Learning As a Champion

One thing we know, the cost of higher education in today's world is not inexpensive. College requires a substantial investment of money and of life-time. It is therefore critically important that students make the most of this opportunity not just because of the cost but to prepare for the rest of their lives in a fast paced every changing world. The question I would ask every parent and every student is are you prepared with the necessary skills to succeed in college? In my years in education as a teacher, administrator, college president and university chancellor I rarely found a student who could not intellectually make the grade to graduation. However, in spite of that many did drop out of school in the first year sometimes in the first term. I often asked myself why that happens. They start with such excitement, dedication and optimism. In talking with a number of students who did drop out, I found that one of the most common reasons was that they just were not prepared to be an effective student in several critical areas. Some of those areas included: time mastery, project management, the art of discipline, the ability to plan, the ability to determine what matters most and the meaning of commitment. But I found there was another significant reason that contributed to their lack of success. Many seemed to run out of steam because they appeared to have no "fire in the belly." They had not connected with any real desire of their heart that motivated them to do the necessary work. Often this was because they had not put college into the perspective of the rest of their life. They have not determined what they really wanted to do when they were finished with college. College for many students seemed to be a place from which they wanted to escape, not an opportunity for them to prepare to be successful during the rest of their life. They didn't see it as a transformation process moving them from the person they are today into a new person ready for tomorrow. They had no idea of what they wanted for their life. They had not searched for the delight of their heart. While I know that will change many times, it is important that college is seen as a means to an end not an end unto it slef. A student must have a plan simply because if have no idea of where they are going, any road will do. Often under those circumstances they pick the wrong road over and over. College without a life plan fails to become an important milestone, rather it becomes simply something to get through! This program is designed to be an eight to ten week program to help students become more effective at those parts of life that will support them not only in college but in the remainder of their career. It will help them set a life plan to assure they have a sense of positive expectancy for their future that drives them to become a champion learner engaged in the process of education not someone just going through the motions. You will be investing thousands of dollars in this education. If you are not someone is! Now is the time to prepare for that journey so you can capitalize on the experience and receive throughout your life a positive return on your investment in both the time and money spent for education.