First-time students find importance of goal setting

By Brittnee Junkersfeld/reporter

As students filter back into school, first-time students discover the importance of setting goals and making enough time to complete them.

In college, attending class is the student’s responsibility although most professors enforce attendance. Balancing school, work and social activities presents challenges.

NE academic advisor Adam Baugh said being physically and mentally present and understanding the purpose of school is important to success.

“Ask yourself, why you are really here? Why are you in college?” he said. “Because you know as well as I do, on those tough days when people get tired of reading, studying and going to class, you better have a deeper meaning as to why you are here and not just because Mom and Dad said so.”

Baugh gives students a college success packet containing information about the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid, schedule building and class registration as well as helpful testing tips and steps to take after registering for classes.

Thinking long-term and setting goals helps students reach their potential, NE success coach Amanda Wasemiller said.

“If you come in thinking long-term, it helps you to set some goals. Setting goals is going to help you reach them,” she said. “Aim to move toward something faster than the alternative, which is to not have any and to not know what your end goal is. You can get nowhere far with no goals.”

She encouraged students to be aware of where they want to go and what they want to do next after finishing coursework at TCC.

“If you would have known at the beginning that you needed that 3.5, you would have worked toward that in those individual semesters,” she said.

First-year TCC student Andrew Bird said being involved with groups on campus and being in each class have been pivotal in his success.

“Essentially, college isn’t hard. If you actually go to the classes, you can find a nice groove,” he said. “If you are having a hard time adjusting, find something to do on campus. You won’t feel as weird most likely.”

Former student Connor Thompson received 50 credit hours at TCC before transferring to Texas A&M. He found that communicating with professors and avoiding procrastination have carried over in his success so far.

“I always remind myself of something I wish to have or accomplish later in life when taking a less desirable class, and it most definitely helps me to persevere throughout the semester,” he said. “One’s mentality to college can either be the key to their success or the reason why they failed in their goals, so that’s why I’d like to emphasize having a consistent, positive mindset.”