Reflect on Your Success

 

As my students left class for Thanksgiving break I asked them to tell me one of the following things: “What is one thing you have learned, accomplished or are proud of this semester.”  It did not have to be academic, just something from their first 13 weeks as a college student.  Here are some of the answers:

• Passing biology
• Getting an 'A' in biology
• How to study
• How to talk to people they did not know
• Meeting people different from themselves
• How much they miss their family
• How much they miss their dogs
• How much they miss their couch/own bed
• How to do laundry
• How to clean a bathroom
• How to be independent

Particularly if you are a freshman, this is a good time to pause and think about everything you learned and have done and to feel good about what you have accomplished.   Happy Thanksgiving!


PS – One student who just broke his foot said he learned to not do stupid things!  I changed that around and said he was learning how to overcome adversity as he navigated around campus on crutches!

 

First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at wordassociation.com, amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.