{"id":55,"date":"2014-08-25T03:19:35","date_gmt":"2014-08-25T03:19:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.candelalearning.com\/collegesuccess1x1\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=55"},"modified":"2015-06-19T01:45:23","modified_gmt":"2015-06-19T01:45:23","slug":"2-1-setting-and-reaching-goals","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/chapter\/2-1-setting-and-reaching-goals\/","title":{"raw":"Setting and Reaching Goals","rendered":"Setting and Reaching Goals"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"im_section\">\r\n<div id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_n01\" class=\"im_learning_objectives im_editable im_block\">\r\n<h3 class=\"im_title\"><\/h3>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-highlight\">\r\n<h3>LEARNING OBJECTIVES<\/h3>\r\nBy the end of this section, you will be able to:\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Make short-, mid-, and long-term goals that are realistic and specific and commit to them.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Set priorities for reaching your goals as a basis for time management.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Develop an attitude for success.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Learn to use strategies for staying focused and motivated.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Network with other students to help ensure academic success.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Solve problems and overcome setbacks that threaten your goals.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\nSome people are goal oriented and seem to easily make decisions that lead to achieving their <span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">goals<\/span><\/span>, while others seem just to \u201cgo with the flow\u201d and accept what life gives them. While the latter may sound pleasantly relaxed, moving through life without goals may not lead anywhere at all. The fact that you\u2019re in college now shows you already have the major goal to complete your college program.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/progress.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-514\" src=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/progress.jpg\" alt=\"Progress sign on building\" width=\"240\" height=\"159\" \/><\/a>A goal is a result we intend to reach mostly through our own actions. Things we do may move us closer to or farther away from that result. Studying moves us closer to success in a difficult course, while sleeping through the final examination may completely prevent reaching that goal. That\u2019s fairly obvious in an extreme case, yet still a lot of college students don\u2019t reach their goal of graduating. The problem may be a lack of commitment to the goal, but often students have conflicting goals. One way to prevent problems is to think about all your goals and <span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">priorities<\/span><\/span> and to learn ways to manage your time, your studies, and your social life to best reach your goals. Consider these four students:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">To help his widowed mother, Juan went to work full time after high school but now, a few years later, he\u2019s dissatisfied with the kinds of jobs he has been able to get and has begun taking computer programming courses in the evening. He\u2019s often tired after work, however, and his mother would like him to spend more time at home. Sometimes he cuts class to stay home and spend time with her.\r\n<span id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_bl02\" class=\"im_blockquote im_block\"><\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">In her senior year of college, Becky has just been elected president of her sorority and is excited about planning a major community service project. She knows she should be spending more time on her senior thesis, but she feels her community project may gain her contacts that can help her find a better job after graduation. Besides, the sorority project is a lot more fun, and she\u2019s enjoying the esteem of her position. Even if she doesn\u2019t do well on her thesis, she\u2019s sure she\u2019ll pass.\r\n<span id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_bl03\" class=\"im_blockquote im_block\"><\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">After an easy time in high school, James is surprised his college classes are so hard. He\u2019s got enough time to study for his first-year courses, but he also has a lot of friends and fun things to do. Sometimes he\u2019s surprised to look up from his computer to see it\u2019s midnight already, and he hasn\u2019t started reading that chapter yet. Where does the time go? When he\u2019s stressed, however, he can\u2019t study well, so he tells himself he\u2019ll get up early and read the chapter before class, and then he turns back to his computer to see who\u2019s online.\r\n<span id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_bl04\" class=\"im_blockquote im_block\"><\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Sachito was successful in cutting back her hours at work to give her more time for her engineering classes, but it\u2019s difficult for her to get much studying done at home. Her husband has been wonderful about taking care of their young daughter, but he can\u2019t do everything, and lately he\u2019s been hinting more about asking her sister to babysit so that the two of them can go out in the evening the way they used to. Lately, when she\u2019s had to study on a weekend, he leaves with his friends, and Sachito ends up spending the day with her daughter\u2014and not getting much studying done.<\/p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhat do these very different students have in common? Each has goals that conflict in one or more ways. Each needs to develop strategies to meet their other goals without threatening their academic success. And all of them have time management issues to work through: three because they feel they don\u2019t have enough time to do everything they want or need to do and one because even though he has enough time, he needs to learn how to manage it more effectively. For all four of them, motivation and attitude will be important as they develop strategies to achieve their goals.\r\n\r\nIt all begins with setting goals and thinking about priorities.\r\n\r\nAs you think about your own goals, think about more than just being a student. You\u2019re also a person with individual needs and desires, hopes and dreams, plans and schemes. Your long-term goals likely include graduation and a career but may also involve social relationships with others, a romantic relationship, family, hobbies or other activities, where and how you live, and so on. While you are a student you may not be actively pursuing all your goals with the same fervor, but they remain goals and are still important in your life.\r\n\r\nGoals also vary in terms of time. Short-term goals focus on today and the next few days and perhaps weeks. Midterm goals involve plans for this school year and the time you plan to remain in college. Long-term goals may begin with graduating college and everything you want to happen thereafter. Often your long-term goals (e.g., the kind of career you want) guide your midterm goals (getting the right education for that career), and your short-term goals (such as doing well on an exam) become steps for reaching those larger goals. Thinking about your goals in this way helps you realize how even the little things you do every day can keep you moving toward your most important long-term goals.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/03\/8334714234_161961fd1a_o.png\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-480\" src=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/03\/8334714234_161961fd1a_o-220x300.png\" alt=\"8334714234_161961fd1a_o\" width=\"220\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a>Write out your goals in Activity 1. You should literally <em class=\"im_emphasis\">write<\/em> them down, because the act of finding the best words to describe your goals helps you think more clearly about them. Follow these guidelines:\r\n<strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Goals should be realistic.<\/strong> It\u2019s good to dream and to challenge yourself, but your goals should relate to your personal strengths and abilities.\r\n<strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Goals should be specific.<\/strong> Don\u2019t write, \u201cI will become a great musician\u201d; instead, write, \u201cI will finish my music degree and be employed in a symphony orchestra.\u201d\r\n<strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Goals should have a time frame.<\/strong> You won\u2019t feel very motivated if your goal is vaguely \u201cto finish college someday.\u201d If you\u2019re realistic and specific in your goals, you should also be able to project a time frame for reaching the goal.\r\n<strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">You should really want to reach the goal.<\/strong> We\u2019re willing to work hard to reach goals we really care about, but we\u2019re likely to give up when we encounter obstacles if we don\u2019t feel strongly about a goal. If you\u2019re doing something only because your parents or someone else wants you to, then it\u2019s not your own personal goal\u2014and you may have some more thinking to do about your life.\r\n\r\nActivity 1: Personal Goals\r\nWrite your goals in the following blanks. Be sure to consider all areas of your life\u2014consider <em class=\"im_emphasis\">everything important<\/em> that you want to do between this moment and old age. (While you might aim for three to eight goals in each section, remember that everyone is unique, and you may be just as passionate about just one or two goals or more than eight.)\r\n\r\nShort-term goals (today, this week, and this month):\r\n\r\n__________________________________________________________________\r\n\r\n__________________________________________________________________\r\n\r\n__________________________________________________________________\r\n\r\n__________________________________________________________________\r\n\r\n__________________________________________________________________\r\n\r\n__________________________________________________________________\r\n\r\n__________________________________________________________________\r\n\r\n__________________________________________________________________\r\n\r\nMidterm goals (this year and while in college):\r\n\r\n__________________________________________________________________\r\n\r\n__________________________________________________________________\r\n\r\n__________________________________________________________________\r\n\r\n__________________________________________________________________\r\n\r\n__________________________________________________________________\r\n\r\n__________________________________________________________________\r\n\r\n__________________________________________________________________\r\n\r\n__________________________________________________________________\r\n\r\nLong-term goals (from college on):\r\n\r\n__________________________________________________________________\r\n\r\n__________________________________________________________________\r\n\r\n__________________________________________________________________\r\n\r\n__________________________________________________________________\r\n\r\n__________________________________________________________________\r\n\r\n__________________________________________________________________\r\n\r\n__________________________________________________________________\r\n\r\n__________________________________________________________________\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s01\" class=\"im_section\">\r\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">Priorities<\/h2>\r\nThinking about your goals gets you started, but it\u2019s also important to think about priorities. We often use the word \u201cpriorities\u201d to refer to how important something is to us. We might think, <em class=\"im_emphasis\">This<\/em> is a really important goal, and <em class=\"im_emphasis\">that<\/em> is less important. Try this experiment: go back to the goals you wrote in Activity 1 and see if you can rank each goal as a 1 (top priority), 2 (middle priority), or 3 (lowest priority).\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/Priority.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-515\" src=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/Priority.jpg\" alt=\"Priority label on package\" width=\"240\" height=\"180\" \/><\/a>It sounds easy, but do you actually feel comfortable doing that? Maybe you gave a priority 1 to passing your courses and a priority 3 to playing your guitar. So what does that mean\u2014that you never play guitar again, or at least not while in college? Whenever you have an hour free between class and work, you have to study because that\u2019s the higher priority? What about all your other goals\u2014do you have to ignore everything that\u2019s not a priority 1? And what happens when you have to choose among different goals that are both number 1 priorities?\r\n\r\nIn reality, priorities don\u2019t work quite that way. It doesn\u2019t make a lot of sense to try to rank goals as <em class=\"im_emphasis\">always<\/em> more or less important. The question of priority is really a question of what is more important <em class=\"im_emphasis\">at a specific time.<\/em> It is important to do well in your classes, but it\u2019s also important to have a social life and enjoy your time off from studying. You shouldn\u2019t have to choose between the two\u2014except <em class=\"im_emphasis\">at any given time<\/em>. Priorities always involve time: what is most important to do <em class=\"im_emphasis\">right now<\/em>. As we\u2019ll see later, time management is mostly a way to juggle priorities so you can meet all your goals.\r\n\r\nWhen you manage your time well, you don\u2019t have to ignore some goals completely in order to meet other goals. In other words, you don\u2019t have to give up your life when you register for college\u2014but you may need to work on managing your life more effectively.\r\n\r\nBut time management works only when you\u2019re committed to your goals. Attitude and motivation are very important. If you haven\u2019t yet developed an attitude for success, all the time management skills in the world won\u2019t keep you focused and motivated to succeed.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s02\" class=\"im_section\">\r\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">An Attitude for Success<\/h2>\r\nWhat\u2019s your attitude <em class=\"im_emphasis\">right now<\/em>\u2014what started running through your mind as you saw the \u201cAn Attitude for Success\u201d heading? Were you groaning to yourself, thinking, \u201cNo, not the attitude thing again!\u201d Or, at the other extreme, maybe you were thinking, \u201cThis is great! Now I\u2019m about to learn everything I need to get through college without a problem!\u201d Those are two attitude extremes, one negative and skeptical, the other positive and hopeful. Most students are somewhere in between\u2014but <em class=\"im_emphasis\">everyone<\/em> has an attitude of one sort or another.\r\n\r\nEverything people do and how they do it starts with attitude. One student gets up with the alarm clock and cheerfully prepares for the day, planning to study for a couple hours between classes, go jogging later, and see a friend at dinner. Another student oversleeps after partying too late last night, decides to skip his first class, somehow gets through later classes fueled by fast food and energy drinks while dreading tomorrow\u2019s exam, and immediately accepts a friend\u2019s suggestion to go out tonight instead of studying. Both students could have identical situations, classes, finances, and academic preparation. There could be just one significant difference\u2014but it\u2019s the one that matters.\r\n\r\nHere are some characteristics associated with a positive attitude:\r\n<ul id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s02_l01\" class=\"im_itemizedlist im_editable im_block\">\r\n\t<li>Enthusiasm for and enjoyment of daily activities<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Acceptance of responsibility for one\u2019s actions and feeling good about success<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Generally upbeat mood and positive emotions, cheerfulness with others, and satisfaction with oneself<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Motivation to get the job done<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Flexibility to make changes when needed<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Ability to make productive, effective use of time<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nAnd here are some characteristics associated with a negative attitude:\r\n<ul id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s02_l02\" class=\"im_itemizedlist im_editable im_block\">\r\n\t<li>Frequent complaining<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Blaming others for anything that goes wrong<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Often experiencing negative emotions: anger, depression, resentment<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Lack of motivation for work or studies<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Hesitant to change or seek improvement<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Unproductive use of time, procrastination<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/high5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright  wp-image-516\" src=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/high5-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Two men high-fiving outside\" width=\"235\" height=\"235\" \/><\/a>We started this chapter talking about goals, because people\u2019s goals and priorities have a huge effect on their attitude. Someone who really wants to succeed in college is better motivated and can develop a more positive attitude to succeed. But what if you are committed to succeeding in college but still feel kind of doubtful or worried or even down on yourself\u2014what can you do then? Can people really change their attitude? Aren\u2019t people just \u201cnaturally\u201d positive or negative or whatever?\r\n\r\nWhile attitude is influenced by one\u2019s personality, upbringing, and past experiences, there is no \u201cattitude gene\u201d that makes you one way or another. It\u2019s not as simple as taking a pill, but attitude can be changed. If you\u2019re committed to your goals, you can learn to adjust your attitude. The following are some things you can start doing.\r\n<div id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s02_s01\" class=\"im_section\">\r\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">Be More Upbeat with Yourself<\/h2>\r\nWe all have conversations with ourselves. I might do badly on a test, and I start thinking things like, \u201cI\u2019m just not smart enough\u201d or \u201cThat teacher is so hard no one could pass that test.\u201d The problem when we talk to ourselves this way is that we listen\u2014and we start believing what we\u2019re hearing. Think about what you\u2019ve been saying to yourself since your first day at college. Have you been negative or making excuses, maybe because you\u2019re afraid of not succeeding? You <em class=\"im_emphasis\">are<\/em> smart enough or you wouldn\u2019t be here. Even if you did poorly on a test, you can turn that around into a more positive attitude by taking responsibility. \u201cOK, I goofed off too much when I should have been studying. I learned my lesson\u2014now it\u2019s time to buckle down and study for the next test. I\u2019m going to ace this one!\u201d Hear yourself saying that enough and guess what\u2014you soon find out you <em class=\"im_emphasis\">can<\/em> succeed even in your hardest classes.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s02_s02\" class=\"im_section\">\r\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">Choose Whom You Spend Time With<\/h2>\r\nWe all know negative and positive people. Sometimes it\u2019s fun to hang out with someone with a negative attitude, especially if their sarcasm is funny. And if we\u2019ve just failed a test, we might enjoy being with someone else who also blames the instructor or \u201cthe system\u201d for whatever goes wrong. As they say, misery loves company. But often being with negative people is one of the surest ways to stay negative yourself. You not only hear your own self-talk making excuses and blaming others and putting yourself down, but you hear other people saying it, too. After a while you\u2019re convinced it\u2019s true. You\u2019ve developed a negative attitude that sets you up for failure.\r\n\r\nCollege offers a great opportunity to make new friends. Friendships and other social relationships are important to all humans\u2014and maybe to college students most of all, because of the stresses of college and the changes you\u2019re likely experiencing. Later chapters in this book have some tips for making new friends and getting actively involved in campus life, if you\u2019re not already there. Most important, try to choose friends with a positive attitude. It\u2019s simply more fun to be with people who are upbeat and enjoying life, people whom you respect\u2014and who, like you, are committed to their studies and are motivated. A positive attitude can really be contagious.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s02_s03\" class=\"im_section\">\r\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">Overcome Resistance to Change<\/h2>\r\nWhile it\u2019s true that most people are more comfortable when their situation is not always changing, many kinds of change are good and should be welcomed. College is a big change from high school or working. Accepting that reality helps you be more positive about the differences. Sure, you have to study more, and the classes are harder. You may be working more and have less time for your personal life. But dwelling on those differences only reinforces a negative attitude. Look instead at the positive changes: the exciting and interesting people you\u2019re meeting, the education you\u2019re getting that will lead to a bright future, and the mental challenges and stimulation you\u2019re feeling every day.\r\n\r\nThe first step may be simply to see yourself succeeding in your new life. Visualize yourself as a student taking control, enjoying classes, studying effectively, getting good grades. This book will help you do that in many ways. It all begins with the right attitude.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s02_s04\" class=\"im_section\">\r\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">Overcome Fears<\/h2>\r\nOne of the most common fears of college students is a fear of failure\u2014of not being able to make the grade. We all know that life is not all roses and that we\u2019re not going to succeed at everything we try. Everyone experiences some sort of failure at some time\u2014and everyone has fears. The question is what you do about it.\r\n\r\nAgain, think about your goals. You\u2019ve enrolled in college for good reasons, and you\u2019ve already shown your commitment by coming this far. If you still have any fear of failure, turn it around and use it in a positive way. If you\u2019re afraid you may not do well on an upcoming exam, don\u2019t mope around\u2014sit down and schedule times to start studying well ahead of time. It\u2019s mostly a matter of attitude adjustment.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s03\" class=\"im_section\">\r\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">Stay Focused and Motivated<\/h2>\r\nOkay, you\u2019ve got a positive attitude. But you\u2019ve got a lot of reading for classes to do tonight, a test tomorrow, and a paper due the next day. Maybe you\u2019re a little bored with one of your reading assignments. Maybe you\u2019d rather play a computer <a href=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/concentrating.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-517\" src=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/concentrating.jpg\" alt=\"Woman looking down with concentration\" width=\"240\" height=\"160\" \/><\/a>game. Uh oh\u2014now what? Attitude can change at almost any moment. One minute you\u2019re enthusiastically starting a class project, and then maybe a friend drops by and suddenly all you want to do is close the books and relax a while, hang out with friends.\r\n\r\nOne of the characteristics of successful people is accepting that life is full of interruptions and change\u2014and planning for it. Staying focused does not mean you become a boring person who does nothing but go to class and study all the time. You just need to make a plan.\r\n\r\nPlanning ahead is the single best way to stay focused and motivated to reach your goals. Don\u2019t wait until the night before an exam. If you know you have a major exam in five days, start by reviewing the material and deciding how many hours of study you need. Then schedule those hours spread out over the next few days\u2014at times when you are most alert and least likely to be distracted. Allow time for other activities, too, to reward yourself for successful studying. Then when the exam comes, you\u2019re relaxed, you know the material, you\u2019re in a good mood and confident, and you do well.\r\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\">\r\n\r\nPlanning is mostly a matter of managing your time well, as we\u2019ll see later. Here are some other tips for staying focused and motivated:\r\n<ul id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s03_l01\" class=\"im_itemizedlist im_editable im_block\">\r\n\t<li>If you\u2019re not feeling motivated, think about the results of your goals, not just the goals themselves. If just thinking about finishing college doesn\u2019t sound all that exciting, then think instead about the great, high-paying career that comes afterward and the things you can do with that income.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Say it aloud\u2014to yourself or a friend with a positive attitude: \u201cI\u2019m going to study now for another hour before I take a break\u2014and I\u2019m getting an A on that test tomorrow!\u201d It\u2019s amazing how saying something aloud puts commitment in it and affirms that it can be true.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Remember your successes, even small successes. As you begin a project or approach studying for a test, think about your past success on a different project or test. Remember how good it feels to succeed. Know you can succeed again.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Focus on the here and now. For some people, looking ahead to goals, or to anything else, may lead to daydreaming that keeps them from focusing on what they need to do right now. Don\u2019t worry about what you\u2019re doing tomorrow or next week or month. If your mind keeps drifting off, however, you may need to reward or even trick yourself to focus on the here and now. For example, if you can\u2019t stop thinking about the snack you\u2019re going to have when you finish studying in a couple hours, change the plan. Tell yourself you\u2019ll take a break in twenty minutes if you really need it\u2014but only if you really work well first.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>If you just can\u2019t focus in on what you should be doing because the task seems too big and daunting, break the task into smaller, manageable pieces. Don\u2019t start out thinking, \u201cI need to study the next four hours,\u201d but think, \u201cI\u2019ll spend the next thirty minutes going through my class notes from the last three weeks and figure out what topics I need to spend more time on.\u201d It\u2019s a lot easier to stay focused when you\u2019re sitting down for thirty minutes at a time.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Never, ever multitask while studying! You may think that you can monitor e-mail and send text messages while studying, but in reality, these other activities lower the quality of your studying.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Imitate successful people. Does a friend always seem better able to stick with studying or work until they get it done? What are they doing that you\u2019re not? We all learn from observing others, and we can speed up that process by deliberately using the same strategies we see working with others. <em class=\"im_emphasis\">Visualize yourself<\/em> studying in the same way and getting that same high grade on the test or paper.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Separate yourself from unsuccessful people. This is the flip side of imitating successful people. If a roommate or a friend is always putting off things until the last minute or is distracted with other interests and activities, tell yourself how different you are. When you hear other students complaining about how hard a class is or bragging about not studying or attending class, visualize yourself as not being like them at all.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Reward yourself when you complete a significant task\u2014but only when you are done. Some people seem able to stay focused only when there\u2019s a reward waiting.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>While some people work harder for the reward, others are motivated more by the price of failing. While some people are almost paralyzed by anxiety, others are moved by their fear to achieve their best.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Get the important things done first. We\u2019ll talk about managing your academic planner and to-do lists later in the chapter, but for now, to stay focused and motivated, concentrate on the things that matter most. You\u2019re about to sit down to read a chapter in a book you\u2019re not much enjoying, and you suddenly notice some clothing piled up on a chair. \u201cI really should clean up this place,\u201d you think. \u201cAnd I\u2019d better get my laundry done before I run out of things to wear.\u201d Don\u2019t try to fool yourself into feeling you\u2019re accomplishing something by doing laundry rather than studying. Stay focused!<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s04\" class=\"im_section\">\r\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">Network for Success<\/h2>\r\nMaking friends with people with positive attitudes not only helps you maintain a positive attitude yourself, but it gets you started networking with other students in ways that will help you succeed.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/network.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-518\" src=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/network.jpg\" alt=\"People cutouts connected by string\" width=\"240\" height=\"180\" \/><\/a>Did you study alone or with friends in high school? Because college classes are typically much more challenging, many college students discover they do better, and find it much more enjoyable, if they study with other students taking same course. This might mean organizing a study group or just getting together with a friend to review material before a test. It\u2019s good to start thinking right away about networking with other students in your classes.\r\n\r\nIf you consider yourself an independent person and prefer studying and doing projects on your own rather than with others, think for a minute about how most people function in their careers and professions, what the business world is like. Most work today is done by teams or individuals working together in a collaborative way. Very few jobs involve a person always being and working alone. The more you learn to study and work with other students now, the more skills you are mastering for a successful career.\r\n\r\nStudying with other students has immediate benefits. You can quiz each other to help ensure that everyone understands the course material; if you\u2019re not clear about something, someone else can help teach it to you. You can read and respond to each other\u2019s writing and other work. You can divide up the work in group projects. And through it all, you can often have more fun than if you were doing it on your own.\r\n\r\nStudying together is also a great way to start networking\u2014a topic we\u2019ll discuss more in coming chapters. Networking has many potential benefits for your future. College students who feel they are part of a network on campus are more motivated and more successful in college.\r\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\">\r\n<h3 class=\"im_title\">Tips for Success: Staying Motivated<\/h3>\r\n<ul id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s04_l01\" class=\"im_itemizedlist\">\r\n\t<li>Keep your eye on your long-term goals while working toward immediate goals.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Keep your priorities straight\u2014but also save some time for fun.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Work on keeping your attitude positive.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Keep the company of positive people; imitate successful people.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Don\u2019t let past habits drag you down.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Plan ahead to avoid last-minute pressures.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Focus on your successes.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Break large projects down into smaller tasks or stages.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Reward yourself for completing significant tasks.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Avoid multitasking.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Network with other students; form a study group.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s04_n01\" class=\"im_callout im_editable im_block\">\r\n<h3 class=\"im_title\"><\/h3>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s05\" class=\"im_section\">\r\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">Problem Solving: When Setbacks Happen<\/h2>\r\nEven when you have clear goals and are motivated and focused to achieve them, problems sometimes happen. Accept that they <em class=\"im_emphasis\">will<\/em> happen, since inevitably they do for everyone. The difference between those who succeed by solving the problem and moving on and those who get frustrated and give up is partly attitude and partly experience\u2014and knowing how to cope when a problem occurs.\r\n\r\nLots of different kinds of setbacks may happen while you\u2019re in college\u2014just as to everyone in life. Here are a few examples:\r\n<ul id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s05_l01\" class=\"im_itemizedlist im_editable im_block\">\r\n\t<li>A financial crisis<\/li>\r\n\t<li>An illness or injury<\/li>\r\n\t<li>A crisis involving family members or loved ones<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Stress related to frequently feeling you don\u2019t have enough time<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Stress related to relationship problems<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nSome things happen that we cannot prevent\u2014such as some kinds of illness, losing one\u2019s job because of a business slowdown, or crises involving family members. But many other kinds of problems can be prevented or made less likely to occur. You can take steps to stay healthy, as you\u2019ll learn in Chapter 10 \"Taking Control of Your Health\". You can take control of your finances and avoid most financial problems common among college students, as you\u2019ll learn in Chapter 11 \"Taking Control of Your Finances\". You can learn how to build successful social relationships and get along better with your instructors, with other students, and in personal relationships. You can learn time management techniques to ensure you use your time effectively for studying. Most of the chapters in this book also provide study tips and guidelines to help you do well in your classes with effective reading, note-taking, test-taking, and writing skills for classes. <em class=\"im_emphasis\">Preventing<\/em> the problems that typically keep college students from succeeding is much of what this book is all about.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/computer-problem.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-519 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/computer-problem.jpg\" alt=\"Woman frowning in front of computer\" width=\"240\" height=\"160\" \/><\/a>Not all problems can be avoided. Illness or a financial problem can significantly set one back\u2014especially when you\u2019re on a tight schedule and budget. Other problems, such as a social or relationship issue or an academic problem in a certain class, may be more complex and not easily prevented. What then?\r\n\r\nFirst, work to resolve the immediate problem:\r\n<ol id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s05_l02\" class=\"im_orderedlist im_editable im_block\">\r\n\t<li>Stay motivated and focused. Don\u2019t let frustration, anxiety, or other negative emotions make the problem worse than it already is.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Analyze the problem to consider all possible solutions. An unexpected financial setback doesn\u2019t automatically mean you have to drop out of school\u2014not when alternatives such as student loans, less expensive living arrangements, or other possible solutions may be available. Failing a midterm exam doesn\u2019t automatically mean you\u2019re going to fail the course\u2014not when you make the effort to determine what went wrong, work with your instructor and others on an improved study plan, and use better strategies to prepare for the next test.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Seek help when you need to. None of us gets through life alone, and it\u2019s not a sign of weakness to see your academic advisor or a college counselor if you have a problem.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>When you\u2019ve developed a plan for resolving the problem, work to follow through. If it will take a while before the problem is completely solved, track your progress in smaller steps so that you can see you really are succeeding. Every day will move you one step closer to putting it behind you.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nAfter you\u2019ve solved a problem, be sure to avoid it again in the future:\r\n<ol id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s05_l03\" class=\"im_orderedlist im_editable im_block\">\r\n\t<li>Be honest with yourself: how did you contribute to the problem? Sometimes it\u2019s obvious: a student who drank heavily at a party the night before a big test failed the exam because he was so hung over he couldn\u2019t think straight. Sometimes the source of the problem is not as obvious but may become clearer the more you think about it. Another student did a lot of partying during the term but studied all day before the big test and was well rested and clearheaded at test time but still did poorly; he may not yet have learned good study skills. Another student has frequent colds and other mild illnesses that keep him from doing his best: how much better would he feel if he ate well, got plenty of exercise, and slept enough every night? If you don\u2019t honestly explore the factors that led to the problem, it\u2019s more likely to happen again.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Take responsibility for your life and your role in what happens to you. Earlier we talked about people with negative attitudes, who are always blaming others, fate, or \u201cthe system\u201d for their problems. It\u2019s no coincidence that they keep on having problems. Unless you <em class=\"im_emphasis\">want<\/em> to keep having problems, don\u2019t keep blaming others.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Taking responsibility doesn\u2019t mean being down on yourself. Failing at something doesn\u2019t mean <em class=\"im_emphasis\">you<\/em> are a failure. We all fail at something, sometime. Adjust your attitude so you\u2019re ready to get back on track and feel happy that you\u2019ll never make that mistake again!<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Make a plan. You might still have a problem on that next big test if you don\u2019t make an effective study plan and stick to it. You may need to change your behavior in some way, such as learning time management strategies. (Read on!)<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<div id=\"post-355\" class=\"post-355 chapter type-chapter status-publish hentry type-1\">\r\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\r\n<div class=\"im_section\">\r\n<div class=\"im_section\">\r\n<div id=\"mclean-ch03_s01_s02_n01\" class=\"im_key_takeaways im_editable im_block\">\r\n<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-success\">\r\n<h3>KEY TAKEAWAYs<\/h3>\r\n<section>\r\n<div data-type=\"note\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Goals should be realistic, specific, and time oriented, and you must be committed to them.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Setting priorities helps keep you focused on your goals but doesn\u2019t determine how you use your time at all times.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Attitude is often the major reason students succeed or fail in college. Everyone can work on developing a more positive, motivating attitude.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Planning, the essence of time management, is necessary to stay focused and continue moving toward your goals.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Networking with other students helps you stay motivated as well as making studying more effective.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Since problems and setbacks are inevitable, knowing how to solve problems is important for reaching goals. With a good attitude, most common student problems can be prevented.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/section><\/div>\r\n<h3 class=\"im_title\"><\/h3>\r\n<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-info\">\r\n<h3>EXERCISES<\/h3>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Which of the following goal statements is written in a way that shows the person has carefully considered what he or she wants to achieve?\r\n<ol id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s05_l06\" class=\"im_orderedlist\">\r\n\t<li>I will do better in my math course.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>I will earn at least a B on my next English paper.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>I will study more this term.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li>List ways in which a negative attitude can prevent students from being successful in college.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Think about your friends in college or other students you have observed in one of your classes. Choose one who usually seems positive and upbeat and one who sometimes or frequently shows a negative attitude about college. Visualize both their faces\u2014side by side\u2014as if you are talking to both of them. Now imagine yourself sitting down to study with one of them for a final exam. Describe how you would imagine that study session going.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Look back at the four students described at the beginning of the chapter. Each of them is experiencing some sort of problem that could interrupt their progress toward their goals. Think about each student and write down a solution for each problem that you would try to work out, if you were that person.\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>For Juan:<\/li>\r\n\t<li>For Becky:<\/li>\r\n\t<li>For James:<\/li>\r\n\t<li>For Sachito:<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li>List a few things you can do if you\u2019re having trouble getting motivated to sit down to study.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"post-citations sidebar\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"<div class=\"im_section\">\n<div id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_n01\" class=\"im_learning_objectives im_editable im_block\">\n<h3 class=\"im_title\"><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-highlight\">\n<h3>LEARNING OBJECTIVES<\/h3>\n<p>By the end of this section, you will be able to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Make short-, mid-, and long-term goals that are realistic and specific and commit to them.<\/li>\n<li>Set priorities for reaching your goals as a basis for time management.<\/li>\n<li>Develop an attitude for success.<\/li>\n<li>Learn to use strategies for staying focused and motivated.<\/li>\n<li>Network with other students to help ensure academic success.<\/li>\n<li>Solve problems and overcome setbacks that threaten your goals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Some people are goal oriented and seem to easily make decisions that lead to achieving their <span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">goals<\/span><\/span>, while others seem just to \u201cgo with the flow\u201d and accept what life gives them. While the latter may sound pleasantly relaxed, moving through life without goals may not lead anywhere at all. The fact that you\u2019re in college now shows you already have the major goal to complete your college program.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/progress.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-514\" src=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/progress.jpg\" alt=\"Progress sign on building\" width=\"240\" height=\"159\" srcset=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/progress.jpg 240w, https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/progress-65x43.jpg 65w, https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/progress-225x149.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><\/a>A goal is a result we intend to reach mostly through our own actions. Things we do may move us closer to or farther away from that result. Studying moves us closer to success in a difficult course, while sleeping through the final examination may completely prevent reaching that goal. That\u2019s fairly obvious in an extreme case, yet still a lot of college students don\u2019t reach their goal of graduating. The problem may be a lack of commitment to the goal, but often students have conflicting goals. One way to prevent problems is to think about all your goals and <span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">priorities<\/span><\/span> and to learn ways to manage your time, your studies, and your social life to best reach your goals. Consider these four students:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">To help his widowed mother, Juan went to work full time after high school but now, a few years later, he\u2019s dissatisfied with the kinds of jobs he has been able to get and has begun taking computer programming courses in the evening. He\u2019s often tired after work, however, and his mother would like him to spend more time at home. Sometimes he cuts class to stay home and spend time with her.<br \/>\n<span id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_bl02\" class=\"im_blockquote im_block\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">In her senior year of college, Becky has just been elected president of her sorority and is excited about planning a major community service project. She knows she should be spending more time on her senior thesis, but she feels her community project may gain her contacts that can help her find a better job after graduation. Besides, the sorority project is a lot more fun, and she\u2019s enjoying the esteem of her position. Even if she doesn\u2019t do well on her thesis, she\u2019s sure she\u2019ll pass.<br \/>\n<span id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_bl03\" class=\"im_blockquote im_block\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">After an easy time in high school, James is surprised his college classes are so hard. He\u2019s got enough time to study for his first-year courses, but he also has a lot of friends and fun things to do. Sometimes he\u2019s surprised to look up from his computer to see it\u2019s midnight already, and he hasn\u2019t started reading that chapter yet. Where does the time go? When he\u2019s stressed, however, he can\u2019t study well, so he tells himself he\u2019ll get up early and read the chapter before class, and then he turns back to his computer to see who\u2019s online.<br \/>\n<span id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_bl04\" class=\"im_blockquote im_block\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Sachito was successful in cutting back her hours at work to give her more time for her engineering classes, but it\u2019s difficult for her to get much studying done at home. Her husband has been wonderful about taking care of their young daughter, but he can\u2019t do everything, and lately he\u2019s been hinting more about asking her sister to babysit so that the two of them can go out in the evening the way they used to. Lately, when she\u2019s had to study on a weekend, he leaves with his friends, and Sachito ends up spending the day with her daughter\u2014and not getting much studying done.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>What do these very different students have in common? Each has goals that conflict in one or more ways. Each needs to develop strategies to meet their other goals without threatening their academic success. And all of them have time management issues to work through: three because they feel they don\u2019t have enough time to do everything they want or need to do and one because even though he has enough time, he needs to learn how to manage it more effectively. For all four of them, motivation and attitude will be important as they develop strategies to achieve their goals.<\/p>\n<p>It all begins with setting goals and thinking about priorities.<\/p>\n<p>As you think about your own goals, think about more than just being a student. You\u2019re also a person with individual needs and desires, hopes and dreams, plans and schemes. Your long-term goals likely include graduation and a career but may also involve social relationships with others, a romantic relationship, family, hobbies or other activities, where and how you live, and so on. While you are a student you may not be actively pursuing all your goals with the same fervor, but they remain goals and are still important in your life.<\/p>\n<p>Goals also vary in terms of time. Short-term goals focus on today and the next few days and perhaps weeks. Midterm goals involve plans for this school year and the time you plan to remain in college. Long-term goals may begin with graduating college and everything you want to happen thereafter. Often your long-term goals (e.g., the kind of career you want) guide your midterm goals (getting the right education for that career), and your short-term goals (such as doing well on an exam) become steps for reaching those larger goals. Thinking about your goals in this way helps you realize how even the little things you do every day can keep you moving toward your most important long-term goals.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/03\/8334714234_161961fd1a_o.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-480\" src=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/03\/8334714234_161961fd1a_o-220x300.png\" alt=\"8334714234_161961fd1a_o\" width=\"220\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/03\/8334714234_161961fd1a_o-220x300.png 220w, https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/03\/8334714234_161961fd1a_o-65x88.png 65w, https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/03\/8334714234_161961fd1a_o-350x475.png 350w, https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/03\/8334714234_161961fd1a_o.png 498w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 220px) 100vw, 220px\" \/><\/a>Write out your goals in Activity 1. You should literally <em class=\"im_emphasis\">write<\/em> them down, because the act of finding the best words to describe your goals helps you think more clearly about them. Follow these guidelines:<br \/>\n<strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Goals should be realistic.<\/strong> It\u2019s good to dream and to challenge yourself, but your goals should relate to your personal strengths and abilities.<br \/>\n<strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Goals should be specific.<\/strong> Don\u2019t write, \u201cI will become a great musician\u201d; instead, write, \u201cI will finish my music degree and be employed in a symphony orchestra.\u201d<br \/>\n<strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Goals should have a time frame.<\/strong> You won\u2019t feel very motivated if your goal is vaguely \u201cto finish college someday.\u201d If you\u2019re realistic and specific in your goals, you should also be able to project a time frame for reaching the goal.<br \/>\n<strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">You should really want to reach the goal.<\/strong> We\u2019re willing to work hard to reach goals we really care about, but we\u2019re likely to give up when we encounter obstacles if we don\u2019t feel strongly about a goal. If you\u2019re doing something only because your parents or someone else wants you to, then it\u2019s not your own personal goal\u2014and you may have some more thinking to do about your life.<\/p>\n<p>Activity 1: Personal Goals<br \/>\nWrite your goals in the following blanks. Be sure to consider all areas of your life\u2014consider <em class=\"im_emphasis\">everything important<\/em> that you want to do between this moment and old age. (While you might aim for three to eight goals in each section, remember that everyone is unique, and you may be just as passionate about just one or two goals or more than eight.)<\/p>\n<p>Short-term goals (today, this week, and this month):<\/p>\n<p>__________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n<p>__________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n<p>__________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n<p>__________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n<p>__________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n<p>__________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n<p>__________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n<p>__________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n<p>Midterm goals (this year and while in college):<\/p>\n<p>__________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n<p>__________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n<p>__________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n<p>__________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n<p>__________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n<p>__________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n<p>__________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n<p>__________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n<p>Long-term goals (from college on):<\/p>\n<p>__________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n<p>__________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n<p>__________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n<p>__________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n<p>__________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n<p>__________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n<p>__________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n<p>__________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s01\" class=\"im_section\">\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">Priorities<\/h2>\n<p>Thinking about your goals gets you started, but it\u2019s also important to think about priorities. We often use the word \u201cpriorities\u201d to refer to how important something is to us. We might think, <em class=\"im_emphasis\">This<\/em> is a really important goal, and <em class=\"im_emphasis\">that<\/em> is less important. Try this experiment: go back to the goals you wrote in Activity 1 and see if you can rank each goal as a 1 (top priority), 2 (middle priority), or 3 (lowest priority).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/Priority.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-515\" src=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/Priority.jpg\" alt=\"Priority label on package\" width=\"240\" height=\"180\" srcset=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/Priority.jpg 240w, https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/Priority-65x48.jpg 65w, https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/Priority-225x168.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><\/a>It sounds easy, but do you actually feel comfortable doing that? Maybe you gave a priority 1 to passing your courses and a priority 3 to playing your guitar. So what does that mean\u2014that you never play guitar again, or at least not while in college? Whenever you have an hour free between class and work, you have to study because that\u2019s the higher priority? What about all your other goals\u2014do you have to ignore everything that\u2019s not a priority 1? And what happens when you have to choose among different goals that are both number 1 priorities?<\/p>\n<p>In reality, priorities don\u2019t work quite that way. It doesn\u2019t make a lot of sense to try to rank goals as <em class=\"im_emphasis\">always<\/em> more or less important. The question of priority is really a question of what is more important <em class=\"im_emphasis\">at a specific time.<\/em> It is important to do well in your classes, but it\u2019s also important to have a social life and enjoy your time off from studying. You shouldn\u2019t have to choose between the two\u2014except <em class=\"im_emphasis\">at any given time<\/em>. Priorities always involve time: what is most important to do <em class=\"im_emphasis\">right now<\/em>. As we\u2019ll see later, time management is mostly a way to juggle priorities so you can meet all your goals.<\/p>\n<p>When you manage your time well, you don\u2019t have to ignore some goals completely in order to meet other goals. In other words, you don\u2019t have to give up your life when you register for college\u2014but you may need to work on managing your life more effectively.<\/p>\n<p>But time management works only when you\u2019re committed to your goals. Attitude and motivation are very important. If you haven\u2019t yet developed an attitude for success, all the time management skills in the world won\u2019t keep you focused and motivated to succeed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s02\" class=\"im_section\">\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">An Attitude for Success<\/h2>\n<p>What\u2019s your attitude <em class=\"im_emphasis\">right now<\/em>\u2014what started running through your mind as you saw the \u201cAn Attitude for Success\u201d heading? Were you groaning to yourself, thinking, \u201cNo, not the attitude thing again!\u201d Or, at the other extreme, maybe you were thinking, \u201cThis is great! Now I\u2019m about to learn everything I need to get through college without a problem!\u201d Those are two attitude extremes, one negative and skeptical, the other positive and hopeful. Most students are somewhere in between\u2014but <em class=\"im_emphasis\">everyone<\/em> has an attitude of one sort or another.<\/p>\n<p>Everything people do and how they do it starts with attitude. One student gets up with the alarm clock and cheerfully prepares for the day, planning to study for a couple hours between classes, go jogging later, and see a friend at dinner. Another student oversleeps after partying too late last night, decides to skip his first class, somehow gets through later classes fueled by fast food and energy drinks while dreading tomorrow\u2019s exam, and immediately accepts a friend\u2019s suggestion to go out tonight instead of studying. Both students could have identical situations, classes, finances, and academic preparation. There could be just one significant difference\u2014but it\u2019s the one that matters.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some characteristics associated with a positive attitude:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s02_l01\" class=\"im_itemizedlist im_editable im_block\">\n<li>Enthusiasm for and enjoyment of daily activities<\/li>\n<li>Acceptance of responsibility for one\u2019s actions and feeling good about success<\/li>\n<li>Generally upbeat mood and positive emotions, cheerfulness with others, and satisfaction with oneself<\/li>\n<li>Motivation to get the job done<\/li>\n<li>Flexibility to make changes when needed<\/li>\n<li>Ability to make productive, effective use of time<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>And here are some characteristics associated with a negative attitude:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s02_l02\" class=\"im_itemizedlist im_editable im_block\">\n<li>Frequent complaining<\/li>\n<li>Blaming others for anything that goes wrong<\/li>\n<li>Often experiencing negative emotions: anger, depression, resentment<\/li>\n<li>Lack of motivation for work or studies<\/li>\n<li>Hesitant to change or seek improvement<\/li>\n<li>Unproductive use of time, procrastination<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/high5.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright  wp-image-516\" src=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/high5-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Two men high-fiving outside\" width=\"235\" height=\"235\" srcset=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/high5-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/high5-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/high5-65x65.jpg 65w, https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/high5-225x225.jpg 225w, https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/high5-350x350.jpg 350w, https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/high5.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 235px) 100vw, 235px\" \/><\/a>We started this chapter talking about goals, because people\u2019s goals and priorities have a huge effect on their attitude. Someone who really wants to succeed in college is better motivated and can develop a more positive attitude to succeed. But what if you are committed to succeeding in college but still feel kind of doubtful or worried or even down on yourself\u2014what can you do then? Can people really change their attitude? Aren\u2019t people just \u201cnaturally\u201d positive or negative or whatever?<\/p>\n<p>While attitude is influenced by one\u2019s personality, upbringing, and past experiences, there is no \u201cattitude gene\u201d that makes you one way or another. It\u2019s not as simple as taking a pill, but attitude can be changed. If you\u2019re committed to your goals, you can learn to adjust your attitude. The following are some things you can start doing.<\/p>\n<div id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s02_s01\" class=\"im_section\">\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">Be More Upbeat with Yourself<\/h2>\n<p>We all have conversations with ourselves. I might do badly on a test, and I start thinking things like, \u201cI\u2019m just not smart enough\u201d or \u201cThat teacher is so hard no one could pass that test.\u201d The problem when we talk to ourselves this way is that we listen\u2014and we start believing what we\u2019re hearing. Think about what you\u2019ve been saying to yourself since your first day at college. Have you been negative or making excuses, maybe because you\u2019re afraid of not succeeding? You <em class=\"im_emphasis\">are<\/em> smart enough or you wouldn\u2019t be here. Even if you did poorly on a test, you can turn that around into a more positive attitude by taking responsibility. \u201cOK, I goofed off too much when I should have been studying. I learned my lesson\u2014now it\u2019s time to buckle down and study for the next test. I\u2019m going to ace this one!\u201d Hear yourself saying that enough and guess what\u2014you soon find out you <em class=\"im_emphasis\">can<\/em> succeed even in your hardest classes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s02_s02\" class=\"im_section\">\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">Choose Whom You Spend Time With<\/h2>\n<p>We all know negative and positive people. Sometimes it\u2019s fun to hang out with someone with a negative attitude, especially if their sarcasm is funny. And if we\u2019ve just failed a test, we might enjoy being with someone else who also blames the instructor or \u201cthe system\u201d for whatever goes wrong. As they say, misery loves company. But often being with negative people is one of the surest ways to stay negative yourself. You not only hear your own self-talk making excuses and blaming others and putting yourself down, but you hear other people saying it, too. After a while you\u2019re convinced it\u2019s true. You\u2019ve developed a negative attitude that sets you up for failure.<\/p>\n<p>College offers a great opportunity to make new friends. Friendships and other social relationships are important to all humans\u2014and maybe to college students most of all, because of the stresses of college and the changes you\u2019re likely experiencing. Later chapters in this book have some tips for making new friends and getting actively involved in campus life, if you\u2019re not already there. Most important, try to choose friends with a positive attitude. It\u2019s simply more fun to be with people who are upbeat and enjoying life, people whom you respect\u2014and who, like you, are committed to their studies and are motivated. A positive attitude can really be contagious.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s02_s03\" class=\"im_section\">\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">Overcome Resistance to Change<\/h2>\n<p>While it\u2019s true that most people are more comfortable when their situation is not always changing, many kinds of change are good and should be welcomed. College is a big change from high school or working. Accepting that reality helps you be more positive about the differences. Sure, you have to study more, and the classes are harder. You may be working more and have less time for your personal life. But dwelling on those differences only reinforces a negative attitude. Look instead at the positive changes: the exciting and interesting people you\u2019re meeting, the education you\u2019re getting that will lead to a bright future, and the mental challenges and stimulation you\u2019re feeling every day.<\/p>\n<p>The first step may be simply to see yourself succeeding in your new life. Visualize yourself as a student taking control, enjoying classes, studying effectively, getting good grades. This book will help you do that in many ways. It all begins with the right attitude.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s02_s04\" class=\"im_section\">\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">Overcome Fears<\/h2>\n<p>One of the most common fears of college students is a fear of failure\u2014of not being able to make the grade. We all know that life is not all roses and that we\u2019re not going to succeed at everything we try. Everyone experiences some sort of failure at some time\u2014and everyone has fears. The question is what you do about it.<\/p>\n<p>Again, think about your goals. You\u2019ve enrolled in college for good reasons, and you\u2019ve already shown your commitment by coming this far. If you still have any fear of failure, turn it around and use it in a positive way. If you\u2019re afraid you may not do well on an upcoming exam, don\u2019t mope around\u2014sit down and schedule times to start studying well ahead of time. It\u2019s mostly a matter of attitude adjustment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s03\" class=\"im_section\">\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">Stay Focused and Motivated<\/h2>\n<p>Okay, you\u2019ve got a positive attitude. But you\u2019ve got a lot of reading for classes to do tonight, a test tomorrow, and a paper due the next day. Maybe you\u2019re a little bored with one of your reading assignments. Maybe you\u2019d rather play a computer <a href=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/concentrating.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-517\" src=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/concentrating.jpg\" alt=\"Woman looking down with concentration\" width=\"240\" height=\"160\" srcset=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/concentrating.jpg 240w, https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/concentrating-65x43.jpg 65w, https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/concentrating-225x150.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><\/a>game. Uh oh\u2014now what? Attitude can change at almost any moment. One minute you\u2019re enthusiastically starting a class project, and then maybe a friend drops by and suddenly all you want to do is close the books and relax a while, hang out with friends.<\/p>\n<p>One of the characteristics of successful people is accepting that life is full of interruptions and change\u2014and planning for it. Staying focused does not mean you become a boring person who does nothing but go to class and study all the time. You just need to make a plan.<\/p>\n<p>Planning ahead is the single best way to stay focused and motivated to reach your goals. Don\u2019t wait until the night before an exam. If you know you have a major exam in five days, start by reviewing the material and deciding how many hours of study you need. Then schedule those hours spread out over the next few days\u2014at times when you are most alert and least likely to be distracted. Allow time for other activities, too, to reward yourself for successful studying. Then when the exam comes, you\u2019re relaxed, you know the material, you\u2019re in a good mood and confident, and you do well.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\">\n<p>Planning is mostly a matter of managing your time well, as we\u2019ll see later. Here are some other tips for staying focused and motivated:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s03_l01\" class=\"im_itemizedlist im_editable im_block\">\n<li>If you\u2019re not feeling motivated, think about the results of your goals, not just the goals themselves. If just thinking about finishing college doesn\u2019t sound all that exciting, then think instead about the great, high-paying career that comes afterward and the things you can do with that income.<\/li>\n<li>Say it aloud\u2014to yourself or a friend with a positive attitude: \u201cI\u2019m going to study now for another hour before I take a break\u2014and I\u2019m getting an A on that test tomorrow!\u201d It\u2019s amazing how saying something aloud puts commitment in it and affirms that it can be true.<\/li>\n<li>Remember your successes, even small successes. As you begin a project or approach studying for a test, think about your past success on a different project or test. Remember how good it feels to succeed. Know you can succeed again.<\/li>\n<li>Focus on the here and now. For some people, looking ahead to goals, or to anything else, may lead to daydreaming that keeps them from focusing on what they need to do right now. Don\u2019t worry about what you\u2019re doing tomorrow or next week or month. If your mind keeps drifting off, however, you may need to reward or even trick yourself to focus on the here and now. For example, if you can\u2019t stop thinking about the snack you\u2019re going to have when you finish studying in a couple hours, change the plan. Tell yourself you\u2019ll take a break in twenty minutes if you really need it\u2014but only if you really work well first.<\/li>\n<li>If you just can\u2019t focus in on what you should be doing because the task seems too big and daunting, break the task into smaller, manageable pieces. Don\u2019t start out thinking, \u201cI need to study the next four hours,\u201d but think, \u201cI\u2019ll spend the next thirty minutes going through my class notes from the last three weeks and figure out what topics I need to spend more time on.\u201d It\u2019s a lot easier to stay focused when you\u2019re sitting down for thirty minutes at a time.<\/li>\n<li>Never, ever multitask while studying! You may think that you can monitor e-mail and send text messages while studying, but in reality, these other activities lower the quality of your studying.<\/li>\n<li>Imitate successful people. Does a friend always seem better able to stick with studying or work until they get it done? What are they doing that you\u2019re not? We all learn from observing others, and we can speed up that process by deliberately using the same strategies we see working with others. <em class=\"im_emphasis\">Visualize yourself<\/em> studying in the same way and getting that same high grade on the test or paper.<\/li>\n<li>Separate yourself from unsuccessful people. This is the flip side of imitating successful people. If a roommate or a friend is always putting off things until the last minute or is distracted with other interests and activities, tell yourself how different you are. When you hear other students complaining about how hard a class is or bragging about not studying or attending class, visualize yourself as not being like them at all.<\/li>\n<li>Reward yourself when you complete a significant task\u2014but only when you are done. Some people seem able to stay focused only when there\u2019s a reward waiting.<\/li>\n<li>While some people work harder for the reward, others are motivated more by the price of failing. While some people are almost paralyzed by anxiety, others are moved by their fear to achieve their best.<\/li>\n<li>Get the important things done first. We\u2019ll talk about managing your academic planner and to-do lists later in the chapter, but for now, to stay focused and motivated, concentrate on the things that matter most. You\u2019re about to sit down to read a chapter in a book you\u2019re not much enjoying, and you suddenly notice some clothing piled up on a chair. \u201cI really should clean up this place,\u201d you think. \u201cAnd I\u2019d better get my laundry done before I run out of things to wear.\u201d Don\u2019t try to fool yourself into feeling you\u2019re accomplishing something by doing laundry rather than studying. Stay focused!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s04\" class=\"im_section\">\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">Network for Success<\/h2>\n<p>Making friends with people with positive attitudes not only helps you maintain a positive attitude yourself, but it gets you started networking with other students in ways that will help you succeed.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/network.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-518\" src=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/network.jpg\" alt=\"People cutouts connected by string\" width=\"240\" height=\"180\" srcset=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/network.jpg 240w, https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/network-65x48.jpg 65w, https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/network-225x168.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><\/a>Did you study alone or with friends in high school? Because college classes are typically much more challenging, many college students discover they do better, and find it much more enjoyable, if they study with other students taking same course. This might mean organizing a study group or just getting together with a friend to review material before a test. It\u2019s good to start thinking right away about networking with other students in your classes.<\/p>\n<p>If you consider yourself an independent person and prefer studying and doing projects on your own rather than with others, think for a minute about how most people function in their careers and professions, what the business world is like. Most work today is done by teams or individuals working together in a collaborative way. Very few jobs involve a person always being and working alone. The more you learn to study and work with other students now, the more skills you are mastering for a successful career.<\/p>\n<p>Studying with other students has immediate benefits. You can quiz each other to help ensure that everyone understands the course material; if you\u2019re not clear about something, someone else can help teach it to you. You can read and respond to each other\u2019s writing and other work. You can divide up the work in group projects. And through it all, you can often have more fun than if you were doing it on your own.<\/p>\n<p>Studying together is also a great way to start networking\u2014a topic we\u2019ll discuss more in coming chapters. Networking has many potential benefits for your future. College students who feel they are part of a network on campus are more motivated and more successful in college.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\">\n<h3 class=\"im_title\">Tips for Success: Staying Motivated<\/h3>\n<ul id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s04_l01\" class=\"im_itemizedlist\">\n<li>Keep your eye on your long-term goals while working toward immediate goals.<\/li>\n<li>Keep your priorities straight\u2014but also save some time for fun.<\/li>\n<li>Work on keeping your attitude positive.<\/li>\n<li>Keep the company of positive people; imitate successful people.<\/li>\n<li>Don\u2019t let past habits drag you down.<\/li>\n<li>Plan ahead to avoid last-minute pressures.<\/li>\n<li>Focus on your successes.<\/li>\n<li>Break large projects down into smaller tasks or stages.<\/li>\n<li>Reward yourself for completing significant tasks.<\/li>\n<li>Avoid multitasking.<\/li>\n<li>Network with other students; form a study group.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s04_n01\" class=\"im_callout im_editable im_block\">\n<h3 class=\"im_title\"><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s05\" class=\"im_section\">\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">Problem Solving: When Setbacks Happen<\/h2>\n<p>Even when you have clear goals and are motivated and focused to achieve them, problems sometimes happen. Accept that they <em class=\"im_emphasis\">will<\/em> happen, since inevitably they do for everyone. The difference between those who succeed by solving the problem and moving on and those who get frustrated and give up is partly attitude and partly experience\u2014and knowing how to cope when a problem occurs.<\/p>\n<p>Lots of different kinds of setbacks may happen while you\u2019re in college\u2014just as to everyone in life. Here are a few examples:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s05_l01\" class=\"im_itemizedlist im_editable im_block\">\n<li>A financial crisis<\/li>\n<li>An illness or injury<\/li>\n<li>A crisis involving family members or loved ones<\/li>\n<li>Stress related to frequently feeling you don\u2019t have enough time<\/li>\n<li>Stress related to relationship problems<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Some things happen that we cannot prevent\u2014such as some kinds of illness, losing one\u2019s job because of a business slowdown, or crises involving family members. But many other kinds of problems can be prevented or made less likely to occur. You can take steps to stay healthy, as you\u2019ll learn in Chapter 10 &#8220;Taking Control of Your Health&#8221;. You can take control of your finances and avoid most financial problems common among college students, as you\u2019ll learn in Chapter 11 &#8220;Taking Control of Your Finances&#8221;. You can learn how to build successful social relationships and get along better with your instructors, with other students, and in personal relationships. You can learn time management techniques to ensure you use your time effectively for studying. Most of the chapters in this book also provide study tips and guidelines to help you do well in your classes with effective reading, note-taking, test-taking, and writing skills for classes. <em class=\"im_emphasis\">Preventing<\/em> the problems that typically keep college students from succeeding is much of what this book is all about.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/computer-problem.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-519 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/computer-problem.jpg\" alt=\"Woman frowning in front of computer\" width=\"240\" height=\"160\" srcset=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/computer-problem.jpg 240w, https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/computer-problem-65x43.jpg 65w, https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ivytech-collegesuccess2x48x111\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2216\/2015\/04\/computer-problem-225x150.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><\/a>Not all problems can be avoided. Illness or a financial problem can significantly set one back\u2014especially when you\u2019re on a tight schedule and budget. Other problems, such as a social or relationship issue or an academic problem in a certain class, may be more complex and not easily prevented. What then?<\/p>\n<p>First, work to resolve the immediate problem:<\/p>\n<ol id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s05_l02\" class=\"im_orderedlist im_editable im_block\">\n<li>Stay motivated and focused. Don\u2019t let frustration, anxiety, or other negative emotions make the problem worse than it already is.<\/li>\n<li>Analyze the problem to consider all possible solutions. An unexpected financial setback doesn\u2019t automatically mean you have to drop out of school\u2014not when alternatives such as student loans, less expensive living arrangements, or other possible solutions may be available. Failing a midterm exam doesn\u2019t automatically mean you\u2019re going to fail the course\u2014not when you make the effort to determine what went wrong, work with your instructor and others on an improved study plan, and use better strategies to prepare for the next test.<\/li>\n<li>Seek help when you need to. None of us gets through life alone, and it\u2019s not a sign of weakness to see your academic advisor or a college counselor if you have a problem.<\/li>\n<li>When you\u2019ve developed a plan for resolving the problem, work to follow through. If it will take a while before the problem is completely solved, track your progress in smaller steps so that you can see you really are succeeding. Every day will move you one step closer to putting it behind you.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>After you\u2019ve solved a problem, be sure to avoid it again in the future:<\/p>\n<ol id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s05_l03\" class=\"im_orderedlist im_editable im_block\">\n<li>Be honest with yourself: how did you contribute to the problem? Sometimes it\u2019s obvious: a student who drank heavily at a party the night before a big test failed the exam because he was so hung over he couldn\u2019t think straight. Sometimes the source of the problem is not as obvious but may become clearer the more you think about it. Another student did a lot of partying during the term but studied all day before the big test and was well rested and clearheaded at test time but still did poorly; he may not yet have learned good study skills. Another student has frequent colds and other mild illnesses that keep him from doing his best: how much better would he feel if he ate well, got plenty of exercise, and slept enough every night? If you don\u2019t honestly explore the factors that led to the problem, it\u2019s more likely to happen again.<\/li>\n<li>Take responsibility for your life and your role in what happens to you. Earlier we talked about people with negative attitudes, who are always blaming others, fate, or \u201cthe system\u201d for their problems. It\u2019s no coincidence that they keep on having problems. Unless you <em class=\"im_emphasis\">want<\/em> to keep having problems, don\u2019t keep blaming others.<\/li>\n<li>Taking responsibility doesn\u2019t mean being down on yourself. Failing at something doesn\u2019t mean <em class=\"im_emphasis\">you<\/em> are a failure. We all fail at something, sometime. Adjust your attitude so you\u2019re ready to get back on track and feel happy that you\u2019ll never make that mistake again!<\/li>\n<li>Make a plan. You might still have a problem on that next big test if you don\u2019t make an effective study plan and stick to it. You may need to change your behavior in some way, such as learning time management strategies. (Read on!)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div id=\"post-355\" class=\"post-355 chapter type-chapter status-publish hentry type-1\">\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<div class=\"im_section\">\n<div class=\"im_section\">\n<div id=\"mclean-ch03_s01_s02_n01\" class=\"im_key_takeaways im_editable im_block\">\n<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-success\">\n<h3>KEY TAKEAWAYs<\/h3>\n<section>\n<div data-type=\"note\">\n<ul>\n<li>Goals should be realistic, specific, and time oriented, and you must be committed to them.<\/li>\n<li>Setting priorities helps keep you focused on your goals but doesn\u2019t determine how you use your time at all times.<\/li>\n<li>Attitude is often the major reason students succeed or fail in college. Everyone can work on developing a more positive, motivating attitude.<\/li>\n<li>Planning, the essence of time management, is necessary to stay focused and continue moving toward your goals.<\/li>\n<li>Networking with other students helps you stay motivated as well as making studying more effective.<\/li>\n<li>Since problems and setbacks are inevitable, knowing how to solve problems is important for reaching goals. With a good attitude, most common student problems can be prevented.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<h3 class=\"im_title\"><\/h3>\n<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-info\">\n<h3>EXERCISES<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Which of the following goal statements is written in a way that shows the person has carefully considered what he or she wants to achieve?\n<ol id=\"lochhaas-ch02_s01_s05_l06\" class=\"im_orderedlist\">\n<li>I will do better in my math course.<\/li>\n<li>I will earn at least a B on my next English paper.<\/li>\n<li>I will study more this term.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<li>List ways in which a negative attitude can prevent students from being successful in college.<\/li>\n<li>Think about your friends in college or other students you have observed in one of your classes. Choose one who usually seems positive and upbeat and one who sometimes or frequently shows a negative attitude about college. Visualize both their faces\u2014side by side\u2014as if you are talking to both of them. Now imagine yourself sitting down to study with one of them for a final exam. Describe how you would imagine that study session going.<\/li>\n<li>Look back at the four students described at the beginning of the chapter. Each of them is experiencing some sort of problem that could interrupt their progress toward their goals. Think about each student and write down a solution for each problem that you would try to work out, if you were that person.\n<ol>\n<li>For Juan:<\/li>\n<li>For Becky:<\/li>\n<li>For James:<\/li>\n<li>For Sachito:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<li>List a few things you can do if you\u2019re having trouble getting motivated to sit down to study.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-citations sidebar\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t <section class=\"citations-section\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t <h3>Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <div id=\"citation-list-55\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <div class=\"licensing\"><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Goal Setting. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Paula Naugle. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Flickr. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\">https:\/\/www.flickr.com<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Success in College. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: anonymous. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/2012books.lardbucket.org\/\">http:\/\/2012books.lardbucket.org\/<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Image of progress sign. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: David Ingram. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/7gGM2A\">https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/7gGM2A<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC: Attribution-NonCommercial<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Image of priority sticker. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Robert S. Donovan. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/dGyfqe\">https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/dGyfqe<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC: Attribution-NonCommercial<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Image of high five. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Peter Thoeny - Quality HDR Photography. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/raw4nU\">https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/raw4nU<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Image of concentrating woman. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Luigi Anzivino. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/e3DFR\">https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/e3DFR<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Image of networking. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Eugene Kim. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/4pwthA\">https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/4pwthA<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Image of computer troubles. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: CollegeDegrees360. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/cEJpCY\">https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/cEJpCY<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/section>","protected":false},"author":9,"menu_order":1,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Goal Setting\",\"author\":\"Paula Naugle\",\"organization\":\"Flickr\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Success in College\",\"author\":\"anonymous\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/2012books.lardbucket.org\/\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by-nc-sa\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Image of progress sign\",\"author\":\"David Ingram\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/7gGM2A\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by-nc\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Image of priority sticker\",\"author\":\"Robert S. 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