I was told over and over again by my friends and family after graduating high school, “these are going to be the best years of your life.” I figured they were completely right because college is a place where you find your true identity and realize what your able to do. First key of success is giving yourself a challenge.
I was headed to college with my mind already set and no doubts about it being changed. My first semester of college I was placed in general classes taking basic classes except for one class, my science class. That science class I choose myself to be placed into. I figured since I was already mentally decided that I wanted to go to college for nursing, I might as well start some science classes the first semester of my college year. The science class I was taking was a higher science class than what I normally was use to in high school. The first day I walked into that class, I knew this wasn’t for me. When class was over, I kept thinking to myself, “I can’t do this, I am not that smart.” I knew it was going to be a challenge for me and it was. I challenged myself to get an A, when I only thought my best was a C. I was very honest with myself with my limits and in the end, I passed with an A. After accomplishing that class, I came to realize that anything you truly set your mind to accomplish, CAN be accomplished with no doubts.
Coming to college with your mind already set could be changed easily. Being already decided in college can have a downfall because sometimes not all the classes you have to take for your field are easy, but giving up makes you weak. You still might have your mind set to something already and aren’t doubting yourself about it. Taking classes you wouldn’t take and exploring your surroundings and new things is a way to college success. It’s all about the challenge you face. First key of success is giving yourself a challenge. Interviewing my cousin that has already been in college for 6 years, Almedina Ficer, she said, “Students usually fail out of college or fail the class because they don’t challenge themselves enough to pass. They give up to easily. If they fail once on something, they think they aren’t going to pass again if trying again.” Interviewing my cousin, I’ve come to realize that giving yourself a challenge is just a test for your knowledge. For example, you have to know what your weak at to give that weakness a challenge in order to get better.
Giving yourself a challenge and succeeding proves to you that you can do it and builds your confidence on doing it again next time. You’ve come to college to be educated and complete your goals. Going above and beyond and taking extra classes to find where you truly are meant to be in life and what’s not for you is smart way to find your weakness. For example, if you constantly keep failing a science class because science just isn’t for you, don’t give up. Make that science class your challenge and accomplish it. You will feel better accomplishing something more than failing it and making yourself feel like a failure.
Many people establish their identity in college. Finding your identity in college means a adjusting everything new. It’s a new beginning; new faces, new environment, and new surroundings. As you adjust, give yourself a challenge in things throughout college because college changes your whole entire identity about your beliefs. You will see a whole new world when entering college. New friends, professors, roommates, etc, is all a part of finding your identification. I personally see my identification in college as figuring out who I am and what I want to build my life on for my bright future.
My parents bickering to me about college, exploring and how important it is to find what field you belong in, is all part of your life when you enter college whether you love it or not. Just taking that extra class in college and giving yourself that challenge it will make it that much easier about your decisions. I, myself, came to college with my mind set about nursing school. Lately, I’ve been second guessing it because of all the science classes that I need to take. It’s all about give it all a chance, exploring, and challenging yourself. That’s what college is about. The keys of success are challenging yourself and exploring.
