My First Year Seminar Class

This year I am teaching a First Year Seminar course for the first time. It is only a 1 credit course and we meet once a week. About sixty percent of the course is dedicated to essential aspects that will help first-year students succeed in college. We have one week devoted to time management, another to note taking and another to the effective use of library resources. The other 40% of the course is up to each professor. I decided to focus on Aristotelian habits that can help students succeed not only in college but in life. Here are the habits we focused on.

12 Habits for Success

Guided by a Clear Purpose

By Bernie Cantens

Habits should be guided by a clear purpose.

1. Be authentic: In the next four years, you will learn as much about yourself as you will about any other field of study. Do not change who you are, what you believe in, or your values just to fit in. However, be open to questioning these and to demand evidence and justification to support them.

2. Be humble: You will meet many who are smarter, faster, and more talented than you. That's okay.  Appreciate the talents and gifts of others. Find your niche, your passion. Do NOT compare yourself to anyone else. Competition is not external; it is within oneself. Success is not about beating others but rather about fulfilling your potential.

3. Be confident: Believe in yourself, in your ideas, your vision, your dreams. If you do not believe in yourself, then it will be difficult for others to believe in you.

4. Work at becoming reasonable: Reasonableness requires a commitment to evidence-informed decision-making and respect for open, civil dialogue, fair deliberation, thoughtful reflection, and sound argumentation.

5. Live with integrity: Say what you think and do what you say. Keep your promises and stay committed to your values.

6. Strive for excellence: Always give 110% in all that you do.  In all that you do!

7. Be vulnerable: Do not be afraid to admit you do not know. No one needs to know everything. Ask for help. No one can be successful on their own.

8. Be courageous: This does not mean to be rash. It means taking on a leadership position even if it scares you to do so, committing to things that take you out of your comfort zone, and stretching yourself by doing things that make you feel insecure. That is how you grow.

9. Be compassionate: Be ready to help your friends, neighbors, and serve others.

10. Be disciplined: You will not succeed at anything—relationships, academics, sports, or work— without discipline. When you have discipline, you do not need motivation.

11. Be grateful: Look for the good in things, in your circumstances, and in people, and appreciate them.

12. Be good: Don’t be bitter, resentful, or hate; do not seek revenge or to get even. Never cause harm intentionally and always strive to do what is best for those around you.