It’s Easier than You Think!
By Tobias Q. Brown, Contributing Writer
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Tobias Q. Brown is the author of the
upcoming book release “It’s Easier than You Think!”
For the last few years I have been consumed with one question that has driven my success academically at this university: What are the ‘A and B level’ students doing each semester that no one else is? Equipped with this question I also wondered what I could do to get to that level and remain there.
In part 1 of this 6 part series I will show will show you what I have done to excel in every area at Central State and how you can take these same principles and incorporate them in your life and gain constant success also.
The beginning of my research was centered on the study of high achieving academic students. As I hung around them I started to notice a myriad of personalities, styles, and principles they used. I began to make a list, and as I listed different principles that each individual used, I noticed that there were many principles but they all fell into one of 5 categories; Priorities, Goal Setting, Communication, Progress, and Time Management.
Let’s jump right into things. For the time being we will define successful students as students who perform well academically, are active in campus life and extracurricular activities (Team sports, organizations, and clubs) and have a social life that stretches beyond the parameters of the Central State University (You must have life outside college to remain balanced). These three areas are vital to success because they show a balanced person who wants to mature and excel at Central State.
The first principle shared by all high achieving students is prioritization: What is the #1 reason you attend college? Your answer should be something close to wanting to get a degree, and education. With that being said let’s rank your priorities: 1. School; 2. Extra curricular activities; 3. Social Life.
All high achieving students use the list as their priorities and realize school is always first, everything else is second! Problems occur in one’s life when the second priority becomes the first. Whenever the organization or club you participate in becomes more important than attending class you are doomed for a mediocre semester. It doesn’t matter how important or noble the event you are participating in, if it causes you to lose focus on class time or study time you do not need it.
Something to do today that can affect your grades positively: Take a note pad and list all the extracurricular activities you are involved in, rank them in order of importance, keep the top two activities and drop all the rest because once school, extracurricular activities, and a social life are incorporated you’re time and energy are far spent. If you’re having problems getting out of activities and organizations then learn to use the word ‘no.’
In the next article we will discuss goal setting and communication as well as how to put the two together with prioritization and move you to the place you want to be academically.
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