leaders in Service, but that does not highlight my success. My success as a student can be seen when you watch me interact with my roommates. My success can be seen in how I mature over the next few years. My success can be seen in what I value and who I spend my time with. My success can be seen in the hours of studying I do even on nights when I do not have a test. I would say that I am successful, but I still have a long way to go.

     I suppose at this point, the most important thing for student success if recognizing that students are all finding themselves. Now is the time when we begin to see that line between what our parents believe and what we believe. Now is the time when we question what relationships are holding us back. Now is when we are recognizing how small we really are and, yet, how much of an impact we can have. I think student success is something that happens. I am very lucky to attend Regis, because I know that when I graduate, I will be successful.

Life Decisions

     Before college, the biggest decisions I had to make revolved around choosing what to wear, do, and say. Most of the time, my parents had a pretty great influence on the decisions I made, letting me know what I should and should not choose to do. They let me know which friends I was not allowed to hang out with, which jobs I needed to apply for, and how much money I should budget into my savings. Without realizing it, I sacrificed learning my own opinions, because I trusted theirs (whether I wanted to or not).

     Suddenly, I found myself applying for college and being asked by friends and strangers alike, "What do you plan on studying"; a question I did not know how to answer.

     The problem is, I want to study several things. I mean, here I am, a young adult being thrown into an incredible institution where I am surrounded by experts who are excited to teach me what they know. Quite frankly, I cannot understand how anyone can select just one field of study. I take a political science class and I am at awe with the insights my professor shares with me. I think to myself "Hey! Politics would be really neat and it would give me so many opportunities to truly change issues I am passionate about." And then I take a neuroscience course, and suddenly my mind is electrified with learning. It excites me that I am capable of memorizing the parts of the brain and it thrills me to learn as much as I can about how it works. I begin to fall in love with the idea of becoming a brain surgeon and dedicating my life to understanding a part of me that is crucial to my existence while helping others triumph over diseases that have plagued their minds. Next I have a communications course. While I am unsure what type of career I would want with a communications degree, I find myself registering for courses in the field simply because they sound fascinating. As my semester continues, I find that I cannot simply pick one area of focus, because almost every single class I take, I fall in love with. 

     When the time comes to declare a major, I know it will feel half-hearted. While I will likely choose whatever I am most passionate about, it saddens me to know that I will be missing out on so much additional education that is so close I can feel it! I suppose my problem is one that some people, those who cannot find anything they enjoy, would be envious of. I owe this passion for pure learning to all of my years of fantastic teachers and thrilling professors. It will be interesting to see how the next year plays out, but for now, I am happy to learn as much as I can.