Going to college is a gamble for many people that comes with significant risks and potential rewards. With so many factors to think about, there’s no guarantee that any given student will be successful; that’s not just in education, that’s life.
In the past, when people gave it the “old college try,” they were proud of the outcome whether it be success or failure. Now, when students detect the slightest hint that they may not be successful in their classes, they immediately begin the search for someone or something to blame.
We, the Ranger staff, believe it’s time for people in college to put on their “big boy underwear” and take responsibility for their actions. When people take responsibility for their role in college, the decision is usually life-changing.
Students who step up and take responsibility for their academic future, take control of their lives. As challenges arise, those who are owning their decisions get to choose how they will respond. They aren’t limited to what others say they should do or accomplish but get the opportunity to have power over the direction they will take from that moment forward.
Professors, advisers, supervisors and business owners are looking for employees who are not only qualified to do a particular set of tasks, but are also coachable. Students who are accountable for their actions give themselves the chance to learn from their success and failures, which helps them move forward in life rather than living in the stagnate waters of passing the buck. These students look at wins with pride and view losses as learning opportunities that create character and make them better people.
Adaptability can also help students who struggle to make the change from high school to college. Students who are more adaptable are able to conform to their new surroundings easier. They can figure out what they need to do to be successful.
Many students will struggle with self-esteem during their college years. From professors who grade essays with an iron fist to moments when a person’s mind goes blank during a test, school has a way of taking a student’s self-image and running it through the ringer. Being responsible creates a shield that makes self-esteem more resilient. If students constantly blame their high schools for not doing enough to prepare them for the rigors of college, their self-worth will be open to destruction by a missed assignment or the next overly-critical peer.
It’s entirely possible that your high school teachers gave you a false view of what college life would be like. Your parents may not have adequately prepared you to be organized and to meet deadlines. Your professors may not be providing the one-on-one support you thought would be an everyday occurrence. Nevertheless, ultimately your success is your responsibility. Don’t play the Badger Blame Game.
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