Rules and Principles of a Good College Education - Essay Example

How to keep myself organized through college Introduction College life provides me with an opportunity to shape the rest of my future life. Therefore, succeeding in college serves as an essential part of my life. Success in college means a better future, while failure may make me live a miserable life. More to these, I believe in making my academic sponsors proud for supporting me academically, thus motivating me to strive to achieve the best in college. Consequently, keeping myself organized can help me achieve my goals. The following discussion concentrates on the lessons I have learnt during the semester, what I need to change, and the various lessons I have learnt about myself. It also highlights how I can be a successful student. Lessons from the semester and things to avoid in the next semester Given that this was my first semester in college, I learnt a number of lessons, both in my academics, and social life. From the academic point of view, I have learnt how to use the library resources to help me in completing my class assignments effectively. I also learnt the importance of attending classes punctually as it allows one to gain a better understanding of the topics being taught by the lecturers. In addition to this, I have to learn about the strict deadlines maintained for submitting class assignments, and the consequences for late or non-submission of assignments. Socially, I realized that some of the students I interact with strive to achieve the best in college, while others seem to be passing time in college. Given these lessons, I realize that I need to adjust myself, if I want to be successful in college. First, I intend to stop missing classes, without a good reason. Missing classes has made me lack an understanding of some of the topics, thus making my revision time quite difficult. In addition, I look forward to completing my assignments within the stipulated deadlines, so as to avoid the heavy penalties resulting from late submission. More to this, I intend to choose my friends wisely. I look forward to spending more time with those who share my academic values, as opposed to those who do not take their education seriously. Personal lessons learnt This semester enabled me to realize my strong and weak points as a student. I realized that I do not ask questions in class, even when I do not understand a concept being taught in class. I tend to keep the questions to myself, and try asking my fellow students for help after the class. However, I look forward to working on this as the lecturer has a better ability to help me understand, compared to fellow students. More to this, I did not utilize my office hours as required. I paid little attention to visiting lecturers, during the designated time, which denied me an opportunity to build relations with my lecturers. On the positive side, I realized that I concentrate in class, and I usually develop cues that help me remember what I learn in class. I also strive to balance my academic and social life as I participate in sporting activities, which help me exercise my body, thus enhancing my academic achievement. Why I should pass my classes Passing my classes will guarantee me a good grade, which I need to transit smoothly to my next level in life. I want to gain employment that can help me become economically stable (Gould, 8). Therefore, passing my exams will provide me with a competitive edge in the employment market. It will allow me to compete fairly with other competitors in the job market, thus increasing my chances of being employed. More to this, I need to make my academic sponsors proud. Passing in college will make them happy that they invested in my education, and help me in appreciating their support. How to be a successful student Planning my time in college matters a lot to my academic success. I intend to plan my time and activities appropriately at the beginning of every week. This shall assist me in allocating the available study time to the different subjects that I take in the semester. In addition to these, I shall avoid procrastinating, to ensure that I follow my plan fully. Consequently, I shall have enough time to study the subjects in question, thus giving me the ability to handle my assignments, and final exams successfully. I also intend to use the library to study, instead of my place of residence. This follows the greater concentration ability provided by the library, compared to the noisy residence that distracts one’s concentration. Additionally, I shall ensure that I allocate enough time to exercising my body, and socializing with my mates, in order to develop well in all aspects of life. I also look forward to participating actively in group discussions as they help in making life easier. The discussions provide me with an opportunity to clarify concepts that I do not understand properly in class, and they assist in completing assignments. Interacting with fellow students in such forums also boosts my academic experience as I get to learn of the different perspectives of handling class work. Consequently, I develop rich academic knowledge, which boosts my success. Joining academic clubs also heightens my ability to learn as I am exposed to more knowledge. People are a great asset for my success. Therefore, I want to move out of my comfort zone, and reach out to my lecturers as they can guide me in many ways. They can, for example, mentor me in my academic life, and give me tips on how I can make it in life. In addition, getting to know them personally can help me get accountability partners, thus ensuring that I attend all my classes as scheduled. Developing good relations with lecturers can also make it easier for me to ask questions in class, given the openness developed outside the classroom. More to these, they can act as my references when I complete college, and start looking for a job. Conclusion Conclusively, being organized in college emanates from an individual’s desire to succeed in their college life. Success requires one to make tough decisions, and maintain discipline on a daily basis. However, making it successfully in college can be easy. Fellow students make the learning easier, while lecturers offer their full support to students. Therefore, one needs to have a plan of how they spend time in college, and ensure they concentrate on activities that develop their academic abilities. Works Cited Gould, Jon. How to Succeed in College (While Really Trying): A Professor’s Inside Advice. London: The University of Chicago Press, (2012). Print. Read More