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Chapter 1: Laying the Groundwork

Three Distinct Advantages of College

The best college experience is figuring out what college will mean to you. No book, teacher, or guru can figure out your wants, desires, and expectations and put them into action. That's your job. However, this is for sure: you can gain three distinct advantages by earning a diploma.

Credentials to Succeed
Many employers today won't consider an applicant who doesn't have advanced certification or a college degree. In addition to just obtaining a degree, performing at a high level in school (Dean's List, Honor Society) can add to your résumé. A college degree will widen your career options; and adding more honors to your name will boost your salability even more.

Time to Learn Skills
College teaches students how to solve problems. People can use their degrees in different ways. Some use the book knowledge they learned in school; others may find the social engagements at college more useful. College, regardless of anything else, gives students an opportunity to think about things, solve problems, and approach situations.

Confidence to Get Ahead
To gain the most benefit out of college, you must put forth a solid effort. The 4 years at school don't necessarily build confidence, but working hard to understand the concepts you are taught will. When you do well in school, you begin to feel smart and confident and know that you can handle life's curveballs.

Reflections: Your History
Take some time to explore what being a student has meant to you so far.

Which school experiences have made you feel good?
Which school experiences have made you feel bad?

Have you ever discovered something in school that excited you? What was it?

Using Positive Self-Talk

That negative inner voice that tells you how bad things are and how bad they always will be has to be silenced. Talking back to it can help you change your beliefs, attitudes, and behavior.
To change your beliefs and behavior, you needn't talk out loud in public, but you can use positive self-talk. Positive self-talk has three characteristics:
Positive self-talk consists of "I" statements. "I" statements show that you are taking control of your life.
Positive self-talk uses the present tense. Using the present tense shows you are ready for action.
Positive self-talk is positive and enthusiastic. It focuses on what is rather than what is not.
For example, suppose that Jessica's longtime boyfriend Brian has broken off their relationship. Jessica wants to meet new people, but she makes no effort to do so. Instead, she gets more depressed and lonely. Jessica thinks, "Brian broke up with me so I must be boring and unattractive. Why should anyone want to go out with me?" It would be far more helpful if Jessica used positive self-talk. She could tell herself, "I am an interesting and attractive person. I am looking for chances to meet new people and form new relationships."
From Reaching Your Potential: Personal and Professional Development, 3rd edition by Robert K. Throop and Marion B. Castellucci. Copyright © 2004 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. All rights reserved.

Food for Thought: Gauging Your Self-Esteem

How do you know if your self-esteem is everything it should be? Ask yourself the following questions:

Do you feel confident entering a room full of strangers?
Do you see yourself as an interesting and worthwhile person?
Do you feel as attractive, well-dressed, and socially comfortable as others?
Do you give yourself a chance to try new things?

If you find yourself answering "No" more than "Yes," you have work to do in this area.

Ten Classes You Couldn't Take in High School

Your college education is not limited to seminars that end in "101." There are so many new academic choices-you certainly couldn't study the Films of Clint Eastwood in high school, could you? Or, the History of Underground Comics? Both of these are real courses that are found at some of our nation's colleges. Here are 10 more real classes your high school never offered you:
"Science, Technology and Society in the Age of Jack the Ripper" (Pennsylvania State University, PA)
"The Art of Sin and the Sin of Art" (Rhode Island School of Design, RI)
"Philosophy and Star Trek" (Georgetown, Washington DC)
"Dance 4 Men: Men Dance Too!" (Bates College, ME)
"Contour (Lingerie) Design" (De Montfort University, UK)
"Maple Syrup: The Real Thing" (Alfred University, NY)
"Rags, Rock, and Rap: Popular Music and American Culture" (Albright College, PA)
"Open the Box: Studies in Television" (Carleton College, MN)
"Cultural Aspects of Food" (State University of NY, College at Oneonta)
"Space Tourism" (Rochester Institute of Technology, NY)

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