Don't Be Ordinary - Stand Out

Recently I saw one of my favorite Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes. This one included Q, a god-like creature, who allow Captain Picard to go back in time to when he first graduated from Starfleet Academy. In his youth he was brash, took risks and that caused him to be stabbed in a fight. In his trip back in time he wanted to change that, to be less risky, more ordinary. Q allowed him to change his past but when he went back to his future, he was no longer captain. He was now in a boring job on the ship taking orders from others. Q informed him that it was his qualities of brashness, his boldness, his risk taking that made him become the captain. He was seen by people because he had those qualities.

OK, why am I rehashing a Star Trek episode? One because it's good but more importantly, we can learn something from this episode. We can learn to not be ordinary. We can learn to stand out. Think about it. When you were growing up and wanted to be picked to be on a team, you had to stand out among your peers by being good at the sport. The same will be true for you throughout life. If you want to be selected for a job, or picked for a particular assignment, you have to find a way to stand out. Ways to stand out can include working longer than others, giving helpful input into a project, volunteering, etc. Whatever you do, find a way to be exciting and wanted. Just don't be ordinary.

Never Quit
Just a quick note to my followers. Never give up, never quit.

Top Ten Mistakes College Students Make - #9

#9.) Mishandling credit

This is part 2 of the 10 part series, Top Ten Mistakes College Students Make. Today's topic is the mishandling of credit.

Ah, the lure of credit. Credit can seem like a great thing when you don't have any money. Don't fall for the trap. Using credit to pay for items such as the late night pizza run or buying gifts for friends is not a smart use of credit. Remember, any money you borrow will have to be paid back with interest. Too many times students have let credit cards and loans get them in financial trouble, some having to leave school because they were so much in debt. Be smart about the use of credit. Graduate with as little debt as possible because these credit/loan companies will come looking for you after graduation, some even before you receive that diploma. Take debt seriously. Debt used correctly can help but too much debt can be disastrous to your future.

What are your thoughts on this? What do you think is the biggest obstacle facing college students? Please share your thoughts here.

Top Ten Mistakes College Students Make - #10

Each year millions of students go off to college to begin their collegiate journey. And each year millions of students end or derail that journey for various reasons. Many of the reasons students leave college can be avoided if students address certain issues before they become major problems. So today I will begin the blog series, The Top Ten Mistakes College Students Make. I will start the series in reverse order with number 1 being the top mistake students make. So today I will begin with Mistake #10.

Mistake #10 - Not Handling Roommate Issues
Does your roommate come in at all hours of the night disturbing you and not allowing you to get a good night sleep? Or are you and your roommate constantly fighting over various issues that makes your living arrangement unbearable? If this is the case, get help now. You may have to bring in an outside party such as the residence life dean at your school. If the situation continues to be a problem don't be afraid to ask for a different dorm room assignment. Not dealing with roommate issues can become an emotional burden that can create stress in your life which in turn can affect your classroom performance. Deal with roommate issues now!

Be Yourself

Ok, the title of this blog you have heard before. You have heard your parents say it, you have heard teachers say it, you have probably even heard your grandparents say it, "Be yourself baby". This is nothing new to you. But as you grow up and become a young adult, sometimes you forget to "be yourself" and you become what you think someone wants you to be. This someone can be a boyfriend/girlfriend, a friend, a teacher, your favorite club/group. It can even be a parent.

I am urging you today to not be made in someone else's image. Be who you are, be yourself. This doesn't mean you don't improve, learn, grow, or become better. This means you don't pretend to be someone who you are not to please other people. You cannot truly grow if you are not true to who you really are. Ask yourself one of the famous lines from animation history. In Disney's The Lion King, Simba, the rightful leader of his pride, was asked "Who are you?" Now I ask you, Who are you? Who are you meant to be? Are you a carbon copy of your friends? Are you just like the person next door? If so, that's boring. Be different, be unique, be exciting. How can you do that? Oh I know. Be Yourself!

College Loans: One Girl's Story

Below is a link to one girl's story of how she has to pay back over $120,000 in student loans on the original amount she borrowed, which was $43,000. Please listen to her story because you can learn from it. I cover borrowing money in my book, The Secret to College Success. Only do it if you really have to; sometimes it may be best to take a small course load and work to save for college instead of borrowing money. Please read her story.

Read her College Loan Story Here