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Academic success and goals
Academic goals in life
Personal academic goals
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Several years of one’s life are dedicated to pursuing academic degrees. These years are full of important decisions with the potential of having significant repercussions in the future. At first sight, the decision-making process might be overwhelming and challenging. However, facing and accepting challenges can be quite enriching. During my undergraduate studies, I have always conceived challenges as opportunities to grow and learn. Having this mindset allowed me to overcome difficulties and to look toward the future with optimism. In my second year as an undergraduate, I received an invitation to be a member of the Honor’s Program of the University of Puerto Rico. Accepting this invitation implied maintaining an excellent grade point average and extending my undergraduate studies by one year and a half in order to satisfy a broad list of requirements. Even after learning all the responsibilities that I would have to assume, I decided to accept the invitation. Some of the requirements of the program were: taking multiple special seminars, courses on research methodology, two semesters of a third language, and most importantly, developing my undergraduate thesis research project. …show more content…
The process consisted in the formulation of a research topic, the development of a work plan, the compilation and analysis of data, the presentation of results, and the defense of the final thesis paper before an academic committee. Since the first day, this opportunity represented to me a great challenge, but I found it truly valuable and accepted it. Conducting this research project was an overall constructive experience. Nevertheless, the most valuable aspect was the sense of self-confidence that I acquired from it. From this moment on, I felt more prepared and enthusiastic for the forthcoming decisions that I would need to
Determination Generates Success Many people believe that students that encounter hard lives will commit academic sins. However, many professionals that successfully graduated college while having struggles in their lives, proved otherwise. In fact, Culpepper mentioned in his composition, “The Myth of Inferiority”, students might succeed in any academic institution, even if they experience hard lives (330). Also, he states that students with light loaded routines have the same chances to fail in college (330).
Coming to college as an adult, we have many expectations and preconceptions of what college will or will not be. The expectations we have can influence our college life for the better or the worse. My experience since starting college has been an interesting one. People have misconceptions about college because they do not know what to expect. After doing some research, I have concluded that there are three major factors that are often misunderstood about college life. The first is the financial aspect of college. Second, is the relationship between the professors and students. Third is time management. These three factors play an important role in why people are afraid to go down the path to college.
This statement goes to Zinsser's belief that college is a time for students to try new things, and learn things about themselves that would give them an idea of what they want for their future. The students who pre-select their goals end up living satisfactory, but unfulfilled lives. It is this fear that made William Zinsser write this article in hopes that readers will learn that true success sometimes results from taking chances, and giving up control.
“More than a wish or a hope, an expectation is something a student believes will happen, anticipates doing or experiencing. Expectations are grounded in a student's self-understanding and in knowledge about the college or university at which he or she plans to spend the next four years or more.” This superior justification of what a college student foresees by Robert Gonyea, really depicts what a scholar looks forward to in his or her college years. When expectations are applied to the student it is treated as a plan or a goal. However, when intended for the institution, it is looked upon as an obligation. There are so many ideas one thinks of when starting a new chapter in life. Some occasional deliberations include parties, freedom, higher workload, dating, and leaving the comfort zone of high school. In reality, many of these things don’t change, while others alter significantly.
These challenges for older students who are used to being the decision makers, rising children, have succeeded at their jobs confronting these changes can cause great stress. Confronting challenges is much different when someone else in in control. The reward in the end is to reach your goals, and make your dreams come true, whether you are looking to advance your career, make a career move to a new adventure, further your knowledge, or simply to stay young at heart. Returning to college as an older student is challenging.
Attending college is one of the greatest accomplishments of my life! After earning a high school diploma, I promised my mother I would earn a college degree. My mother would repeatedly say “earning a degree, working hard, and raising a family” were the pillars of life. Instead of following the “pillars of life” I decided to shake things up a little. She was astonished when I joined the United States Army. Now that I have retired from the United States Army after twenty years, it’s time to finally fulfill that promise. Obtaining a college degree will make a better life for me and my family. A better life sounds like a term that is used loosely in a crowded room full of broke people. A better life to one person can mean something totally different
The lessons I’ve learned in UNI 220, have been paramount in my growth as a student. The class allowed for me to see that I wasn’t the only one dealing with these egregious feelings of self doubt. Consequently, being able to have open discussion in our class removed most of the angst and weight off my shoulders my proverbial shoulders. Before the semester began my outlook for my academic future was stark, I wasn’t sure how I was going to overcome the obstacles at hand. There is a great quote by John J. Beckley that states “Most people don’t plan to fail; they fail to plan.” I was a person without a game plan, and in desperate need of assistance. Luckily for me, the material we covered in UNI 220 provided valuable information that aided my mental
Only three short weeks ago, I was presented with the opportunity to attend school at the University of Phoenix in order to complete my degree. While I was certain that continuing school was one of my goals, I was not sure if now was the best time. Despite my wavering feelings, I made the choice to proceed. Still, while making the decision to begin attending college, I never really considered my lifetime goals as they pertained to education. While I was set on the most obvious goal of finishing college and graduating with a degree, it still felt unsettling to begin college in general.
Graduation is two weeks away, which for most of us does not seem possible. As we look back at these past four long but fulfilling years, there are some things that we shall never forget. It’s hard to believe that at one point we were little freshmen entering into these doors, with no idea what was in store for us. Four years have passed since that first day, and we have made decisions that will frame our futures. After years of studying, filling out applications, scholarships, and taking tests, we are now thrown into the real world, where there are seldom retakes, second chances are only a memory of yesteryear, and honor codes are the way of life.
One of the most important decisions an undergraduate will make will be deciding what they will major in. This academic and life choice will ultimately decide how an individual will view their college experience and help guide them with their future career choices. Choosing the wrong major can be too stressful and overwhelming for a student with more course work than expected. On the other side of the spectrum, the wrong choice in a major will not challenge the individual to bring out their full potential. “Ideally, a major will leave a student academically successful, as well as fulfill academic, personal, and vocational goals “(“The Pennsylvania State University Division of Undergraduate Studies,” n.d.). For most college students choosing a major is a difficult decision, especially when they are not mentally and rationally matured. When choosing a major it is implied that most people are logical and rational, and that they weigh the pros and
The process of completeing my research task taught me many valuable lessons. In compiling the literature review I learnt how to filter information, as well as how to use citations. The method and results section showed me how to transfer information from labels into suitable graphs and tables, in order to make comparisons and analysises. I learnt how to critically examine graphs and tables, and draw accurate and educated conclusions when completing the discussion section. Through this project, I also realised the importance of reflecting back on any limitations encountered inorder to learn from your mistakes, and find improvements for further research. In addition, I learnt how to reference sources correctly.
There is a lot of pressure put on high school students to go to college. Junior and Senior year of high school all students hear is ‘where are you going to college’ and ‘what are you going to do with your life’. Such questions can be overwhelming and cause a lot of stress for students. It’s been put into everyone’s minds that in order to be successful you absolutely have to go to college and get a degree. Not every successful person went to college. The idea of college can put a lot of stress onto a person when they think it is the only way to be successful, but it is possible to be successful without a degree thus students should not be pressured into going to college as soon as they graduate high school.
Society tells us that after high school we must go to college and get a degree if we want to obtain success. For me going to college was the goal ever since I was a small child. Everyone in my family has gotten some form of post-secondary education. With a family like that ever Since the early ages of childhood as far I can remember my parents and family member were just always big on telling me I have to go to college to keep to better myself. After I graduated from high school the question in my house was not if I was going to go to college but instead where am I going to go to college. There was no question about if I was going to go to college or not. My parents made it clear that when august came around that year after I graduated from
In August of 2009 I started my first year of what I would call the rest of my life. I say this not because my experience before that time was meaningless, but because it wasn’t until college when I started learning who I was and my potential for success. During my four year tenure, there are many fond memories as there are challenging moments that have made me the person I am today. Although I strive to continually learn new information each day, I can say the time I spent at Missouri State University was well worth the time, energy, and financial loss. To share my story, I will provide an account for each year, including a theoretical analysis of the psychological, cognitive, social, and vocational influences.
My research interests stem from the fact that engineering mechanisms and concepts have always fascinated me and urged me to explore the mechanical world. Every part of this technology rich world is made up of elements which come under the roof of mechanical engineering. My intent has been clear right from my first year of under graduation and it was to do research and specialise in the field of automotive engineering. My first leap towards this goal was my preference to do mechanical engineering in one of India’s top rated private universities. It awes me when I see engineers with grease all over the body, though for many it may seem weird. The reason behind opting for mechanical engineering during my under graduation is that it is the base for various other engineering like Aeronautical, manufacturing, Automotive, etc. and it will help me widen my horizon. So after my under graduation I would like to pursue my masters in Mechanical Engineering at your esteemed institution which is well known for its mechanical engineering program.