Higher Education Success for Adults
One morning I stepped out of my car while thoughts were heavy on my shoulders, burdened with a life of anxiety and pain. My head ached and my back cried out in pain through the clinching of my fist. "School is my door out of this. My family deserves better. This job is going nowhere. I need more time!" Echoing through my mind as a vision of my situation lasting my entire lifetime played out mentally. Perhaps you will or have gone through some of these things mentioned. It is normal during your adult life while working or pursuing a higher education credentials to feel these emotions and thoughts. In order to achieve success you must combat them with the application of a modus operand of orderly professional approach. Delicate balance of work, school, and family is achieved through planning, organization and knowing your limits.
.
A daily planner can be a vital key to success. "Buy a calendar and make sure you write down when and where your classes meet, when assignments are due, and when tests will take place. Give yourself ample time to study rather than waiting until the last minute" (CB). It is best to schedule a week in advance in your planner at all times. This is psychologically advantageous when you are exhausted, stressed out, or very busy. Make a point to always plan for the unforeseen. This will give you extra time to achieve goals that have been set prior. A too rigid schedule can be unrealistic. A balance of life is critical for long term success. If you don't set aside time to smell the roses, internally you can development resentment toward your very reasons for seeking success. Proper nutrition, exercise, and rest should be written into your daily activities. By taking care of your body, your body will take care of you. Keep to what you write down and a domino effect of time shifting will be less likely to take you off track. Think like a king "So let it written so let it be done." Here are two comparable examples of this taken from my own personal experience. The first took place back when my car was broken into and my brief case and my planner inside my briefcase were stolen. The next morning I awoke expecting to have it readily available and it wasn't. Searching for it made me late for work. Later, I struggled to remember what bills I needed to pay. So I took time to look into each matter. These extra activities in my critically balanced life, took a chunk out of school time. To reinforce my words allow me to quote Professor Randal S. Hansen PhD and his five strategies of wisely using time:
"Tackle harder work first. Yes, tackle the harder stuff first so that you
are sure to have enough time to complete it. You'll feel a greater sense
of accomplishment completing the work in this order. Take breaks as
a reward for work. Reward yourself for completing a major task by
taking a break and chatting with a friend or watching some television.
Not only are the breaks good motivation to help you complete something,
you'll also be more refreshed to tackle the next bit of work after a break.
Break larger projects into smaller, easy-to-accomplish pieces. If you have
a massive term paper due at the end of the semester, break up the work
into smaller, easy-to-accomplish chunks and assign deadlines to each part.
Do not overextend yourself: learn to say no. Besides all your academic work,
you will also be asked to get involved in all sorts of clubs and organizations while in collegeand at some point, you will have to learn to say no to some request of your time. Work hard to play hardand that's a good balance. Just make sure you do the work FIRST." (RHAN)
Nobody knows how to study better than a professor, so if you follow these suggestions it will keep your stress level down, which makes it easier to study, and gives you more time throughout the week.
Knowing your limits is part of the choice of success. Once you have decided mentally to achieve you then must set limits. Too much studying, partying, or even athletic activities can hinder your performance in school. Be realistic in your daily expectations. Be positive with your outlook on life. If things don't go the way you planned, use it as a learning experience for the next time. Study between things in your spare time. This is better than crunching in a huge study session and can help you achieve goals with time to take a breather. I routinely study on my breaks, in the water closet, or during my commute. My typical morning consist of a two hour commute. Recording myself, reading my notes then listening to them during the mentioned times. This has proven to be an effective way to study for me. Another example of studying in between things is by flash cards. Keeping them in the bathroom is an efficient way to study your vocabulary words. Flash cards in your car or at your desk can also be effective. Also as recommended by writer Jay Mathews "Don't read for pleasure"(JM) too much Sporting news instead of Physics could very well affect your grade. However, do not get fired or into a car accident because your flash cards. Lynn Jacobs and Jeremy Hyman suggest the following in their U.S. News article 15 Secrets of getting Good Grades in College:
"Study like you mean it. At college, you're expected to prepare an
hour or two (sometimes more) for each class meeting. This means
budgeting the time each week and finding an appropriate "study
environment." No devices, no social networking, no friends, no
eating-just your mind up against the work. We know this can be
painful-but all students who get A's do this (no matter what they
tell you)." (JAHY)
In order to succeed planning, organization, and knowing your cans and can not's is essential to your Higher Education success. Accredited Colleges provide the tools for success in their programs, by introducing study habits, styles, and ways to manage their vigorous yet rewarding programs. Moving forward into your program remember the Five P's "Proper, planning, prevent, poor, performance." It will not be easy and though your time is limited all the more reason to follow this protocol I have mentioned to get the most out of it and your life. Challenge yourself to get "A's" as recommended by Lynn Jacobs and Jeremy Hyman:
"Make sure you get at least one "A" each semester. Getting even a single
"A" will change how you think about yourself-and your prospects for future
semesters. If you're at all close, in even one course, work really hard to do it.
It'll change things forever" (JAHY)
In closing, college is like any other professional environment in which you are asked to perform and produce. You must plan, balance, and focus your habits around passed proven protocols of success. A college degree is a program of fundamentals along with occupational training and should be treated as a part of your career because that's what it is. Your professors will support you in you quest for self improvement so don't be afraid. I have found at Thomas Edison State College a kindness and encouragement I am not accustomed to and I find it refreshing. You can succeed too" Success and change are scary for everybody." (GF).
Citing
"College Survival Tips." collegeboard.com.Web. 28 Jul. 2010
Hansen, Randall S., "10 Tips for Getting Good (or better) Grades." Quintcareers.com. Web . 28 Jul. 2010.
Jacobs, Lynn F., Hyman, Jeremy S., "15 secrets of Getting Good grades in College" usnews.com.19 Aug. 2009 .Web. 28 Jul. 2010
Mathews, Jay, "Five weird ways to College Success." washingtonpost.com. 13 Jun. 2010. Web . 28 Jul. 2010.
Flemming, Grace, "Fear of Success." homeworktipse.about.com. Web. 28 Jul. 2010.
Higher Education Success for Adults
By: Nicholas
Role of private institutions in the promotion of education Scholarships for online college - Get Your Education Paid For The Key to the Future: Educate Mothers No Need to Pay Back the Money of School Grants A Deeper Look At Distance Education Halloween School Activities Scholarships For Moms Going to College - Fre Money For Your College Education Build for Your Future: Education Grants for Mothers Student Finance: Carry on Your Education in Hassle-Free Way Loans for International Students in UK - Foreign Education Achievable ADHD and Children – Strengths, Weaknesses, and School Best Hints in Teaching Creativity to The Children LIMITATION ON EDUCATION