Theories for a Student to Be Successful in College

Danielle Madison

Denise Hall

EPE 174

April 27, 2014

Final Theory of Success

        Throughout the semester in EPE 174 we have read and talked about many different theories that people have came up regarding what it takes to be a successful college student. We are all unique people that come from many different backgrounds and a lot of us have had more experiences than others. A lot of us share many common interest but we all have different stories to tell and nobody is the same as someone else. I know from my experiences here at UK is different than someone else’s and when thinking about what it takes to be successful student one must consider these factors.  Everyone’s college experiences are made up of multiple things such as, playing a sport, Greek life, working, and club activities. 

        Although we all have a different story to tell, we all have one common part of it, and that’s why we are here. As said in the article by Delucchi and Korgen. “HERI reported in 1997 that 75% of its respondents said they went to college in order to make more money..”(D&K 100).  Recently it has been said that students are more worried about the career after college than they are with the social experience that they get from going to college. In my opinion I only partially agree with this statement because of my personal experience. When I was in high school I knew that if I wanted to make a bunch of money some day and be able to support a family that I would have to come to college. The support from my family and friends made coming to college more of a priority than a choice. I’m glad I came though, I didn’t want to become a failure. I didn’t really consider coming to college to learn the material, that wasn’t my main focus grades are very important but I was looking for the fun aspect of it all as well. I wanted to be prepared for the real world, I wanted my research and studies to be involved with what I was going to be doing later on in life.  From many of our class discussions I have learned that a lot of people consider the core requirements to be a waste of time. As far as the social aspect of it all, I wanted the college experience that we all see in movies, the smart student who has a bunch of friends and absolutely loves college and never wants to leave. I thought that college would be the place that I would meet friends that would eventually someday be in my wedding. People have always told me that college is the best thing that will ever happen to you. I’m waiting for the day that I can agree with this statement. As I look back on my first year, it was rough. Being so far away from home, all alone and not knowing anybody. I think that one day hopefully in the near future my outlooks about college will have changed. 

        With one year of college almost done, I have thought a lot about what this class in particular has taught me and from all the readings, class discussions, and videos I have came up with my own theory. The theory that I have come up with is the theory of perseverance. In order to understand the theory that I have came up with, we must first define what perseverance is. Perseverance is described by dictionary.com as steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement, or theology, continuance in a state of grace to the end, leading to eternal salvation.  The reason why I chose this specific theory was because the meaning behind the word basically says that no matter what you keep giving it your all. With being in college I think that it is very important to have the mindset that no matter what happened yesterday, or what’s happening currently but that you keep pushing yourself. I think that there are many obstacles that each person faces but that’s what makes their story more unique than somebody else’s. The theory that I thought of kind of goes along with the theory of “Hope” that we talked about in class a few weeks ago. In the article “Hope and Academic Success in College” they define hope as “the process of thinking about ones goals along with the motivation to the move toward those goals (agency), and the ways to achieve these goals (pathways)” (Snyder 820). Everyone has dreams and aspirations that they hope to accomplish one day. By staying positive and do your best at it then you are on the right track to success. It mentions in the reading that, when you have a hopeful mindset then you are more positive about things. This is true and there are statistics out there that can prove it. When you go into a test or assignment thinking that you cant do it, that you will do bad than your more likely to do bad. You have to stay positive even if you aren’t feeling positive about what the outcome might be, you’ll be able to do better if you don’t let the negativity bother you. Of course there are several other aspects that come into play in order to be a successful college student, but if you know why you are here and be willing to challenge yourself then you can make it. Even though our parents, friends and getting a job afterwards might have had an influence on why you are here. Know that it is your choice and your own experience so make the best of it. Don’t let others affect your choice about coming/ going to college. Don’t feel obligated to go to college because society has made you think it is what you have to do. Go to college for yourself, for your own purpose. Whether it is to get a good job, to make friends, or to be able to support a family, let it be for your own reasons.