By Briana Outlaw/reporter

NE English professor Ricki Krause fought back tears during College Success 101: Start on Track as students learned about the importance of GRIT: growth, resilience, integrity and tenacity.

Krause took a career test in 1966 and was told she would make a great secretary. Ronda Isaacs shared the fact Oprah Winfrey was told she was not fit for TV in the beginning of her career. Now, she owns a network.

“Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t accomplish your dreams,” Isaacs said. “You’ve just got to have GRIT and determination.”

Adviser Brittany Duncan told students about making the transition from high school to college.

“I had made good grades in high school and on my SAT,” she said. “I figured I knew what I was doing and that I would just continue to do that in college. But there are a couple of things that I wish I had known.”

Duncan discussed the importance of a mind shift. Two types of mindsets exist: fixed and growth. A growth mindset is essential to success.

“You become like the people that you hang around the most, so if you are around people that have a growth mindset, that can help too,” she said.

When a growth mindset occurs, goal directedness and positivity become the result, Duncan said. Attendees were given a test and discovered their grittiness and how to increase it as well as ways to understand failure.

“People with a growth mindset see failure as an opportunity to continue developing their skills,” she said.

Students discussed their study skills in a breakout session and interacted with other students about what they thought were the best tools.

“This is an excellent program, and I believe that all college students should be exposed and understand about their learning disciplines,” Krause said. “It was helpful for my students and for me.”

Adviser Carey Miller introduced Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, and students learned their type of intelligence paired with the best ways to learn.

“Everyone is smart, but while you’re in college, we want to help you find out: How are you smart? What career will play into your natural talents and abilities?” Isaacs said.

Success coach Amanda Wasemiller upgraded students’ goals. She revealed how to set SMART goals.

“When you change the way that you goal set, it changes the outcome, the success that you see.” she said.

By the end of class, more than half of students shared they felt more confident with their ability to be successful in college.

“I learned more about my mindset and how to be prepared to set better goals in the future,” NE student Ryan Carpenter said.