A Letter to Graduates

Back in June, Florida Department of Education blogged about 6 Things that High School Grads Need to Do Before Leaving for College. While some of them were the good old common sense pointers such as “learn how to do your own laundry” and “know how to keep your things safe”, others were practical swim or survive strategies. Two of them resonated with me as a college instructor, as a professional, and as a graduate student.

Time Management

First, you need to get a grip on your time management. The deadlines have just become real. You may get lucky and have a professor that will fall for your excuses that you simply “did not know” that something was due, or that you needed a book for the course - but this is not going to last. YOU are the one in charge of your learning. Reach out to others. Build networks of support. Contact the instructor. The majority of colleges have the outline of their courses online, and you can see what is coming up. There are no secrets! If you have not done it yet, now is a good time to build a good work ethic that will be a great asset for years to come.

Social Presence

FLDOE blog outlines the importance of crafting a good resume and learning how to network. What a better way to do it than creating an online profile! Have you Googled yourself recently? What did you find? If it is the pictures of your undergraduate wild side, then it is time to make a change. A good resume is great, but you must link it to sites that put your name out there for others to see. A great start is using a professional site such as Linkedin where you can share your competencies and experiences. Be sure to update it on a regular bases! Also, Twitter and Facebook can be used for promoting professional presence. It is okay to keep the personal accounts but you have to be mindful about what you post and how you grant access.

A Few More Tips for College and  Beyond

With all the excitement of the new beginnings comes the responsibility to live up to the challenges that you will face. In his 2015 Commencement Speech at Trine University, Lou Holtz  spoke about what matters in life. He did not paint a rosy picture of unobtainable dreams that many of us have. Quite opposite, he was realistic and said that we will all have problems. Problems are part of life. We should embrace them and find solutions! He spoke in simple words and in the most powerful way, reminding us of the very basics of life: Do right, do everything to the very best of your ability, and show people that you care. He asked, if you did not show up at work, would anyone miss you and why? These are important questions to ask, and now is the time to start thinking about the answers. Have dreams but understand that life will also bring problems. It is what you do with them that makes a difference. Do your best, and never settle for less.

Best of luck graduates! The world is yours to conquer!