Welcome back – to Get College Smart and to your college campus! I hope that your vacation was both relaxing and invigorating, giving you the energy and motivation you need to hit the ground running this spring.
But before you take off, let me recommend that you take a few moments to reflect on why you are in college. Are you seeking a certain career or income level? Are you hoping to broaden your horizons? Maybe you want to become a more well-rounded person. Or maybe you still buy into the older notion that education develops virtue and want to use your education to be the best “you” you can be.
Reminding yourself of the reasons you are in college can help give you direction and purpose. And direction and purpose comes in really handy when times get tough – think about those all-nighters you pulled last semester or those tough exams you struggled with, and you’ll know what I mean.
Keep in mind: purpose comes from within. In other words, “My parents want me to attend college” is not a viable purpose. You need to determine, for yourself, what you want from your college education. And if your purpose happens to be material, that’s fine and entirely legitimate, particularly in today’s economy. That said, I would encourage you to consider if any other purposes – greater than a title, paycheck, or even yourself – go hand-in-hand with your immediate purpose of position and/or compensation. The greater the purpose, the greater the motivation, and the greater the desire for success.
Once you’ve determined why exactly you are in college, try writing a purpose statement: “I am in college to . . .” Write this purpose statement in a safe place where you can refer to it when you need some extra motivation. Keeping in mind the end goal can make all the difference when it comes to college success.
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