The Next Four Years of Your Life! (or five... or six)

It’s that time of year again, when extra-long twin bed sheets and egg crates are flying off the shelves at Target.  Apple and Dell has probably seen an increase in revenue over the past couple of weeks.  Eighteen-year-olds are saying goodbye to old friends and a life they once knew.

If you haven’t guessed it by now, we are entering those months when students are making that transition from high school to being college students.

I remember when it was my turn to go forth into the land of adulthood.  I was dropped off at Calhoun Hall at the University of Cincinnati.  I had my clothes, bedding, toiletries, and boom box (yes, this was pre-iPod).  I didn’t have my own computer so I had to find a computer lab to email my girlfriend-now-wife.  The campus seemed as big as its own small country.

But what I was equipped with was the knowledge that the best years of my life were here, and that what I did and how I did it would dictate the rest of my life.  That, along with the motivating pressure of being a first generation college student, is what propelled me for the next five years.

But for those of you who are entering college, it is your turn to find your motivation and seize vast opportunities that college offers you.  Even if you are not fortunate enough to attend the University of Cincinnati (smile) you have such an incredible journey to look forward to.  And no matter what your school is, your major, what fraternity or sorority you may join… here are a few things that I think may help  you achieve success in college: 

Prepare your toolkit – you are in for some long days ahead of you, where it will seem as if there are 30 hours in a day and it STILL won’t be enough.  Some items that you can keep on your person or in your dorm room/apartment that will make your life easier are: a good umbrella, a planner, hand sanitizer, a combination lock, a lanyard for your keys, and a reliable alarm clock.

Get involved – depending on the size of your institution, there will most likely be a student group that is devoted to your personal interest; and if such a group does not exist, just start one!  Developing leadership, networking, and social skills is what will set you apart from your competition.  My recommendation is to join each of three different types of groups: social/spirit, cultural, and political/service.  And remember not to be a passive member – really get involved, because the experienced gained is invaluable.

Study abroad – with today’s economy being global, it is important to have some experiential learning in another country.  Not only do you have the opportunity to gain course credit but you can travel to countries where the language, customs and culture is completely different than yours.  A friend of mine from college studied a full year in Japan.  Upon applying for jobs, the interviewer wanted to hear more about his international experience than anything else.  An added perk – most of the time you can use your financial aid to pay for the trip!

Develop school spirit – one easy way to make your college experience dull is to be apathetic.  Showing pride in your school will not only make your time there more enjoyable, but it will also form an emotional connection with you, current students and alumni who share the same passion for your college.  This is one of the most important reasons you should choose very carefully your college – because you are going to be spending way too much time and money not to be proud of it.

Make safety a priority – too often are college students making risky decisions when it comes to their personal safety.  For example, you can imagine how dangerous it would be to walk down a dark street on campus by yourself at 3 a.m.  Additionally, it is not the brightest idea the leave your textbooks and iPod in the front seat of your car, only to be broken into.  Making smart choices doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun.

Sit in the front of the class – some of you will have classes that have 50 people in it.  Some of you might have 500 people in it.  Regardless of the size, it is important that you are proactive with your learning, and one way is to sit in the front of the class.  By doing so, you will always be able to clearly hear the professor.  Additionally, you will find yourself directly in professor’s eyesight, and that shows then your initiative to learn (this could go a long way if you ever need help before or after class).

3-to-1 Rule – this was introduced to me during my freshman year at an orientation to help students prepare of the rigors of college study.  What it means is that for every credit hour of class you have, you should be spending at least three times that number in studying outside of the class room.  So if you are taking 15 credit hours per week, you need to study 45 hours per week.  That is a total of 60 hours a week devoted to your studies.  You may ask, “will I have time for anything else?!”  The answer is, and will always be “Yes!”  If you take a full week of 168 hours (7 days x 24 hours), you’ll be left with 108 hours after studying.  Providing you get 8 hours of sleep per night (56 hours), you will still have 52 hours remaining per week, or almost 7.5 hours per day.  That leaves plenty of time for working, extracurricular and personal time.

Pomp and Extreme Circumstance...

This is the most exciting time of the year for my alma mater, the University of Cincinnati.  No, it’s not the football bowl season.  And it is not March Madness.

This weekend is the Commencement exercises for the Class of 2011.

For me, already being a loyal and dedicated Bearcat, it is an extra special weekend because my sister will have, conferred upon her, a degree in Criminal Justice and will be continuing her education, pursuing a Masters in Community Planning.

After the speeches are made, and “Pomp and Circumstance” is played, and the thousands of pictures taken – recent graduates will have to face an uncertain reality as they enter this volatile workforce.  The unfortunate truth is that many graduates will be spending their free time tearing through newspaper Want Ads and career search engines while continuing to work their part-time jobs from college.  All the while, those refund checks they were so dependent on to pay their rent, car insurance, etc. are not longer available.

And it gets worse.

Those student loan lenders will start sending those letters, a friendly reminder that they are tens of thousands of dollars in debt.  I mean, they are more than happy to work with the grads to put their loans into forbearance but the interest is still accruing, ultimately increasing the principle amount of your loans. 

To be quite honest, there is not really good advice anyone can give you other than to stay optimistic, work hard and keep looking for opportunities.  That’s about it.  But here are a few ideas that may help you get back until you land that first job.  An important disclaimer: these ideas may not make your life very comfortable or glamorous, but it is designed to keep you from starving and living on the street.

Move back in with the ‘rents.
When looking back when I graduated, I definitely would not have moved back home to live with my mom if I had the choice.  Lets be honest here – there is no way after living the life of an independent college student I would have enjoyed a semblance of the lifestyle I had as an undergrad.  But I know that living under my mother’s roof I would benefit from almost hotel-style amenities.  I know that I would have the comfort of having a fridge with food in it, a place to wash clothes that do not require quarters, food cooked that I am pretty used to, and maybe the old bedroom I slept in for a number of years.  Keep in mind that the speed of life will probably slow down considerably, but the quality of life may be drastically improved.

Turn your hobby into a hustle.
Everyone is good at something.  Generally.  And if you are good at good at this “something” you typically enjoy doing it.  Since the pace of your life will be different than that of a college student, consider turning your hobby to an income generating project.  Do you like making costume jewelry?  Consider making a few bucks selling to family and friends.  Like baking cookies?  I promise there is always a market for baked goods, even if your only client is me!   It does not matter if your hobby is working on cars because everyone needs an oil change now and then (and most people would be willing to pay you instead of paying someone at a 10-minute oil change shop).  Bottom line – identify a hobby that suits you interests and discover a new way to make a few extra bucks.  And if you are living at home, the ‘rents may be willing to work for you pro bono.

Work those connections.
An important part of being a productive working professional is building a network of people with whom you can use as resources.  Professional development experts always talk about the importance of networking, but they often do not mention that college students are not totally equipped with the toolkit to build their networks while in school.  The main reason is because most full time students are in classrooms during the day, and studying and working in the evenings.  This typically allows for very little room to branch out to people who are heavily engaged in the workforce.  However, make sure that you connect with your favorite professors to ask about connections they have.  Utilize the services offered by alumni association, as many now have job posting sites just for alumni.  If you are in a fraternal organization, do not neglect to follow up with alumni brothers and sisters.  Talk to your parents, because I am sure they have met a few people after being in the workforce for a number of years.

Start branding your image now.
The good folks at Sprite definitely got it right… image is everything.  Unfortunately when people think image they think of the perception of celebrities and public figures.  The honest-to-goodness truth is that everyone has an image, and it is your responsibility to facilitate what that image is.  This includes your style of dress,  your work ethic, your congeniality, and even your online presence in social media (it is NOT A MYTH – potential employers do check Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to see who you really are!).  Please keep in mind the best part of branding your image is that you ultimately choose what your image is.  Simply be the person you say you are and you will be fine.

I will repeat that…  Please keep in mind the best part of branding your image is that you ultimately choose what your image is.  Simply be the person you say you are and you will be fine.

Keep an open mind.
So other people’s views, cultures, religions and ideas – yes, keep an open mind.  But what I am referring to is keeping an open mind in regards to your career.  I cannot tell you how many Political Science majors I know who are in banking and sales, or how many engineers are in law school.  For past generations, a career path was pretty linear in the fact that you got your degree in a certain field and you would do just that.  For 30-plus years.  With the new generations of Millennials, it is not uncommon to try different things until you are able to find a niche or mix that fits your skill set and personality.  My career took me from the corporate arena in management to higher education where I am now.  And to be honest, I am still not sure what I want to be when I grow up!  But do not be afraid to take advantage of an opportunity just because it is not what you are accustomed to.

Continue your education.
If you are still trying to land that first job, do not rule out going back to school.  Many students pursuing their Masters degrees have enrolled because they are waiting for a job prospect.  And I’m not even talking advanced degrees.  I cannot count on one hand how many people I have spoken to who are in business or education, and are coming back to get their Associate and Bachelors degrees in fields like Nursing and some social sciences.  If you are not in the career of your dreams, going back to school may be an option that could open many doors for you.