Welcome to the Fall Semester: Student Edition

I am going to set up a situation and then ask a question. Ready? Ok, suppose you just joined a local gym - you know, a place where you go to work out. Now for the question.

Why did you just join a gym?

1. I joined to get into better shape and improve myself as a human.
2. I joined to gain physical attributes that will help me dominate my foes in athletic sporting events.
3. I joined so that I could be a professional athlete after 4 years.
4. I joined because my parents told me to join (and they are paying for my gym membership).
5. I joined to meet boys/girls. I was told there would be boys/girls at the gym.
6. I joined because I completed all the levels at my previous gym and this is the next step. (levels? what's a level?)
7. I joined because this gym has this awesome new machine that I want to try out.
8. I joined so that I could complete all the exercises and get some certificate of completion.

Ok. Do you have your answer to this question? Can you defend your answer with a solid reason? I would guess so.

Next Question. Suppose you just enrolled at a local (or not so local) university - you know, a place where you go to take classes. Now for the question.

Why did you just enroll in college?

1. I enrolled to get a better understanding of things and improve myself as a human.
2. I enrolled to gain knowledge and skills that will help me have a better paying job.
3. I enrolled in order to have a particular professional career.
4. I enrolled because my parents told me to go to college and get a haircut (also, they are paying for my tuition).
5. I enrolled to meet boys/girls. I was told there would be boys/girls in college.
6. I enrolled because I graduated from high school at college is the next step.
7. I enrolled because this university has an awesome sports team.
8. I enrolled so that I can graduate.

Now, you have two questions and two answers. Compare your answers and reasoning.

Here is my main point. You are getting ready to spend 4 (or maybe more) years at a university. Why? You want to be sure you know why you are doing this. Unfortunately, I often see students start at a university for perhaps the worst of the above reason: to graduate. If all you want is a piece of paper that says you have a degree - I guess that's ok. However, you probably picked a very expensive way to get that paper. Oh, I get it. I do. I understand that some jobs just require a degree and that's it.

If your goal is to just get a degree, you end up picking the (seemingly) easiest major available. This is a mistake. It would be similar to joining a gym and then just doing the treadmill at the lowest setting. If you don't break a sweat, you are probably wasting your time. The same is true for courses. Don't take the easy path. If you don't it won't be worth your time (and money). Instead, challenge yourself. Become a better human.

__Bonus: __Take a look at Adam Savage's (from MythBusters) 10 Rules for Success. I think the most important one is number 2: "Getting good at stuff takes practice". If you don't have to work in a course, you either aren't trying or you already knew it.

I don't watch the cartoon Adventure Time, but there is a great quote. Jake the dog says (he's magic):

"Dude, suckin' at something is the first step to being sorta good at something."

I'm not sure if it's a real quote or not, but I like it. Here is a graphic version of it in case you want to print it out for your dorm or something.