College - 12 Steps to Success For Freshman

I read in a recent government report that over half of all 4-year college entrants (in excess of 600,000 students per year) leave without getting degrees. Many of these students drop out within their first and second years. From my personal experience, speaking to thousands of students from all around the world, I have found top reasons for these drop outs to range from: having too much fun, being homesick, lacking individual responsibility, not having enough money, not pursuing their own passions, but following what family and friends think is best for them, etc. Unfortunately, this is a common and saddened reality with the collegiate industry. So how is it possible to prevent this misfortune and save yourself the time, trouble, and money by succeeding in college? Follow the College: 12 steps to success for freshman.

Step 1: Grow Up

Take responsibility for your future. If you can't do the small stuff, as in cleaning the place and washing your own clothes, and handle your own workload (hold your own weight as I call it), then you're going to fall. It's time to separate from Mommy and Daddy. Get your own individuality established and your own character formulated. Isn't that what you've been waiting 18 years for anyway? High school is over. It's time to grow up and begin your brand new journey towards all of your goals and dreams. Now for step two of the College: 12 steps to success for freshman.

Step 2: Why Are You Here?

Be real with yourself. Don't pursue the paths which your parents or friends tell you to follow. Do what you love to do. Let me be the first to tell you from a real perspective that college isn't for everyone, and that's a good thing. All you have to do is figure out what you really love and want to do, find out how to go about doing it, and learn from those who are already successful in that particular field. College is definitely a great investment for your future IF used right.

Don't let the statistics fool you that graduates make more money than those who don't go to college. I can write a separate article on many successful non-graduate individuals. Also remember that those graduates who make more money also most likely have huge student loans to pay off. The point I'm trying to get across is for you to just consider whether college is beneficial towards what you love to do. For example if you're passion involves working on cars and becoming a mechanic, you might want to look into trade-schools and technical institutes. It is a fact that college helps you to find yourself, but you don't want to keep wasting money trying to find yourself until you find yourself with no money, and find yourself out of college. Find your own path, create it, and walk it. This is not only the key to college success, but it is also the key to your individual happiness as well. Now for step three of the College: 12 steps to success for freshman.

Step 3: Party Backwards

Take notice of the sentence 'Party Yourself in College'. Now read the word party backwards, and read the rest of the sentence. You will get 'Y Trap Yourself in College!' Realistically, many of us students go to clubs and parties, as this is a natural occurrence in college environments. However, don't let society fool you into thinking the majority of your collegiate career is meant to include partying. Your first years of ultimate freedom might tempt the partying sensation, but true college success is a sacrifice. Sacrifice the urge to party and set yourself up for your success. The clubs aren't going to go anywhere. You have ALL the time in the world after you graduate to party. Also, another quick tip, if you save the money you receive in college, and invest it into income producing ventures, that's when the fun will really begin, for you'll be able to party without having to worry how next month's bills are going to get paid. Think about that. Now for step four of the College: 12 steps to success for freshman.

Step 4: Be Friendly

I once read in a book that the best vitamin for making friends is... B1. All of the immaturity is over with. Align with productive friends, not party animals or those who intentionally try to hurt you. Line up with those who keep it moving and care about their futures. College is extremely diverse with individuals from all around the world. Respect others because there are bound to be many people who have opposing viewpoints. Respect, honesty, and integrity are a few of the most important characteristics which go a long way. Now for step five of the College: 12 steps to success for freshman.

Step 5: Don't Cheat

Cheating is also known as 'intellectual theft' or 'academic dishonesty'. In high school, I understand that we do what we need to do to graduate. I don't commend cheating in high school whatsoever, but I'm not going to lie and say that I didn't do it. The objective is to graduate and get that diploma. College is a different ballgame however. In college you're trying to earn a living. You're not living your life by living through others. If you have to cheat, then ask yourself why. Maybe you need to sacrifice the fun you're having, and actually think about your future enough to study hard. Who are going to cheat on when you graduate college and enter the business world? Knowledge is key. Learn as much as you can. Now for step six of the College: 12 steps to success for freshman.

Step 6: Don't See College as Hard

Henry Ford once stated, "Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right." If you go into college thinking it's hard, then it will be. It's definitely not the same as high school, but it's really not that bad. You have to remain positive in order to produce positive results. If you're going to get that degree regardless, then why not be positive about the journey to reach it? Don't let anyone tell you it's hard. Stay positive. If you're going to do it, then do it. Many other students are doing the same thing. Now for step seven of the College: 12 steps to success for freshman.

Step 7: Be Persistent and Work

President Calvin Coolidge once stated, "Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'press on' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race." Success in anything is a result of hard work within everything. Plain and simple. Any successful individual will tell you the same thing. Now for step eight of the College: 12 steps to success for freshman.

Step 8: Impressions are Overrated

Here is one of the best steps. If you understand this, you'll be setting yourself up for a lovely life. Live to impress yourself and no one else. Stop worrying about what others think of you. Cars, clothes, how good you are in a sport, how many times you party, how much you can drink is not impressive and doesn't define you as a person. What's inside of you defines who you really are. Increase your knowledge, take action on your passion, and help others. That's most impressive and enables you to focus more on what's best for you. Now for step eight of the College: 12 steps to success for freshman.

Step 9: Learn From Mistakes

It's important to understand that everyone makes mistakes. Especially the freshman and sophomores. It's completely understandable for you are not truly used to the college life as of yet. The key is to learn from any mistakes you make and not repeat them. Don't worry if you got your first C ever in your life one semester. It's all good. Keep it moving. Know what you could've improved, and improve it. Don't sweat the small stuff. Keep it pushing. Now for step ten of the College: 12 steps to success for freshman.

Step 10: Forget High School

Newsflash! No one cares what you did in high school. Everyone forgets. No one remembers that you were the star of the prom or the star athlete. Don't get stuck in the high school life. Formulate your new destiny in college. It's a brand new start for a brand new life. Treat it like one and take it seriously.

Step 11: Prayer is a Virtue

Pray everyday you are blessed with life. One in every twelve U.S. college students thinks about and actually makes a suicide plan! That's crazy but true! Don't get stressed. Keep the Lord with you at all times, and understand that he'll guide you to your success and happiness no matter what may happen. Now for the last step of the College: 12 steps to success for freshman.

Step 12: Enjoy Every Step

Life is a journey and an everlasting growth. Be sure to enjoy every step, every step of the way. Implement these steps into your journey and set yourself up for a wonderful future and successful collegiate career. I wish you the best of college success, happiness, and prosperity.

Stefan Johnson (G-Prez) is the President and CEO of Graduatirement, LLC, an evolutionary movement, which shows students all around the world how to graduate college and retire professionally... simultaneously! His mission is to help everyone, especially Millennials, reach their ultimate individual success, happiness, and prosperity by providing evolutionary knowledge and extremely profitable opportunities, and ultimately revolutionize the entire Educational System for present and future generations so that success happiness and success is more commonly achieved, passions are pursued, and poverty is conquered. The answer to any and every question a college student may ever have and the evolution of success for the entire Millennial Generation is now here: [http://www.gprez.com] - To Your Success, Happiness, and Prosperity.