Preparing for College and Your Career
There is always a lot of preparation to do before heading to college or Vocational Technical College, where you are preparing for a career in life. The biggest part of school is preparing young adults to take our place as we are making our own plans for what’s next in our own lives. Both takes a lot of planning and preparation.
There is always the focus on what classes you will be taking, books and I-pads to buy, setting up your room, and being disciplined in setting up study periods. Preparation for classes is just like how a football team prepares. Players studying the play book, conditioning both their mind and body, and being able to apply what the player learned should be at the forefront of every study mission.
Your parents have saved for your education and worked hard to provide you with an opportunity to attend the college of your choice and prepare you for a career. It is up to you to follow through with working just as hard as your parents did to get you to college.
There are several definitions to the term success. But, it basically comes down to this– Being able to go beyond what you think you can do to achieve your maximum potential. You will be surprised if you commit yourself to a task and focus on that task what you can actually achieve. Your goal is to impress yourself and not others. Pretty Simple mission.
And don’t neglect exercise and diet that are key to the learning process. What is good for the heart is good for the mind.
First Impressions are critical–
You’ve heard the saying Dress for Success. It’s not just the image you are making that matters, but the image you have of yourself that matters most. If you feel good about yourself, you will perform better, both in and out of class. The classic oxford shirt, blue jeans, and leather flight jacket are a great ensemble.
Hailey, featured in the photograph above with a classic 1963 Chevrolet Corvette, is wearing the US WINGS® Lady’s WASP Flight Jacket and has applied ARBONNE® makeup that offers a classic look and protection for her skin just like the jacket does. In September of 2019, QATSPY GOLF® will be offering College Flight Jackets of both the ACC and SEC teams at first. We will be adding other colleges later for students to support their college football teams.
There’s nothing as classic as a US WINGS® Leather Flight Jacket with your team’s logo and school’s name featured to show your school spirit. This fall, the US WINGS® College Flight Jacket is a great fashion statement for class or for a sporting event. Below, I’m featured here with an Alabama Crimson Tide leather flight jacket, oxford button-down shirt, and blue jeans with the Corvette.
ARBONNE also has skincare products for both men and women and nutrition to keep you healthy even under the pressures of college life. Remember Freshmen sometimes can have weight gain.
Develop Mindfulness
Mindfulness is paying attention to the present moment and not getting too far ahead of yourself, like the next class, the game you are going to on the weekend, or dinner with friends.
Mindfulness is actually being responsible for your safety and the safety of others. Here are some mindfulness tips to take to college with you:
- Use the buddy system when going out and off campus.
- Let others know where you are going and when you’ll be back.
- Don’t drink or take something that can impair your judgment.
- Be back before 9 pm in your room or dorm. Nothing good happens past 10 pm. The later you stay out past 9 pm, the more exposure you’ll have.
- Don’t travel to isolated areas and meet someone unfamiliar.
- Be aware who your friends are and watch how they conduct themselves. Action always speaks louder than words.
- Listen to friends concerning people you meet on and off campus.
- Always remember the primary reason you are at college, which is getting an education in order to improve your life.
- Have a phone with you at all times.
- Carry a whistle with you to alter others to a situation.
- Get in a habit of carrying a BIC pen while walking with cap off in your dominant hand for self-defense, like a BIC pen shown below. It works great to escape a dangerous situation, even if you’re grabbed from behind.
- Carry a container of mace (pepper spray) in your pocket, on your key chain, or bag for added precaution.
- Walking to your car, always have keys out in your hand before leaving a building or gathering.
- Park in a well lighted area and as close as possible to the building .
- If you feel unsure about a situation, trust your gut, and have someone you trust walk with you to the car.
- Always insist on meeting in public areas with people that you don’t know well and aren’t close friends with.
- Be your sister or brother’s keeper; watch out for your friends and don’t be afraid to speak up. And when in doubt, call mom or dad; they are only a call away. Never hesitate to call 911 if you feel unconformable. The campus police and community police are there to serve and protect.
This is not to scare you, but to prepare you to have a great experience at college. Remember why we wear seat belts for our safety where we can be safe and enjoy our lives.
I mention these same safeguards because of two situations that occurred in Utah and another one at Ole Miss University. A lady arriving at the Salt Lake City Airport asked an Uber driver to take her to a park at 3 am to meet a friend. The second was a lady attending Ole Miss who met an acquaintance near a lake in northern Mississippi. Both are dangerous situations that turned out very bad for each lady.
The common thread in both these cases was late at night or very early in the morning and being alone. Please use these safeguards above for your protection.