By Courtney Chipman/reporter

During the Student Lifestyle Management workshop Sept. 23, a South Campus coordinator told students to become learners because learners last a lifetime while students last only until graduation.

Chris Carcerano of the center for academic success gave a presentation on how to make the transition into an academic environment as easy and effective as possible. He said doing so will, in turn, enable students to get an education or improve skills they will need for a job.

Discipline, responsibility, accountability, dedication, motivation and time management are key skills the students will use to make this transition an easy one, Carcerano said.

“Most of the fear in our lives comes from the unknown,” he said.

Carcerano said that is why he advises students making the transition to college to educate themselves on everything about their classes, professors and campus. He said the TCC catalog is always a useful resource for students who need help or have questions.

Relationships with faculty are also important, Carcerano said.

“Become a person rather than a name to your professors,” he said.  

Carcerano said students should introduce themselves to their teachers even if they have to do it a couple times before the instructors learn their names.

Students should use their time wisely and do the more tedious and challenging activities first, Carcerano said. They should also plan everything they do, even their free time, to assure they are as organized as possible and use their time the best they can.

“We [teachers] want you to study less time learning more things,” he said.

After students have become accustomed to college life, they must continue to better themselves, he said. He also told the students to stay away from negative influences, share their success with others and embrace challenges and leadership opportunities. The college education experience is not meant to be easy, he said.

Carcerano said, at times, students fail, but they should not be discouraged.

“Learning to fail means learning to pick yourself back up again,” he said.

If students can’t do that, Carcerano said the rest of what he had told them will not even matter.

“Never stop learning,” he said.