1.2 Who Are You, Really?

Take a few minutes and write down short answers to the questions in “Activity 1: Your College Plan”. Be honest with yourself, and write down what you really feel. You are not writing for an instructor here, and you are not being graded on your answers!

Could you easily answer the questions in “Activity 1: Your College Plan”? How confident are you about your plan?

These are important questions to think about for the simple reason that students who have a clear plan and who are prepared to overcome possible obstacles that may arise along the way are much more likely to succeed in college. In other words, just thinking in a positive way about your future can help that future come true!

If you’re feeling very positive about college and are committed to do what you need to do to succeed, great! But what if you have doubts? What if you’re not even sure you should be in college and aren’t feeling much motivated at all?

If you truly feel that way, you owe it to yourself to do a little hard thinking about why you’re here. Think about possible results of not feeling very committed to being in college. If you do poorly because you just don’t care much, you’ll likely get poor grades that will follow you into the rest of your education. If you have a student loan, you could end up dropping out but still having the debt, the worst possible situation. Go talk to a college counselor or your instructor to work through your feelings. When you’ve resolved your doubts and feel committed to your education, you’re ready to start the road to success.

Watch the following short video “Community College Success Story ” in which a woman, a first-generation college student in her family, describes how her personal success began in community college.

The word valuesA thing or quality a person believes is desirable. refers to things that matter to a person. What makes you feel good? What would you be doing if you had all the time, money, and opportunities in the world? Questions like these help us define our own values. 

Thinking about your own values can help you know what you want from life and from college. Take a moment and consider the list of things in “Activity 2: Your Values” that are valued by some people. Rate how important each thing is to you.

Look at the values you rated highly (4 or 5) in “Activity 2: Your Values”, which probably show how you enjoy spending your time. Think about how each relates to managing your time (and money) effectively while in college. Most college students feel they don’t have enough time for everything they like to do. Do some of the activities you value contribute to your college experience, or could they distract you from being a good student?

Students who enter college thinking about their own values and motivations will be more successful. We’ll start right away in Chapter 2 “Staying Motivated, Organized, and on Track” by helping you stay motivated and manage your time well. 

If you’ve just begun college, should you already know what career you seek in the future and what courses you should take or what you should majorA subject or field of study chosen by college students representing their principal interest. in? Good question!

Some students know from an early age what they want to do after college, choose their courses with one goal in mind, and then enter their chosen career. Other students have only a vague sense of direction, take a variety of courses, choose a major only when they have to, and then may end up working in an entirely different field.

Some students choose their major simply because they enjoy that subject and are not concerned with a specific kind of job later. The traditional idea of the liberal arts educationA college program that provides general knowledge about the humanities, arts, and natural and social sciences, rather than professional or technical subjects. is that you can go to college not to prepare for a specific career but to become a well-educated person who can then work in any number of careers.

You’ll hear debates about whether it’s better to “follow your dream” or to direct yourself specifically to a future career. Neither is automatically better for everyone. As long as you work to succeed, you will receive the many benefits of college and are likely to end up in a fulfilling career.

What is your own attitude about what you want to study in college choices? Maybe you are clear about what you want in your future and have entered a very specific college program designed specifically for a certain career. Or maybe you need some help discovering your interests for a future career. You can learn a lot about your options and what you would be good at by visiting your college’s advising or counseling department. Almost all colleges have tools to help you discover what careers you would most enjoy.

The Strong Interest Inventory is used by many colleges and universities. You answer a series of simple questions and get back information about your interests, strengths, and personality related to different types of careers. This tool can also suggest specific courses, jobs and internships, and extracurricular activities related to your interests. Ask your college’s career counseling center about what tools they have, such as a personality inventory to help you find the best career for you.

Career One Stop is a free, simple online tool that can teach you a lot about yourself. Follow the steps in the “Outside the Book” section at the end of this chapter to maximize your results.

Although there’s nothing wrong with starting out without an intended major or career path, take care not to accidentally take courses that end up not counting toward your degree. You could end up in college longer than needed or have to pay for additional courses. Be sure to read your college catalog carefully and to talk to your academic advisor.

To succeed in college, you need to take control of your life. This is your first step in your new life and the key to your future. Here are a few thoughts to get you started in the right direction:

One thing each item in this list of ideas has in common is they are all recommendations for things you can do to positively affect your life. They are about creating purposeful motivation and taking positive action in your own attitude, decision making, and personal identity. Not only are these key factors for success in college, but they are an important part of being a happy and productive person.