Relationship between Personal Relationship and College Success - Essay Example

Relationship between Personal Relationship and College Success Number Introduction Personal responsibility can be defined as taking responsibility for one’s actions, including accepting the consequences of one’s actions/ self awareness of a person toward the success of one’s life and doing everything towards one’s own progress. It is an attempt to use own effort to be successful in all that he/ she does (Brown, 2009). The main goal of personal responsibility is to demonstrate the innermost beauty in visible ways by responding to the issues of life while exhibiting true love for self and others and also ensuring environmental conservation and gain from the gift of one’s presence in that society. Relationship between personal responsibility and college success There is a relationship between personal responsibility and college success as personal responsibility is directly related to issues concerning one’s life such as family, education, relationships as well as the physical and spiritual wellbeing of the individual. Over time, research continues to show beyond any shred of doubt, as is self evident in the natural realm, that those students who show personal responsibility attain better grades compared to those that lack this trait (Charles, 2014). Personal responsibility enables a student, amongst other things, to make choices that impact their performance and overall results. In colleges and other learning institution, tests or final year/ semester exams are often used in calculating overall grade. Therefore, such a choice as the choice to study, do own work and maintain satisfactory grades that come with the trait of being personally responsible come in handy. A personally responsible student makes a conscious effort to study and prepare adequately and in good time for exams while a student who has not accepted personal responsibility will not study for a test but will resort to hoping and waiting for luck in the exams or cheating consequently leading to very poor grades or even worse, discontinuation or suspension from college as per the school rules and regulations regarding sustained poor grades and exam irregularities (Gordon, 1989). In addition, students who have embraced personal responsibility often demonstrate wise and prompt responses and seize the opportunities that come their way. They do not wait for others to make their luck. On the other hand, personally irresponsible students chose to indulge in excuses to try to come to terms with their misfortune and inadequacies. Excuses/ self-serving explanations or accounts, diminish personal responsibility leading to lowered performance levels. Personal responsibility allows for self-discipline and self-control both in terms of emotions and actions. They eat right and a well balanced diet while avoiding sugary snacks, they get plenty of sleep (around 7-8 hours night rest), exercise regularly (at least three times a week and for at least 20 minutes), take time to relax, take regular shower (at least once every day) and are well organized and smart. These all go a long way in keeping the mind and body constantly refreshed and rejuvenated ready for more learning and study. Personally responsible students are also sensitive and know not to and when they have erred or stepped on others toes and offer prompt apologies before the matters go any further. This minimizes time wastage through case solving and disciplinary panels and punishments involved therein while also endearing the student toward other students and teachers. This harmonious co-existence creates inner peace and allows fro optimum study concentration. A student with personal responsibility is therefore able to grasp concepts better and get further help both from fellow students and teachers than those constantly at war with others. Resilience and resistance to peer influence is another doing of personal responsibility. Personal responsibility dictates consequences of one’s own action at individual level whether done in a group or alone, for instance, drug abuse which normally arises from peer pressure. A student with personal responsibility is unlikely to participate in these influences which negatively affect academic performance through suspensions, expulsions, time wastage and deterioration of health while those without personal responsibility exhibit tendencies of doing what others do without any solid reason and are irresponsible, careless and blame the society, authority and lecturers for their failures (Brown, 2009). Students with personal responsibility do not allow circumstances in their life to affect their progress, self-esteem and self-worth and are responsible for how they think and feel. They confront issues critically rather than breaking down emotionally and resorting to self-pity which negatively impacts mental and physical well-being leading to poor class performances, absenteeism and even suicidal cases. Moreover, the personally responsible student is capable of delaying self gratification (Gordon, 1989). This ability to forego certain pleasures in pursuit of their goals enables one to stick out, endure and persevere through pressures such as drug abuse, sexual relationships, hooliganism, partying, watching television and movies, listening to music and so on which may only serve to diminish their concentration and the much needed peace of mind for study to focus on academic glory. Motivation (the general desire and willingness to do something) is the single most important reason which makes every individual become personally responsible for their college success and is the factor which drives student attitude and desire towards the learning process. Both intrinsic motivations, that is, motivation form the inside like the personal satisfaction of achieving a goal, often exhibited by competence and self-determination and extrinsic motivation, that is, motivation from outside influences like obtaining a job after completion of a degree course drive a person to want to excel in college (Charles, 2014). Plan to Practice Personal Responsibility in Education Some of the ways to practice personal responsibility in college is by ensuring no work or assignments goes to waste by doing own honest work and encouraging others to follow suit and give themselves a chance to gauge and improve their true competence and mastery of content. Other ways include ensuring and developing a suitable atmosphere with fresh air for utmost study and concentration both for self and others, developing a personal timetable to help in time management, study and timely completion and handing in of assignments and reports to avoid friction with teachers and lectures and by practicing time after time review of plans and goals for better performance. Goal setting helps gauge performance and gives students purpose. Conclusion Several factors such as family support, competent teaching staff, availability of tuition funds and so on play some role in a student’s eventual success in college but it is that personal drive, desire and input that propels one to success in the end as it is factual that a person learns more from their own input and genuine desire, ambition and motivation (Brown, 2009). References Brown, A. (2009). Personal Responsibility Why It Matters. London: Continuum. Charles, C. M. (2014). Building Classroom Discipline. (Eleventh Ed.). Boston: Pearson. Gordon, T. (1989). Teaching Children Self-Discipline--At Home and At School. New York: Times Books. Read More