5 Ways to Strengthen Your
Degree-tionship!
A degree-tionship is the way you and the
journey to your degree are connected mentally, emotionally, and physically.
My mother always said that earning and
retaining relationships takes hard and honorable work. In order to maintain a
productive relationship, all parties must participate in acts such as
compromise, complement, trust, mindfulness, and a lot more!
While you’re in college, you will
encounter relationships that will help you to grow as a person by establishing
numerous relations with your peers, professors, administrators, departmental
secretaries, and even cafeteria employees. While pursuing higher education, I
truly encourage all healthy social relationships in moderation. However, I
would like to point out one particular relationship that all college-bound and
college students must have, which is THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR DEGREE;
It is the reason why you decided to pursue
this path. It’s why your parent(s) and/or guardian(s) are racking their brains to
complete the FAFSA. Furthermore, it is one of relationships in college that is
controllable and resilient based on your belief, hard work and dedication. Here
are 5 methods that YOU can use to strengthen and maintain your degree-tionship!
- Make Your Degree-tionship Top Priority- As with many things in college, distractions come with the territory and no student is immune. It is common to unintentionally put other priorities in front of attaining your degree. For example, priorities for work, family, leadership positions, and socializing. However, it is crucial to remember that all relationships are either grow or die depending on the amount of time and energy invested in them. Therefore, ensure that you investing enough time and energy in your classes over your other commitments. In other words, spend more time studying and less time partying!
Complement Your Degree- similar to how Jay-Z and Beyoncé complement each other - they both bring something to the table. Your degree is only as good and marketable as you. Therefore, as a college student you need to build and develop YOURSELF; Take advantage of the academic, career and leadership opportunities that your institution provides tailored to your major(s) and interest(s). Not only do these opportunities increase your network and knowledge, but they also enhance on your resume and serve as a strong marketing tool for you when you have your degree.
- Draw Boundaries - It’s no secret that you have to complete college in order to physically obtain your degree. However, most students feel that they have mentally earned their degree (considering the massive amounts of dedication and hard work already put in) way before their graduation date. In order keep your degree-tionship strong, you should set both mental and physical boundaries. For example, you should schedule time for sleeping just as though you should schedule time for studying. Additionally, draw limitations on the numbers of commitments you engage in outside of learning to escape over-committing and an unruly mind. Although setting boundaries is easier said than done, it will help strengthen your degree-tionship.
- Focus on the Qualities that You Love & Respect about Your Degree- Most students select a major(s) out of passion or deep interests of what their degree will help them achieve. When things get tough and/or you feel like your choice of degree isn’t worth it, remember the reasons why this degree became special and important to you. Additionally, don’t belittle your degree. One time, someone asked me about my major and then responded “Oh Psycho, nothing major.” Words are powerful! Be proud of what you are striving for; speak life into your degree and be proud of every aspect of it. When you speak well about it, you feel good about it; when you feel good about it, you’re proactive about it! Derogatory comments and insults have no place in your social relationships, so why bring them to your Degree-tionship?
Do Not Quit When Things Get Tough. Please allow me to declare that I am not
against students switching their major. However, if you choose to take this
action, make sure it is a strategic, well informed, and researched decision. Do
not let it be influenced by impulsiveness or fear. Ask yourself if the degree
still will help your pursue your passion or overall career goals. If that
answer is yes then get help to improve in your courses rather than stop all
together. Ending your degree-tionship can cause you to spend thousands of
dollars and adds extra time before you are able to graduate. Last but not least, please remember that your DEGREE-TIONSHIP is a relationship in college that you can control; you may slip and fall victim to the freedoms and hardships of college but YOU can accomplish anything! For more advice, tools and strategies on college and student leadership success follow me on twitter @onabeautifulway.Yours truly,Brandi Cox
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