If primary and secondary education can be considered the starting blocks to life, then completing college or university must be the equivalent of going the distance in the marathon. If you are not fully committed, mentally prepared, academically conditioned or determined to reach your goals, you will not finish.
It’s the dream of most parents to see their children achieve a tertiary level education. Many have made sacrifices, which include finding the hefty tuition, in order to ensure that their children turn out to be the doctor or lawyer that they’ve always wanted in the family. But on that road to success, there are lots of temptations and obstacles waiting for unsuspecting students. How well equipped they are to manoeuvre around these challenges will ultimately determine who survives and who gets left by the wayside.
The first and most important rule for a college/university student is to have a plan. Setting goals with specific time frames is essential. This leads to the next point, which is time management. Time wasted can never be regained, and procrastination is one of the habits that lead to failure at this level.
Whether studying at an institution at home or abroad, it will take some time to adjust to the new environment. It becomes even more challenging when new students live on campus. For many, this new found freedom can be overwhelming. There are no parents around, and the temptation is there to “cut loose”. Therefore, it becomes critical for the freshmen to avoid negative influences and stay focused. Friends should be chosen wisely. Peer pressure is likely to come from all angles, but it is important not to allow oneself to be exploited, controlled, coerced or cajoled into doing anything stupid or regrettable.
If college/university students fail to remain steadfast in their positive convictions, they can become susceptible to bad practices such as drinking excessively, smoking (whether it may be tobacco or marijuana) and drug abuse. Peer pressure also contributes to unsafe, promiscuous sexual practices in adolescents, which puts them at high risk for contracting a sexually transmitted disease. At this stage in their life, students should realise that their safety and well being is their own responsibility. They are no longer directly under the supervision and protection of their parents.
The social scene is a prominent feature of most, if not all tertiary institutions. While there’s nothing wrong with partying, especially to blow off steam after stressful stretches, doing this in a reckless and excessive way has ended many promising careers even before they’ve had a chance to start. Many students can readily attest to missing classes in the morning or even for the whole day due to a night out at one of the many “happening” campus events or hot spots.
The secret to surviving college lies in maintaining balance, focus and commitment to achieving one’s goals. There’s no need to live in the library; there are many other aspects of college life to enjoy, but in the end, it’s important to ensure that the foundation for future success is secured. Lessons learnt here, both inside or outside of the classroom, help to build character. In the face of pressure, it is possible to overcome challenges. It’s up to the student not to allow the pitfalls of college life to derail their dreams and cloud their focus.
Share this post:
If primary and secondary education can be considered the starting blocks to life, then completing college or university must be the equivalent of going the distance in the marathon. If you are not fully committed, mentally prepared, academically conditioned or determined to reach your goals, you will not finish.
It’s the dream of most parents to see their children achieve a tertiary level education. Many have made sacrifices, which include finding the hefty tuition, in order to ensure that their children turn out to be the doctor or lawyer that they’ve always wanted in the family. But on that road to success, there are lots of temptations and obstacles waiting for unsuspecting students. How well equipped they are to manoeuvre around these challenges will ultimately determine who survives and who gets left by the wayside.
The first and most important rule for a college/university student is to have a plan. Setting goals with specific time frames is essential. This leads to the next point, which is time management. Time wasted can never be regained, and procrastination is one of the habits that lead to failure at this level.
Whether studying at an institution at home or abroad, it will take some time to adjust to the new environment. It becomes even more challenging when new students live on campus. For many, this new found freedom can be overwhelming. There are no parents around, and the temptation is there to “cut loose”. Therefore, it becomes critical for the freshmen to avoid negative influences and stay focused. Friends should be chosen wisely. Peer pressure is likely to come from all angles, but it is important not to allow oneself to be exploited, controlled, coerced or cajoled into doing anything stupid or regrettable.
If college/university students fail to remain steadfast in their positive convictions, they can become susceptible to bad practices such as drinking excessively, smoking (whether it may be tobacco or marijuana) and drug abuse. Peer pressure also contributes to unsafe, promiscuous sexual practices in adolescents, which puts them at high risk for contracting a sexually transmitted disease. At this stage in their life, students should realise that their safety and well being is their own responsibility. They are no longer directly under the supervision and protection of their parents.
The social scene is a prominent feature of most, if not all tertiary institutions. While there’s nothing wrong with partying, especially to blow off steam after stressful stretches, doing this in a reckless and excessive way has ended many promising careers even before they’ve had a chance to start. Many students can readily attest to missing classes in the morning or even for the whole day due to a night out at one of the many “happening” campus events or hot spots.
The secret to surviving college lies in maintaining balance, focus and commitment to achieving one’s goals. There’s no need to live in the library; there are many other aspects of college life to enjoy, but in the end, it’s important to ensure that the foundation for future success is secured. Lessons learnt here, both inside or outside of the classroom, help to build character. In the face of pressure, it is possible to overcome challenges. It’s up to the student not to allow the pitfalls of college life to derail their dreams and cloud their focus.
Share this post: