The start of school can be exciting and even a bit intimidating for some students. But Georgia State University’s Ira Johnson says it’s also an opportunity for significant growth, development and learning.
As director of TRIO Student Support Services at Perimeter College on Dunwoody Campus, Johnson oversees a program aimed at helping low-income, first-generation and disabled students navigate the rigors of college. Here, he shares seven strategies that hold great promise for success for every student:
- Believe you can succeed in college. Reflect on your academic and professional goals. Why did you enroll in classes in the first place? Do you want to become a teacher, an engineer or physical therapist? Whatever the goal, let it be your visual for staying focused on the road ahead.
- Take inventory of your strengths as a student. Ask yourself, “Do I learn best by hearing, seeing, doing or a combination of all?” Then adapt accordingly.
- Read your syllabus. It’s where you’ll find key information about the class expectations, assignments and due dates. Read it often.
- Take full advantage of the resources available to you as a student. If you’re TRIO eligible, check out the services available on your campus. Perimeter also has Learning and Tutoring Centers with certified tutors on every campus.
- Time management is key! Begin by getting a good planner. This can be the old-fashioned paper kind, an electronic version or both. Use it to schedule your class sessions, along with when you’ll commit to studying, socializing, etc.
- Get to know your instructors. Be the one person who waits until the classroom empties and introduces yourself to your instructor—asking about his or her office hours or for clarification about something he or she said during the lecture or about the syllabus.
- Some of us are adept at identifying friends on a social level. Likewise, it’s important to identify peer mentors who can help you out academically when needed. You must keep your eyes peeled to find that person in the class who can help you succeed.
As a bonus caveat, Johnson encourages students to be actively engaged in their learning. “You’re here to get the highest level of knowledge that you can,” he says.