Here we explore three different concepts that are vital for success in college, all from personal anecdotes of already successful college graduates. The one thing tying all of these tips together? They're all skills you probably didn't think you would need.
Pursue Your Passions, Not A Grade Point Average
This is one bit of advice my father gave me before I left for college, and to this day it still rings true for me. When you go off to college, you are pursuing an education so that you can spend the rest of your life doing what you love. Nobody loves grades. They tolerate them, use them, market them, but they do not love them. If you're lucky, you could at least be one of the chosen few who loves their job.
As Neil deGrasse Tyson notes, "no one ever asks you what your grades were. Grades become irrelevant."
Learn To Embrace Failure
But I thought that success was all about not failing? Wrong! There is no magic formula for avoiding failure, as it is eternally tied to the act of learning. As humans we learn from our mistakes and grow most from these experiences. Many people avoid making mistakes and for this reason end up having lives they are not satisfied with. Don't play it safe, college is a time for learning and that means making mistakes.
"You must be O.K. with bombing. You have to love it." Says Stephen Colbert. "Improvisation is a great educator when it comes to failing. There's no way you are going to get it right every time."
Develop Empathy For Others
In many ways, empathy may just be the most important skill to have. I personally did not realize this until my time in college was almost up, but for success in any kind of relationship with others, empathy is what drives people together. By being able to put aside your own agenda and view points, and truly consider only what another person is experiencing, you will be able to connect with people on levels that few others can. They will appreciate your openness because you took the time to understand their unique motivations and personality.
"As a writer, I have to understand what motivates a character, and I see other people as characters in the story of life," explains author Reyna Grande. "When someone makes mistakes, I always look at what made them act the way they do."
