Thank You Fearless Followers!

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Not Your Ordinary College Survival Tips

This is a list of college survival tips I wish my professors would have provided me while I was in college. They did not and therefore, I suffered greatly. I hope my raw truthfulness serves to alleviate some of the unnecessary suffering associated with attending college. You do not have to suffer because those who went before you suffered.

  1. Eat. Hunger deters focus, so if you have no focus you are then simply not even there. Avoid heavy meals. Instead eat an apple, banana or granola bar as you walk to class. Eating while walking is better than not eating at all.
  2. Stay awake in class. Never yawn in front of your professor, never close your eyes and never and I mean never fall asleep. You can find caffeine anywhere, so look for it.
  3. Show interest and enthusiasm.If you have no interest in the course, but you are required to enroll, then tell yourself everyday, "I love this course. I love this course. I love this course" until you make yourself believe it.
  4. Participate in discussions. This does not mean take over the class or ask irrelevant questions, but your voice must be heard so all who are there know that you exist.
  5. Arrive with books and materials. If you are short on money, try a garage sale, thrift store, or clearance area in a major department store. Buy used books from friends, or even better plan ahead and do book exchanges where everyone wins. Your local library is a great resource. Check out books, video tapes and even laptops for FREE. The Internet also provides electronic books and many other resources for free or at a very low cost.
  6. Show respect for everyone in the classroom. Respect your professor, your classmates and just as importantly yourself. The person sitting next to you "is watching" you, what you say and what you do. You never know who you are going to need in the future, so work hard at making and keeping friends in class.
  7. Never do the minimum. Instead you should always do more. Expect more from yourself and deliver more of yourself. Demonstrate your greatness in every assignment and every test. Raise the bar for yourself, so you outshine those around you. As you rise, you extend your hand and take the others up with you.
  8. Avoid complaining and whining about every assignment and task. A positive attitude will help you rise while a negative attitude will ultimately bring you down. No one, and I do mean no one, enjoys sitting, teaching, working or talking to someone who is always negative and discouraging.
  9. Create a support group. Include students from various courses, close friends and even professors. Exchange email , cell phone and fax numbers. Set up group study times on and off campus. You do not have to suffer alone. You do not have to "figure it all out yourself." You can ask questions and help each other, just like the real world. Some call this networking; I call it community.
  10. Do not join a club to become popular, brag and just attend parties. Join organizations that provide you a platform for growth and experience. Become a part of something you enjoy and find productive. When applying for scholarships, these clubs will play a vital role in your success.
  11. Quit your job. Instead of working, excel academically so you can benefit from scholarships and internships that provide you with the resources you need to attain your goals.
  12. Surround yourself with winners. Avoid people who are negative, discouraging and seeking something other than success in their lives. Find those who will reach down to raise you up with them and who will walk with you on your journey.
  13. Never say "I can't." Trust yourself, your abilities and your dreams. Remove doubt and insecurities from your mind and from your heart. Never allow yourself to dwell in your past mistakes and always look to the future with hope. Believe that all is possible; repeat it to yourself everyday even in your darkest hours.
  14. Have fun. Learning involves gathering information, participating with other people and exploring possibilities and opportunities. Enjoy the moment; enjoy the heartaches too, for all your experiences are just that...experiences you add to your repertoire. Learning does not have to be arduous and painful if you chose to see knowledge as a gift.
  15. Never be afraid to seek your professor. Some professors will know your name, and some will even like you if you have followed my previously mentioned tips. These private meetings may end up more productive and pleasant than you think.

40 comments:

  1. I'm absolutely astounded! These are the same tips I would have given to someone in my college classes. Wisdom is not outdated.

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  2. I'll have to share this with my teens! They will need this advice. Thanks!!

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  3. What a great post!
    I forwarded to my daughter who is attending college in Missouri.
    These are not only great tips for college students, but some can (and should) be applied to 'adult' life as well!
    Thanks for sharing!

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  4. It's Fantastic motivation Mar It's true never say I can't....as long as you have desire you can make it

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  5. Namaste' oh fearless wonder! this is an excellent post and one all students should print out and paste in various places, the fridge, their books, the mirror hahahaha. I know I have a few teenage students that come out here and I will be printing out some honorary copies courtesy of you, and gifting them.

    metta;
    sky
    http://awolfadventure.blogspot.com

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  6. This is a great post! I rememebr when I was a struggling freshman in college. Brings back memories...

    Care to exchange links? Please add me up: http://4ever7.blogspot.com.

    Thanks!

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  7. 100 pct true. every one don't get the chance to eat healthly because, they are always on the go.
    I for on will try and follow some of the suggestion that is posted and i let you know how it turns out.



    Troy

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  8. very positive post I am going to take those tips to apply in my life. Ana

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  9. This guide is designed to help me to make progress as student,It is also giving some practical information I have to pick on my own.It is amazing
    I'm going to share it with my friends.So, we need it for life.

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  10. This guide is designed to help me to make progress as student, It is also giving some practical information I have to pick on my own. So, It is amazing, and I'm going to share It with my friends.We need it for life.

    From: Evodie

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  11. This is a very helpful post and good survival tips for college..

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  12. this is very helpful and if I practice those tips I will have success in life. Marie

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  13. Thank your for all this usefull tips they are a great help

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  14. thank you for giving those spectacular tips. iam going to put them in practice and i know those tips will be very effectives.
    luisa

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  15. This is the information that alot of students should take as a consideration. Because college is very hard for all of us. Even if you get A's and B's you still have to work hard to get those grades.I stronly believe that we all as students need some type of help in life and asking for help is the best way we could have a less streessful life.
    Lisette Mayorga=)

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  16. The messages are very nice . I'm going to practice them and also tell my friends about them. So they could apply them. This are things that we all need to do.
    Marie

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  17. I am gracefully for the opportunity to be in your class as a student, because I can see that you are a teacher who is interested in your student’s success. This article is amazing, and helpful to all students whom are taking classes not only in college, but also in high school.

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  18. Wow this post is great!! I wish someone would give me these tips for school. good job on these tips. I'll be sure to give these tips to my family.

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  19. I do agree with The Fearless Blog on the tips that I could use to get through college. I am a college student who attending Miami Dade. One tip that stand out the most in the blog is quiting your job. I know that some people could not quit there job because they have bills to pay.I need to follow the tips on this blog to be great student.

    From Reginal

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  20. You are absoultly right this tips are not ordinary at all. Most teachers that i have had tell alot of horrifying stories that make college seem so scary, but its really not that bad if someone knows what to do. I really like these tips and hope i can use them to myh advantage =]

    [[Edith]]

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  21. these tips are great!!! I will definetily use them not only in college, but for my diary in life too. Thanks you Eglis

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  22. I think they are great tips, thanks to this tips I know what a great Professor expects from their students.

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  23. This guide is so helpful for many students. I really do recommend this to anyone that is in college..

    Miriam

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  24. I found these tips very instructive. Since high school I had heard from a professor some of these tips. I think that through life one can always find the right way to do things right, and at the end of the road all the advises end up looking the same.
    Geisa Gonzalez

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  25. This is 100% correct. This is the one of the first blog i was interested in because it is so true and straight to the point and it also break down the different aspects of being a college student and how to be the best if you follow the tips sucessfully.
    GERALD ETIENNE

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  26. Professor cueto I enjoyed reading your post and I will apply this advice to my daily life.

    Thanks,
    Sharon Petit

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  27. this is a very helpful post,and i believe that if i practice them i will succeed in life,and i also use them for my son everyday before he goes to school. keep up the good work.(Derival.

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  28. thank you for sharing your tips not every teacher would even think about doing that for students. all of the tips are really encouraging and helpful.....thanx again God bless!!

    Rose C

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  29. Thank you soooo much for this post it have been really helpful to me I even printed it out and put the paper in my folder great job FEARLESS BLOG!!!!!!!!

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  30. giggles.. lol some were kinda things we know we should do but we don't lol thanks for the advice

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  31. I really like this positive post, it is very helful.Thanks



    KINS

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  32. I Think this tips are great. But the one that i like the most is the one that says noy to be a fraid of the professor. I think many students are afraid of having communication with their Professor for me that is a great challenge. But yes all of the tips are very helpfull.

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  33. I have read the tex and I completely satisfy, and I admire the writing style.

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  34. Roody said that i found these tips very instructive,and i beieive that if i practice them i will succed in life.thank you for shairing your tips with ys not every professor would even think about doing that

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  35. i wish can quit my job and just do school work.

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  36. Yes, I can understand that these steps to assist us in college is very helpful. Now I can really get in mind to eating right, staying awake in class, studying more, taking frequently notesand so on.
    Thank you for the help.

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  37. I think that i should be using this schedule in my daily life because it is important to stay afloat and to be all that i can be.

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  38. I appreciate your list! I will try to do my best and try to accomplish some of your suggestions.


    Danielle

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  39. This guide is so helpful for many students. I really do recommend this to anyone that is in college..

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  40. these are good college tips since this is my first semester thank you for the tips

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