Building a College Routine

This may come a little late in the year, but it is better late than never. In college, we all, at some point struggled with  maintaining a sense of consistency or discipline - maintaining grades, studying , balancing a healthy social life, etc. This is understandable as you begin to venture from underneath the protection of your parents or guardians to tackle the world on your own. Responsibilities become your responsibilities. Decisions become your decisions. Coming to this realization, you now have to ask yourself the question, "How do I take control of the college life?"

"The secret to your future is hidden in your daily routine."

-Mike Murdock

One key element to a successful college career is having a solid ROUTINE. Yes, I said routine. But in this case, it is a routine that you have built that is geared towards success, not the monotonous, boring, everyday routine that you fall into. Remember, you control the routine that you build; you do not control the routine that you fall into.

First and foremost, your success starts with a goal. I will assume that each and every college student has some sort of goal in their life. But if you are struggling to find that goal in your life, let's figure out a starting point:

• Determine what has meaning to you. Any goal that you attempt to accomplish should be important to you. Finding those things that mean something draws the connection to making things reality. For example: My post college career is meaningful to me. 
• What makes it important. After finding out what is meaningful to you, determine what makes it important. Ex: It will bring me fulfillment and financial stability.
• Determine what is hindering from that goal. It is important to determine the root cause that is keeping you from accomplishing your goals. Ex: Partying, television, oversleeping, homesick.
• What and how do I need to change. This is the critical part of taking action.

It is hard to build a routine, if there is no goal that is set. However, after you have figured out a goal, you then have the starting point to begin building a successful routine. Using the example above, the student explained that his post college career was extremely important to him because it will bring fulfillment and financial stability to his life. But he identified some things that are hindering him - excessive partying, television, oversleeping, homesickness - from excelling in the classroom.

Acknowledging the root cause is essential because that is where the construction of your routine will begin. You have the goal (foundation), and you identified the root causes (building blocks). Each cause requires it own assessment as to how you will overcome that hurdle. For example: You are homesick, which means that you miss your family and friends. But then what is keeping you from visiting your family and friends? You determine  that the issue is money. Then you ask yourself why money is an issue, only to find out that it is a result of bad habits that you developed. So now, in order to alleviate the money issue you can conclude that you need to change your spending habits along with finding a means to supplement your income. This is just but one way to building a routine.

 
In order for it to be effective, you must be honest with yourself. Once you have tackled the hindrances, you are ready to start incorporating you routine that will help you achieve your goal.

Building a routine, takes courage, consistency and discipline. It requires making difficult decisions, but in the long run it will prove beneficial. Try building a solid routine, as you head into finals and see the difference it could make. And remember, make it fun!!! A routine can evolve over time and be strengthened

Prioritizing

I still remember the week of finals at the University of Miami. I was in the library studying and finishing assignments that were due. I wasn’t a big fan of the all-nighters, but I knew that I had to do what was necessary to pass my exams. During one of my breaks, I happened to walk by many computers that were occupied by students who were preparing for exams as well (or at least it seemed).

What I noticed was that the majority of the computer screens displayed the popular Facebook website; but what was even more astonishing were the many sighs from having to study that were made while being preoccupied by the social media giant. Papers they were writing were quickly switched to social media networks to deter from the rigors of studying, and though I was no study freak, this scene bothered me. It was disturbing because it got me to thinking about all of the things that are present that distracts us and how we allow them to do so.

“Priorities” was all I was able to think about. It was finals and the pressure was on, yet people still found ways to allow things to distract them.

Now, to be clear, I suffered from the priority bug as well. I went to my share of parties, missed my share of classes and even at times just pushed my work to the side. I just attributed it to the normal part of college and because of that my grades were impacted as well.

            But the one thing that I learned was that in order for me to have a successful college experience, I seriously needed to prioritize between what was fun and what was necessary. I had to find a way to wade through the murky waters of my academics, baseball, social life and what I wanted in life.

            If you are struggling with the same issues, here are a few things that may help you:

 

1. Determine what you want or are expecting to get from your college experience. This is very important because in order to prioritize college, studying or your career, you must be able to answer “why am I here?” It is crucial that you identify that purpose or have a clear objective even if you may not be sure as to what your major is going to be. Is your purpose to prepare you for a promising career, to learn valuable life experiences or to just have fun?
2. Make a list of all of the things you have on your plate (classes, extracurricular activities, etc.). Composing this list will allow you to be able to SEE and organize your life in order to be able to best formulate a plan for success.
3. Decide which ones are most important on the list. When you identify these things that are most important, place them at the top of your list and label them as your “must.” The remaining things shall follow the same pattern in terms of categorizing. Try to limit the categories to 3 columns e.g. MUST, IMPORTANT, and LEAST IMPORTANT.
4. Try putting together a schedule or plan to complete tasks. This will aid in keeping you on track with your work. Give yourself a deadline to complete a project that ends before the actual due date. You will learn that this helps to eliminate procrastination. Once you develop a pattern of consistency and punctuality with your work, it will begin to come more naturally.
5. Have a solid study team of serious people who are willing to keep you on track and hold you accountable. This is important because when you begin to slip your group can give you the needed push to get back in line.

Choosing A Major

Choosing a major in college could be a very difficult choice, because it could chart the very course of your professional career. For me, choosing a major was not a clear-cut decision. Growing up, I wanted to become an astronaut, but I didn’t know exactly how to go about it and what major to pursue. All I knew is that I had a passion for space. I pondered going to the Air Force or studying astronomy. Then, I thought about even studying geology; but since I enjoyed math and physics, I thought engineering would be the best fit for me. So in college, I decided to pursue Aerospace Engineering.

Some people may know what they want to do from the beginning and others may be undecided, but either way the decision you make should be a choice that you will feel comfortable working for the rest of your life if you choose.

If you are struggling to find your major, here are few suggestions:

1. Choose a major (or career choice) that you are passionate about

It is a very good idea choosing a major or career doing something that you would consider doing for free, because when things get tough you will be assured that you will fight through the tough times.

 

2. Consult with a career counselor if you are having difficulty choosing

If you are struggling to choose a major, ask someone who has experience such as a career counselor or professor. They may be able to ask you those important questions that are necessary in making a decision.

 

3. Ask yourself the question of where you see your career leading.

You may have to ask yourself some important questions like where do you see yourself after graduation, or what direction do you see your field of interest heading to in the near future.

 

4. Don’t let money be the primary reason for choosing a major.

 

Though it is important, potential earnings shouldn’t be the primary reason for choosing a major, because you can be stuck making lots money but feeling empty in the long run. Instead, consider all the variables when making your decision.

 

5. Don’t choose a major because it is trendy.

 

Choosing a career is not a fashion statement and shouldn’t be treated as one. Don’t make the mistake of choosing a major because everyone else is doing it.

 

6. Don’t be pressured into choosing a major by family or friends.

 

Remember, you are living out your dream, not the dreams of others. Choose your major for you and nobody else.

7. Do your research.

Research the different choices because not all fields of studies are created equal. Some may be more specific than others.

 

When choosing your major, you are taking a very big step into adulthood. However, if you are undecided is OK. You still have time to make the right decision.

 

Study hard!!!

Choose the Right People

After being under the umbrella for many years, college has allowed me to step from underneath the covering to get wet a little bit. There were many things that I learned from my college experience from prioritizing and time management to the basics of learning how to survive and live on my own. I know every college student have had or will have their own unique experiences, but it is still extremely important to take care of some of the basics in terms of having a successful college experience. One of my most important things that I had to do was to decide the people that I would spend most of my time with.

Oftentimes, our childhood friends were our neighborhood buddies, but what I learned in college was that the people I surrounded myself with were more than just buddies. I realized that in some degree they had to be people that will push me to greatness and vice versa. I had to learn the difference between the Construction Team vs. Demolition Team. Essentially, I needed to be around people that were "builders" and not "destroyers".

I learned that my baseball teammates couldn't just be my default circle of friends. I had to search out and mingle to find a solid group of friends and acquaintances to associate myself with. It was important for me to be a part of organizations like NSBE and ASME. It was extremely beneficial that I befriended people who took their academics seriously, not only because they gave me a solid study group to be a part of, but they also pushed me (if only indirectly) to do better.

But, it is still difficult, and at times unrealistic, to have a squeaky clean circle. However, it is important to be cognizant of the people that you surround yourself by because there is a saying that says "you are the average of the 5 people you hang around the most."

I understand that with your new freedom you may just want to have fun and enjoy the college life a little. Trust me, I had my fair share of fun as well. But, I warn you that the path can spiral downward rapidly if you are not careful and mindful of people who distract you from your main reason for being there.

So, I would like to leave you with this when building your college circle:

• Determine who are "builders" and "destroyers"
• Join groups and organizations with like-minded goals of achievement
• Don't be a afraid of diversity on your circle (you can learn alot)
• Find a good mentor (very helpful and insightful for me)
• Set-up your study group (go for the best of the best in your classes)
• Maintain a good relationship with professors and instructors

First Generation College Attendee

I was a first generation college student when I attended the Loyola Marymount University, and later transferred to the University of Miami-FL (GO Canes!). My mother and father never attended college. My grandparents never attended college, and as far as I know, my great-grandparents didn’t attend college as well. So, following the footsteps of my older brother, and continuing the path for my younger brother, I am honored to wear the badge of being a part of the inaugural generation of my family tree that was able to attend college.

Many of you, like me, face the same situation of being first generation college students and I understand the pressures that come along with it. There are a lot of high expectations placed upon us (and rightfully so) because we have embarked upon a world that has never been discovered by many of our family members. They view us as the pioneers that will forever alter the course of generational paths by writing new chapters of greatness that will be deeply rooted in our family trees.

Going into my first year of college I can honestly say that I didn’t not know what to expect. It is always a new experience when going to a new school, let alone a new chapter in your life. However, I knew that it was an exciting time for me in which there was a lot to be learned and absorbed.

I told myself that the most important thing for me to do was to make sure that I got the most out of this experience and not to waste the opportunity that I was given because so much was riding on it. So many proud eyes were watching me. So many tears of joy were wept, and to the best of my ability, I didn’t want my first generational experience to be a failure. Now, it is not to say that I did not have my hiccups, because college is a learning process and a lot of this process is learning how to balance (which I will talk about in future posts).

During college, I had two major responsibilities – academics and baseball. I chose to pursue my love of space and my dream of becoming an astronaut by majoring in Aerospace Engineering while continuing to pursue my dream of being a major league baseball player. What I quickly learned was that this was not going to be a walk in the park because there were so many other outside influences that were a part of the college experience.

Thirteen years later, after attending two colleges and reaching the pinnacle of my baseball career as a major leaguer, I stand one semester shy from graduating with my degree in Aerospace Engineering. In order to pursue my career in baseball I had to leave school early, but I did return to inch myself closer to graduating.

Being first generation means that you are making history. So in the spirit of “making,” I encourage you to make the most of it.

I am proud to say that both of my brothers graduated from their respective schools (Sacramento State University and Washington State University) and earned their “first generation” college diplomas. I will soon join them.

Much SUCCESS!