3 Keys to Success in College

1. Humility to learn.

The mission of any university is to create and disseminate knowledge. Although students come to the university to learn, there is a barrier that prevent them from learning—the vice of “knowingness.” Students feel pressured to have the right answer to each question. It is an unspoken norm that students should remain silent unless they have either the right answer or an insightful comment. However, this atmosphere discourages students from making mistakes and therefore from creative learning. To counter this unhealthy atmosphere, students and teachers should remember the main mission of the university. If students knew everything, then they will not need to attend the university. Although humility to learn is an individual attitude, it certainly requires collective efforts from peers and teachers: We need to create a space where learning mistakes are not only tolerated but welcomed.

2. Humility to find a vocation.

Many students have serious trepidations about finding jobs after college, so they adopt the attitude of “careerism” and pursue marketable majors that will increase their chances of getting a job in the fiercely competitive job market. This is the vice of “careerism,” by which students base their decisions primarily on economic and capitalistic factors while ignoring to find their passion and explore their creativity. Many students therefore choose majors that will give them an edge in the job market. In other words, they select a major to find a job that will allow them to live, while ignoring the most interesting work of exploring their passion and creativity.

3. Humility to connect.

The university is not only a place of learning but a place of socialization. How to make friends and influence people is both a science and an art—and very few people can adeptly connect with people from various ethnic, linguistic, and racial backgrounds. Learning is not only a cognitive process but also a social experience. If we cannot connect with our peers and teachers, such disconnection will hinder our learning. But connecting with people is a “mutual transaction”—two people cannot connect unless both have a shared atmosphere and understanding. Therefore, forming genuine connections becomes a challenging social interaction.

Read the complete article at Psychology Today!

Reflection:

To those starting college after the holidays, how is the semester going?

#CollegeLife #Success #Goals

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