In my last newsletter, I gave you
And although many of those are extremely useful while you’re in school, here’s what you need to know to cultivate student success.
A: Academic Advisor: We are the Yoda of helping you…
- Choose classes you enjoy and teachers who get raving reviews.
- Register for classes.
- Figure out your future.
Students think academic advisors are the Yoda of all school departments. We are not. Coming to advisors for everything is what often makes the advising wait time like, 4 hours to get to talk to us about the stuff we really do. If you have a question, THINK before you call academic advisors for Every. Single. Thing. You will save yourself time by calling the right department.
B: Balance-All work and no play makes people very crabby. Implement balance in your life.
- Take balanced class loads each semester: 2 challenging and 2 easy-er
- Take in balance meals and some sunshine on a walk or run.
- Take time to have some fun!
Of course, all play and no work aren’t balanced either, are the root cause of getting bad grades, getting kicked out of the dorm, and will make your parents very crabby. Trust me, I know.
C: Certifications: Certifications are an official document that proves you have learned knowledge and skills by completing a program and passing required state testing.
- Great alternative for those who don’t want to repeat the academic classes you just got done learning in high school
- Builds competence-the skills in what you’re doing
- Builds confidence-the belief that you are capable
- Can catapult your career!
D: Doing to learn employable skills (like a hands-on trade) that employers want and are happy to pay you for.
E: Earning to live: No reason you can’t manage a part-time job while you go to school because there’s nothing better than making your own moolah! Earning teaches self-reliance and increases self-esteem and self-sufficiency.
F: Financial Aid is the money you receive in the form of scholarships, grants, and student loans.
- You’ll fill out a FAFSA application to see what school money you qualify for
- Scholarships and grants are “free” money-sorta-nothing in life is really free
- Student loans you gotta pay back. And no, it’s not an option
G: Gutsy-Be gutsy enough to go for a trade, major, and career that match your personality, skills, and passions. Be gutsy enough to go for something that’s a good fit for YOU, not for anybody else.
H: Herd-these peeps be your posse. Real friends who
- Are a good influence and want the best for you
- Support you with compassion, non-judgement, and a healthy dose of sarcasm.
- Real enough to tell you when your butts too big
I: Informational Interviews-Talk to people who are in trades, majors, and careers that interest you.
- They will be happy to visit with you
- They will be happy to help you
- Do this early on so you know if that career is a good fit, or not, for you
J: Jack of all trades-Someone who has many general skills in many general things. A jack of all trades kinda person will reason that staying generalized allows them more opportunities to do anything. Anything is the kiss of death!
- Be intentional
- Be specific
- Become the go-to person for that skill
Master something specific. The more specific, the more terrific!
K: Knowledge: This is what you gain through life experiences.
- Knowledge will come from school
- Knowledge will more than likely come from the School of Hard Knocks
- Knowledge will help you make better future choices
No matter where you get your training, the knowledge you gain builds clarity, character, and hopefully, common sense.
L: Learning to do more with your natural abilities and interests gives you a more fulfilling life.
M: Major: This is the focus you pick to get a degree. Consider this:
- Don’t just pick a major because it sounds good
- Don’t go in clueless. Take the time to research what you want to do
- Don’t go in UNDECIDED! Pick a focus that is a good fit for youTalk to professionals in that field.
Talk to Donna Fuller. Make a decision. Go in with a plan. Correct course along the way.
N: Neighborly- Take initiative. Get to know others. Get people to like you. People help, and hire, who they like.
O: Options-Know your future options and find the right option for you!
- Talk to your department instructors, they have real life industry experience
- Talk to your department instructors, they have real people industry connections
- Talk to people who are in careers that interest you
Talk to Donna Fuller. Brainstorm with her. She’ll help you to figure out the right option for you, get you a plan, and teach you how to get there!
P: Preparation: Get ready before you do something. Before farmers plant seeds they prepare the soil. Before job seekers interview for a job, they prepare their tell me about yourself. Before students take a test, they prepare their answers; well, they should anyway.
- Preparation builds competence-the skills in what you’re doing
- Preparation builds confidence-the belief that you are capable
- Preparation builds self-control-the ability to have faith and not freak out when life blindsides you; cuz it will
Q: Qualities-Your superpowers! Strengths, skills, and passions
R: Replenish-Being irritable and unreasonable is a sure sign that you are outta balance. Take time to replenish. Get in some…
- Sunshine on a walk or run
- Golf, yoga, a swim, movie, museum, exhibit, concert, play…
- Nature-lake, park, mountains, beach
When you get ya-self some balance, you’ll be more creative, productive, kinder to yourself, and to others.
S: Service-Living to serve others gives us fulfillment and purpose in life.
T: Trade-Hands-on skills you learn in school or on the job.
- Great alternative for those who don’t want to repeat all the academic classes you just got done learning in high school
- Builds competence-the skills in what you’re doing
- Builds confidence-the belief that you are capable
A trade gives you a solid foundation for a career you can build from. Pick something you like but something is also essential and in high-demand, so you ain’t eating bologna sammiches for the rest of your life.
U: Upskilling-keep upping your skills!
- Keeps you marketable-wanted and needed by employers
- You’ll feel useful and not useless
- Makes you more moolah
If you don’t have any certified employable skills, GET. SOME. QUICK.
V: Veterinary School-If you’re an ag student, you may have thought about being a veterinarian.
- Research the real cost of going to vet school versus the rea’//////l moolah you’ll make
- Look at Bachelor degrees in Veterinary Technology
- Look at employment options with an animal science degree
Talk to Donna Fuller, she stood out in her field! She’ll give you the real scoop so you can make an edumacted decision about your education.
W: Wear-clothes that get you the right kind of attention and makes your gramma, mama and daddy proud.
X: X-factor-Your awesomeness that sets you apart from others.
Y: Yee Haw! What you want teachers and employers to say after they’ve worked with you!
Z: Zip-a-dee-doo-dah! The happiness you feel after doing to learn, learning to do, earning to live, and living to serve.