The Observer, February 1, 2008
Volume XL, Issue 15
Worst Case Scenario: How to succeed in college without
Success is one of the things our society values most, but it can also be one of the hardest things to achieve, especially in college. How do you survive college without running yourself into the ground, or running away and joining the circus because you just can't take another minute of the rules, the lectures, the note-taking, the reading, the studying, and most of all the panicking at the last minute because you neglected any number of these things during the course of the semester?
Hopefully, some great advice will be disseminated from the recesses of my mind (just so long as my mind isn't at recess itself), but at any rate, what you're about to experience is a grand social experiment worthy of Darwin, or at least the Three Stooges.
Here goes: When you first enter college, three key points you ought to remember are: first, stay in bed when you don't feel like going to class; second, be punctual to any classes you do attend; third, take care to feed your hamster so it doesn't feed on you. Actually (although hamster health is hardly happenstance), the real truth is that college will go by faster and more smoothly if you just relax and do your best.
"Your best?" you ask. "What kind of feeble-minded hogwash is that?" A valid question, indeed. How is one supposed to do that all the time when surrounded by hard-working people who make you look bad for being lazy?
The way to do your proverbial best, at least one I've found, is to start small and plan your goals in manageable steps. Don't wait until the last minute to read the entire book – read a little bit every day. Set aside time for each of your assignments. Remember that you aren't perfect. Balance out your school, extracurricular activities, social life, exercise, spiritual needs, and work. Wow. That's a lot, but it's still manageable with the proper attitude. Rome wasn't built in a day, and your success won't be either. Divide your time each day among many tasks – mixing business and pleasure – and you're sure to be much happier.
Contrary to popular opinion, success is a journey and not just a destination. Success is most readily appreciated when you enjoy this journey. Remember, good people are made, not born. Make yourself a better person this semester as you follow select parts of this advice.
