Lack of productivity in the college student can make or break his/her collegiate experience and success.
In the beginning of my college career, I struggled with being effectively productive. One day before heading to my three hour math course, I noticed that I had 15 minutes before class started. So I stopped into the student hub (the social spot) to grab a slice of pizza. While doing so, I ran into a group of friends who were discussing plans to attend a party at a neighboring university. I approached my friends with every intention to only say hello and then leave, but I never made it to my class that day. Unfortunately, that was not the first or last time that my productivity was defeated as a result of my lack of discipline and focus.
Fortunately, as I advanced in college that specific problem occurred less frequently. I would like to think that these episodes subsided solely due to an increase in my maturity and self-discipline or because I became more in-tuned with the importance of my education. However, the truth was, that when I began to change the way I viewed college and my education, my selection of friends and relationships began to alter as well. I came to understand that not only was I toxic to my own productivity in college, but so were my choice of friends and the kind of relationships we had.
With that being said, I would like to encourage another approach to helping college students maintain and/or increase productivity: choose your friends and friendships wisely!
It is important to understand the influence that college friendships have on both the student and the student’s productivity. The bonds that you make with friends in college are unlike any other. In college, students have multiple avenues and time available in which to cultivate friendships. For example, students can acquire friends in class, walking to the library or cafeteria, rooming or even when attending activities.
Contrary to life before pursuing post-secondary education, where in most cases, students can willingly take a break from friendships and still have family available for day-to-day companionship, in college your friends and those friendships are your only option. Therefore, I think it is important to help both new and veteran college students find ways to select and cultivate positive, productive and life-long friendships. Below is advice and questions to ask yourself:
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| Picture from Huffington Post article - The 20 Colleges with the Friendliest Students |
1. Take your time to get to know others and yourself
2. Invest in those who want the best for you and themselves
3. Look for those who share similar goals, values and interest
4. Disclose information slowly and strategically
5. Choose friends that will encourage you to study vs party
6. Spend time reflecting upon the impact your friends and friendships are having in your life
7. Broaden your experiences by making friends with people of different races and ethnicity
Ask yourself these questions:
1. What motivates you as a friend?
2. What characteristics and qualities do you look for in a friend?
3. What characteristics and qualities do you not look for in a friend?
4. What characteristics and qualities do you hold that make you a good friend?
5. How do you visualize your college friendships being in 7 years?
When selecting and making friends in college, it is crucial to understand the difference between a connection and an attachment. Remember that connections provide positive energy and motivation. Whereas, attachments drain your energy and use it for their benefit. Lastly, I would like to point out that friends and friendships are reciprocal. Therefore, in college and beyond, it is vital to comprehend that you play an instrumental role in the kinds of friendships that are attracted to you; you also play a role in the types of friends to which you are attracted too.
For more great advice on productivity visit Accepted To A Degree at http://acceptedtoadegree.blogspot.com/
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