Tri-C Challengers Guide

Practical advice for college success

and personal growth

Compiled by:
Ryan Rodriguez (English)
Toni Pickens (Counseling)
Lisa Belcher-Nelson (Counseling)
Diane Gaston (Philosophy)
Cindy Holland (Psychology)

ABLE OF CONTENTS

1. College 101: The Welcome Mat

Introducing students to the academic world, this chapter will outline how Tri-C fits into the world
of higher education, how having the right disposition and attitude will help you succeed, and will
discuss Tri-Cs Student Handbook including student rights and responsibilities.

2. Connections
Discussing the importance of engagement, how to engage effectively, this chapter stresses the
resources available at Tri-C and the opportunities they present to help student success.

3. Tech Support and Library Resources

Stressing the importance of technology in the modern world, this chapter highlights the key
elements of understanding and using computers and technology.

4. Time is on Your Side

Highlighting goal setting, this chapter introduces concepts important to personal time management
and setting and reaching clear goals.

5. Making the Grade

Covering basic best practices in the academic world, this chapter addresses the importance of
critical thinking, good study and test taking practices, and introduces students to the basic elements
of writing essays and exams, improving test-taking skills, and completing projects.

6. Planning Your Career Path

Addressing the importance of having a clear path towards a fulfilling career, this chapter provides
a self-evaluation of personality, values, skills, and interests. In addition, it provides the resources
available to students in Career Services and Academic Counseling.

7. The Whole Self

Physical, social, and emotional components of our lives are reviewed to stress the importance of
finding a good working balance in our personal and professional existence.

8. Money Matters
Basic concepts in personal and academic finances are reviewed to improve financial literacy and
better understand how to properly plan and budget for school and life.

HAPTER TEMPLATE:

Introduction:
An overview of each chapter, its importance and content.

Subtopics:
Addresses the main components of the larger chapter topic.

Activities/Exercises:
Activity suggestions are included in each chapter.
References to relevant websites, applications, and campus places are included.
One of the activities in each chapter is a "walkabout" exercise, physical in nature.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Additional Resources:
Student Handbook

Another important resource to help in your transition to college is the Tri C Student Handbook.
The Handbook is an informative document that provides our mission, vision and values In
addition, this resource provides you with a hands on resource for information about essential
life skills, time management, goal setting, and creating an academic plan. It also contains
important phone numbers, an academic calendar, college policies and procedures (including
student rights!), links to academic support systems, grading criteria, graduation, enrollment
information, financial aid information, online services, and student services and special
programs. Review this resource and use it to your advantage.

Supplemental Blackboard Site

FYE Blackboard Site

The supplemental Blackboard site (which contains this manual) will provide additional resources
including hyperlinks to articles and YouTube videos.
3

HAPTER ONE: College 101: The Welcome Mat

You've made a big decision. Becoming a college student is a large investment in your time, money,
and most importantly, an investment in your greatest resourceyou.
It is our goal as a college community to help you succeed in making this investment pay off.
According to Dr. Patricia Windham and the graph below (Florida Department of Education, 2006)
students are more likely to stay enrolled, be academically successful, transfer, and graduate if they
have had a FYE course. In Florida, FYE courses are labeled SLS (Student Life Skills) courses.

The moral of the story is don't see this course as an impediment, something you "have to do,"
rather, see it as an opportunity to increase your chances of success. Our goal, and the goal of this
course, is to aid you in getting the most out of your college experience, and of course to earn that
all-important, and helpful, degree.
Be sure to check out this article from US News, by Alexendra Pannoni. The article addresses
frequently asked questions about community colleges:
www.usnews.com/education/community-colleges/articles/2015/02/06/frequently-askedquestions-community-college

Your time at Tri-C is important. Gaining your degree is important. Engaging with Tri-C faculty
and staff, your FYE instructor, the FYE Resource Manual, and the BB Resource Site will increase
your chances of success.
How do you increase your odds of succeeding in college?
Each faculty person you meet has encountered many of the same challenges you are now facing.
They are experienced. Rely on faculty to increase your odds for success! Faculty learned years ago
how to navigate the sometimes treacherous waters of college (and they are still learning!). We all
have challenges. Use the expertise of the person in front of your classroom: talk with them before
or after class; meet with them during their office hours.
One of the biggest mistakes students make is to stop communicating, especially when life
happens. Every person at this college knows life is often very challenging and in these cases you
may need extra, specific help. Faculty and staff are here to help you conquer your roadblocks.
Many Tri-C programs are designed to assist you in these areas and are presented in the next
chapter.
In fact, our success as a college is based on your achievement. We know, working together, you
will become the high-level scholars, health care workers, athletes, entertainers, film editors, police
officers, chefs. . . (the list goes on and on) of the future. We encourage you to set goals, reach
them, and add your future victories to our community of success stories. Our institution was
designed to make this happen. If you choose to engage with a committed and open mind, not
giving up quietly when things get rough, but facing your challenges head on with our college
family squarely in your corner, you will find success.
Part of making this happen will include asking you to reflect on your own skills and attitude as
you undergo the challenge of earning a college degree. We will work to find ways to help you
succeed in academics and excel in work force training. The goal is to help you succeed in life.
The academic success process includes you cultivating the skills you possess and discovering new
tools for the future.
Even the most prepared students have questions about college: Would you like to be more
confident in writing or math? Want to know how to better engage in our community? Need to find
a clear path to a good career? Want the best odds for a return on your college investment? No
matter where you fit inthis class is for you. If you are very confident in your chances for success
in college, get to know our college! Use our many resources and flourish in our programs. Excel
and make connections in this course as you learn about our community and grow from engaging
and sharing with your peers.
In short, the Tri-C community is here to support you. With that in mind, the First Year
Experience course is designed to help you succeed through information sharing, best practices,
peer and community interaction, and self-introspection. Lets get going and lets have some fun
along the way.
Comingtogetheristhe
beginning...working
togetherissuccess.

(1863-1947)
5

Disposition and Attitude

It can be argued (quite convincingly) that having a good attitude is the most important criteria for
success. Shawn Anchor was a former scholar and researcher at Harvard University and his
research suggests that success in the classroom has less to do with intelligence and more to do with
dispositionattitude. Click on this link to see how Eric Barker reported on Anchors work:
http://observer.com/2015/04/harvard-research-reveals-a-fun-way-to-be-more-successful/.
The good news is that our attitudes are highly malleable. People change their attitude multiple
times in a day. You can control the way you think and feel about your college experience.

So what makes up a good attitude?

Faculty are often frustrated with victim talk. The following statements are taken from the City
University of New Yorks, ASAP College Success Seminar manual (www.cuny.edu/asap). How
and why are these statements self-defeating? How would the people you know and respect respond
to the situations below?

Im too shy to ask questions in class, even when Im confused.

Hes a lousy instructor. Thats why I failed the test.

I hate group projects because people are lazy and I end up doing most of the work.

I wish I could write better, but I just cant.

My friend got me so angry that I cant even study for the exam.

The financial aid form is too complicated to fill out.

I work nights so I didnt have time to do the assignment.

I wouldnt be late so often if I had more time

A good attitude is primarily a positive attitude, but is also realistic. Positive doesnt mean that life
doesnt pose challenges, just that it is logical to find solutions instead of dwelling on the problem.
Ask for help! Ask for clarification! Seek solutions!
How do you make the change to have a better attitude more often?

Accept personal responsibility and develop internal motivation.

Ask for help when needed.

Consider and change the language you use to think/talk about problems.

Focus on positive aspects of the situation and seek solutions within your control.

Know yourself and your limitations and challenge them, and strive to be the person you
want to be.

ELIMINATE CANT!

Model the positive traits you see in others.

Prioritize and manage your own time and energy.

Become a lifelong learner and be curious about the world around you.

Understand your emotional triggers and responses.

Your positive attitude gives you an advantage in life; believe in yourself.

Success is not a matter of chance,

it is a matter of choice.
-Anonymous

DIFFERENCES AMONG HIGH SCHOOL,

FULL-TIME WORK, AND COLLEGE

High School
Attendance is mandatory in
order to meet requirements; at
least 6 continuous hours spent
in class each day

Full-Time Work

College

Attendance mandatory in
order to stay employed; at
least 8 continuous hours spent
at work each day

Attendance possibly not

mandatory; different amounts
of time spent in class and
between classes each day

Very little choice in what

May have little choice in work
classes you take and when you assignments and when the
take them
work is to be completed

More flexibility in when you

work on assignments and how
soon you complete them
before the due date

Moderate to no outside work

necessary to be successful

Substantial amount of outside

work to complete assignments
and to be successful
Professors choose whether to
check all homework or
provide feedback on progress
at regular intervals; may not
inform you if you are not
meeting the standards of the
course
Professors present concepts
and theories and expect you to
evaluate the ideas, synthesize
the ideas with other concepts
you have learned, and develop
new theories
Professors have standards and
grading criteria, that often
allow only a few chances
(through infrequent
testing/assignments) to meet
them

Teachers check homework

and keep you up to date on
progress; will inform you if
you are not completing
assignments and not
progressing well

Moderate to no overtime work

necessary to complete job
duties
Supervisors check completion
and quality of work at regular
intervals; will inform you if
you are not meeting the
standards for the position

Teachers review material and

expect that you remember
facts and information

Employers provide basic

information and expect that
you use it to complete the job
effectively

Frequent tests over small

amounts of material with
opportunities for grades to be
raised if needed

Employee improvement plans

allow you to improve your
ratings if needed

What are your expectations of college? It isnt the 13th grade of High School. It is challenging
and adjustments will need to be made to fit into your new environment. It is important as you
enter college to consider the differences above. Which of the differences above is the biggest
change for you? Which difference is the biggest challenge?

Why is a college degree valuable in regards to your pocketbook?

Your college degree or certificate program is almost always worth the money and time invested.

(United States Department of Education, Adult College Completion Toolkit Tolbert, Michelle
2013)

Education is the most powerful

weapon with which you can change

Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)

ctivities

Activity 1: Qualities of Successful People

A. List the qualities of a successful student. List the qualities of an unsuccessful student.
B. List the qualities of a person you know and respect. Compare the qualities of a successful
student and those people you know and respect. Which qualities are learnable skills and
which qualities are learned behaviors? How can you develop and cultivate these qualities
that successful people share. Discuss as a class.
Activity 2: Understanding the Student Handbook
Presented by your instructor with various problems and scenarios you might find in college, find
the solution in the Tri C Student Handbook.
Activity 3: Play the Role
Working in a group, write a short scene that demonstrates disrespect in the classroom (keep it
clean!). Act this scene out. As a class, decide which qualities arent acceptable in a college
atmosphere and why.
Activity 4: Selfie
In a small group, take a selfie with a college employee at the campus. Write a caption that gives
their name, title, and a description of their role with the college. Options can include but arent
limited to the presidents office, deans office, counseling center, financial aid, the enrollment
center, career center, academic affairs, the tutoring center, bookstore, etc.
Activity 5: Educational Autobiography
Describe your relationship with formal education throughout your life. Start from your childhood
and work your way to the present day. Discuss the peaks and valleys, expressing your opinion
about your education and how your attitude towards it has changed.
Activity 6: Entrance Interview
Answer your instructors questions about your station in life which may include your educational
background, employment/volunteer history, predictions and concerns about your college
education, and big worries you might have in the future.

10

hapter 2: Connections

The first decision you make when first entering a college classroom is where to sit. Sitting near
the front wont guarantee your success or failure at college. However, just going from the parking
lot to an isolated seat, not joining class discussion, not talking with many of your peers, and
immediately returning home does not bode well for your success.
Make connections at college! Communicate with people. Join a club . . . engage! Quite simply,
your engagement with the college community is one of the most important element in a positive
college experience.

Frequentinteractionwithfacultyismorestronglyrelatedto
satisfactionwithcollegethananyothertypeofinvolvement.

--Alexander Astin from What Matters in College? (1993)

What is quality engagement and involvement?

Besides creating the right disposition for success (see Chapter 1), honing your classroom skills
(Chapter 5), attending class regularly, and understanding instructor and classroom expectations
you should consider the following steps to create productive engagement with faculty:

Request the syllabus and meet your instructor before the start of class
Utilize instructor office hours to discuss any concerns you may have with the course
Come to class prepared (complete reading assignments and homework); being prepared
helps to overcome self-doubt
Utilize class time to clarify concepts you might not understand. Listen and engage in the
classroom activities
Treat your instructors with respect; utilize good manners and exhibit professional behaviors
Remember, your instructors are people too!

11

The connections we make to faculty and peers dont just help you succeed in the classroom. After
you graduate, the connections you make often serve you in the professional world. For example,
almost every job requires references (often written letters of reference and evaluation).
Transferring to other academic pursuits certainly requires additional recommendations about the
quality of your work, and the quality of your character. Faculty members and staff are great
resources in this regard. Obviously, if you dont create these relationships, you may miss out on
important resources. When you have a particularly good class, send a thank you email, stop by
and tell the instructor what you most liked about a course. Ask questions. Be curious. Most
instructors like to talk!
You should also look to create productive relationships with your peers. Not only can they provide
support, direction, share information and advice, but you are sharing the same experiences. You
are going to college, the same college, and facing many of the same hurdles. Learn from on
another. Share with one another. There is room for all of us to succeed. In fact, everyone meeting
their goals is exactly what we want!
Maybe the most important way (after fully engaging in your classes) to connect to the college is
through the many programs and opportunities Tri-C offers.

Connect Directly!
Some of the best ways to connect are outside of the classroom. Our college has an abundance of
ways to connect academically, socially, and through volunteer activities. We also have
opportunities for employment! The following is a list of some of the various ways to connect:
Each Tri C campus has a Student Life and Athletics/Recreation Office that oversees various
programs and activities including . . .

Drama Club
Breakwall Literary Magazine
History Club
International Club
Phi Theta Kappa (honors society)
The Voice (student newspaper)
Xtreme Fitness and Wellness Club
Disney Fanime Club

. . . and many more! Search the following link to find more club opportunities:
http://www.tri-c.edu/student-life/

Campus Specific Connections

Because Tri-C has four main campuses, many clubs and programs are only located in one specific
location. Make sure to check online for information about clubs and programs available on your
main campus.
Our college is an active place. Check the Tri C calendar for events on each campus to keep up to
date with what is going on each day!
http://events.tri-c.edu/
12

Student Governance
In addition to clubs you could think about joining student government. Check out the following
website to learn how to participate:
http://www.tri-c.edu/student-life/student-government.html
Student Support Programs
Tri-C programs that directly support students in different ways include:

Access - The Access Program supports students with disabilities at any Tri-C campus.
Common disability types include learning disabilities, sensory limitations, psychiatric
conditions, physical mobility conditions and chronic health issues. All matters related to a
persons disability are kept confidential.

TRiO - Student Support Services (SSS) helps students graduate with an associate degree or
transfer to a 4-year school for a bachelor's degree. The program is open to students who
are either low-income or whose parents did not graduate with a bachelor's degree.

Tech Prep - The Tri-C Tech Prep Program enables high school students in grades 11 and
12 to participate in state-approved career and technical programs to earn articulated college
credit upon high school graduation.

Career Services - The Career Center provides free services to support and prepare
students, alumni and community members for a successful job search through workshops
and individual career coaching. Assistance is provided with identifying co-op/internship or
full-time employment through job fairs and on campus recruiting days.

Mentoring - The Mentoring Program matches students with faculty and staff members to
provide personalized support and connection to campus resources.

Financial Aid - This office is dedicated to helping students navigate financial aid options
for paying for their college expenses. Students can meet with a Student Financial Aid
Advisor to obtain information about various financial aid options, which includes grants,
scholarships, student loans, and public benefits.

Project Go - This grant funded program provides support and assistance to students who
may face financial challenges while working toward their educational goals. Tri-C staff
and interns act as benefit coaches for students. Participants are able to determine eligibility
and apply for public benefits from 4 campus locations.

Black American Council - This organization provides comprehensive programs for

students through community outreach and involvement, career development opportunities,
workshops and forums, and cultural awareness through activities and field trips. The
group's Mentoring Program links students, faculty, and staff in relationships that encourage
student excellence and provide continuous support. Scholarships are awarded to students
each year based on achievement.

13

Hispanic Council - This organization facilitates the implementation of Hispanic initiatives

to benefit Tri-C and the Hispanic community. The Council offers student support for
admissions and registration, help with the financial aid process, advocacy, and connection
to Tri-C programs, services, faculty and staff, including members who are bilingual.

Women in Transition - This non-credit, eight-week session is designed to positively

transform the participant and empower them to move forward in their lives through
education and training. Curriculum is based on Personal Development, Career Exploration,
Computer Class, and Workshops.

Tutoring - All tutoring services are free of charge to Tri-C students for the courses in
which they are currently enrolled and are available by appointment or walk-in! Please
bring your Student ID to your campus Learning Center to receive tutoring services.

Writing Center - The consultants in the Writing Center can help writers during any phase
of the writing process, on any subject, from brainstorming to a final copy and anywhere in
between. They assist in document preparation, citation style, research, and other technical
aspects of the writing process. They also help with creative writing, personal writing,
technical communication, and college entrance essays.

Veterans Services - Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces are provided with access to
affordable education and workforce training programs that allow them to transition
successfully from military to civilian life. Veteran Campus Support Teams are comprised
of specialists from key departments throughout the college for areas of support in which
veterans require services.

Counseling - The Counseling Center provides academic, career, and personal counseling
to students. Success Workshops are also offered to help students excel inside and outside
the classroom.

You can find out more information about any of the services above by searching for them on the
Tri-C website.
Volunteering and connecting to the larger community
Tri-C is directly connected to the community in a variety of ways. From our High School Rock
Off to the Tri C Jazzfest, corporate sponsorships to partnerships with other colleges and
Universities, Tri-C is very active in the community. As a part of this, we partner and support many
non-profit organizations that have volunteer opportunities. To help you engage, consider some of
these opportunities to enhance your own community!
Connect to the following web link to get a full list of volunteer opportunities:

http://www.tri-c.edu/student-life/documents/volunteer-opportunities.pdf
Some of the organizations include:

Domestic Violence and Child Advocacy Center

Cleveland Animal Protective League
The Cleveland Orchestra
14

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland

Cleveland Metro Parks
Ronald McDonald House
The Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland
Habitat for Humanity
Wounded Warrior Project
Business Volunteers Unlimited

Peruse some of the following social media sites to see how our college is active online:
www.tri-c.edu/about/follow-us.html

Facebook Linkedin

Twitter Youtube Google

Check out the Tri-C Mobile App for your smart phone!

Tri-C Mobile lets you access a wide range of essential college life
information and services like interactive campus maps, Blackboard courses, financial aid
information, campus news, and the campus directory, all on the go, directly from your
Smartphone. Best of all, it is free of charge!

15

ctivities:

Activity 1: Research a Tri-C program or volunteer activity and write a paragraph about it
describing it and your interest in it. *Homework option: Bring in a perishable food item to class.
Find out where the Student Food Bank drop box is and help someone out!

Activity 2: Research a club or student organization either online or in person.

http://www.tri-c.edu/student-life/student-clubs/index.html.
Present a 1-2 minute presentation on the club or organization you are interested in to your peers.

Activity 3: Review Tri-Cs online social media presence. Choose one of the social media outlets
listed on the link above and send a message to us, post a comment, and/or explore and engage!
Write a paragraph describing the online experience.

Activity 4: In small groups, go to one of the following campus places and find out what events
and activities are unique to your specific campus.
Student Life and Recreation
Counseling
Academic Affairs
Welcome/Information Desk
Presidents Office
Career Center
Present the information about your campus to the class.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

16

hapter 3
Tech Support and
Library Resources

Make no mistake, we live in a digital world. Our jobs, our entertainment, our social networks, our
education, our communication, all happen digitally and within the framework of a rapidly
shrinking globe. Almost every aspect of our lives is affected by technology. This digital world
will not decrease in importance. In fact, you can be almost certain you will need to be
technologically aware, and skilled, in order to reach your goals.
If you feel very overwhelmed when you think about technology, know that you have help with the
basics. If you dont know much this chapter offers Tri-C help: computer classes, free workshops,
online tutorials, including tutoring in the Technology Learning Center (TLC), and much more.
The internet has created the largest collection of information the world has ever known. From the
famous library of Alexandria to the library of Congress, no place compares to our current World
Wide Web. Having this tremendous resource for information, however, does not equal knowledge
and wisdom. How we find and interpret this information is crucial to our success in academics, in
the marketplace, and can readily help us live our lives more productively and fully.
The devices we use to communicate change rapidly. How we interface with these devices,
fortunately or unfortunately, significantly contributes to our successes in life, academics, and the
working world. Read the material below to learn information which will help you with two critical
topics around which your life at Tri-C will often be centered. The first topic explains the different
types of formats in which classes are offered. The second topic covers the Tri-C Library resources
and Information Literacy.

Technology in the Classroom

There are three ways to take classes at Tri-C: brick and mortar (face-to-face), fully online courses,
and blended/hybrid courses. It is important to understand the differences in these formats and
perhaps more important to understand which format fits you best.
Online courses allow students to complete all course requirements without coming to a Tri-C
campus. Students engage with their faculty member and other students, complete assignments, and
participate in instruction all via the Blackboard Learning Management System. *Tests may be
online or in a suitable proctored environment.

17

Students that succeed in online courses:

Are computer savvy (including accessing and understanding Blackboard) and can easily
navigate the internet
Are self-motivated, self-disciplined, manage time well, and are independent learners
Know how to stay in communication with the class and professor

Blended learning courses, also called hybrid classes, blend online and face-to-face classroom
instruction. Students participate in classroom instruction with a faculty member and other course
activities in the virtual environment. Watch this video to find out more about Blended Learning:

http://youtu.be/nmJkGA0YOdc
Students that succeed in hybrid/blended courses:
Are computer savvy
Want some face-to-face contact with professor
Know how to stay on task with few face-to-face prompts
Brick and Mortar or Face-to-Face courses are the most common format for classes. These
traditional courses may or may not include an online component.
Students that succeed in face-to-face courses:
Like the energy and community created in a classroom
Are comfortable taking notes, speaking in front of people, and interacting with peers and
faculty
Ultimately each course is different. Just because you have an online course, this doesnt mean you
wont be expected to come to campus for certain assignments. This is true for blended learning
classes and brick and mortar/face-to-face courses. Although there are standard definitions for each
specific class format, professors sometimes like to change things up to keep them fresh. The best
suggestion for you as a student, is to email the professor before you register and ask for a copy of
the syllabus so you know exactly how the class will run.
When you sign up for your courses, make sure that you have the right course format! This is
located to the far right on the description of the class (it is large and red type below but not on the
course search! See the screenshot below for an example:

80974 ENG 1010 West 3.000 College

M 11:30
Composition
01:20
I
Day

82068

ENG 1010 West 3.000

am- 20 4 16 12 0 12 Instructor 09/08pm

Name
12/13
14-Week
Session

College Composition I

-West
Liberal Blended
Arts B 212
Learning

26 0 26 12 0 12 Instructor
Name

08/2412/13
Full Term

Online

18

Go to the following link to find out more about these various learning formats, online programs,
e-learning, electronic student services, and more!
http://www.tri-c.edu/online-learning/index.html

Library and Information Literacy

The Learning Commons is the name given to the all-important Tri-C resources including the
Library, Technology, and Media Services. Here is the link:
http://www.tri-c.edu/learning-commons/index.html.
We cannot overstate the importance of these resources. A successful college experience requires
reading, researching, and communicating on a daily basis. Become familiar with the Learning
Commons right now!
The Tri-C Library provides students, faculty, staff and community patrons access to a wealth of
information resources including books, journals (both print and electronic), media, and more.
The Technology Learning Center (TLC) provides students, faculty, staff and community users
access to computers with high speed Internet and various software applications. The TLC's are
equipped with both Windows and at some sites MAC workstations. There are over 2000
workstations installed college-wide. Each campus TLC has an open lab with network laser printers
and support staff to assist users with technology.

19

Do you need help with the following? If so, here is a where-to-go guide.
Basic computer skills: Visit the Learning Commons staff is available to help in person.
Blackboard support: Please call 216-987-4257
Know your S number and CRN for the course in question when calling. Support staff are
available 24 hours per day.

Student may also access various resources via the Blackboard home page.

For additional resources to online technologies visit:

http://www.tri-c.edu/online-learning/elearning-technologies/elearning-technologiesstudents/index.html
If you just need basic Blackboard help, you can also visit the Learning Commons in person.
Depending upon the program or class it may be most appropriate for you to contact your instructor.
The Learning Commons staff will do their best to assist you with the applications on the
computer. Please keep in mind that outside of Microsoft Office, knowledge of the many
applications available is limited.

The Learning Commons contact and location information:

`
Campus
Location/Room Number
Eastern
ESS-3100 & ESS-3200
Metropolitan
MTLC-256
Western
WTLC GT111
Brunswick University Center BUC - 214
Westshore
SHCS-130
CCW
SCCW-221

Phone Number
216-987-0595
216-987-3679
216-987-5656
216-987-3877
216-987-3888
216-987-5888

20

ctivities:
Finding Information: The Amazing Library Race

Students often need to find quality information for research papers, speeches or presentations.
This activity will give you some practice doing various types of searches, and keeping track of
your sources.
Challenge 1: Create a document and find a topic.
Create a Word document and call it FYE Library Race. Your name.
Start at the library homepage (http://www.tri-c.edu/learningcommons/library/index.html) and click on Subject Guides
Click on the General Studies then GEN 1803: First Year Success Seminar link.
Click on Opposing Viewpoints in Context and select a topic from the front page or
click on Browse Issues to see more topics.
Record the topic in your Word document and the members of your group if working in
a group.
Challenge 2: Find an article related to your topic.
From the First Year Success Seminar LibGuide: Click on Academic Search Complete
to find a relevant magazine or scholarly article.
Type your topic in the search box and click search.
Select an article on your topic by clicking on the title.
Get the MLA citation for your article by clicking on Cite (in the right hand column)
Copy and Paste the citation in your Word document.
Challenge 3: Find a book related to your topic.
From the First Year Success Seminar LibGuide: Click on Encore: Tri-Cs library catalog.
Type your topic in the search box and click the arrow.
Select a book on your topic by clicking on the title.
Copy and Paste the book title, call number, publication information and which campus
has the book in your Word document.
Challenge 4: Find a website related to your topic that would be appropriate to use in college.
From the First Year Success Seminar LibGuide: Click on Google.
Type your topic in the search box. If your topic is a natural phrase put in quotes
global warming
To locate quality websites look for a site from .gov/.edu/.org domains.
Record the website title and Copy and Paste the URL in your Word document.
Adapted from Noel T. and Petruniak, J. 2008. High ExpectationsTransforming First Year Students into Ethical Scientists IN
Tested Studies for Laboratory Teaching, Vol. 30 (M.A. ODonnell, Ed). Proceedings of 28th Workshop/Conference of the
Association for Biology Laboratory Education (ABLE).

21

Activity 1: Blackboard Introduction

Login to the course site on Blackboard. Answer the question(s) that your instructor poses.
Activity 2 (walkabout): The Amazing Library Race
The Amazing Library Race is an assignment taught by library faculty. This one-hour activity
will lead you through the process of finding an appropriate and quality topic, finding books and
articles, utilizing web searches, and finding other online resources that support your research.

Activity 3: On Being Well Read

Identify and list what you read on a regular basis. Then list the other media you engage with on a
regular basis (online, television, radio, gaming, etc.). Then read the article on being well read
in the 21st century. Write a reflective essay (one page) on how you can engage in the world of
knowledge and information in productive ways. Identify how this may be important to your
personal and intellectual growth as you become a lifelong learner.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011/04/21/135508305/the-sad-beautiful-fact-that-were-all-goingto-miss-almost-everything

After you complete the assignment, consider the following sources to add to your regular reading
and engagement.

22

hapter 4:

Time is on Your Side

Life will get busier in college. It certainly should. Considering how college time works and
improving your time management skills will go a long way towards helping you succeed in
academics, in the work force, and in life.
Productive people know how to manage time to achieve clear goals. Planning time wisely is
essential to your success. Managing your time actually saves you time! You can actually cut
stress, and worry less when you have plan your work and work your plan.

Keeping track of your own time!

Dostthoulovelife?Thendonot
squandertime,forthatisthe
stufflifeismadeof.
BenFranklin

(1706-1790)
You can buy any variety of fancy time management tools if you think they will help. The reality
is that if you dont have a calendar of some sort that helps you keep track of your requirements,
you will probably begin to miss important items as your college schedule gets busier. You dont
need to get anything complicated to help you manage time. If you use your cell phone or some
other electronic devices, it makes sense to investigate time management tools in these
formats. However, you can just as easily keep track of your time with a cheap monthly calendar
printed off the internet or splurge on a calendar with pictures of smiling cats. Indeed, for our
purposes, you can use the calendar provided in the student handbook.

The reality is that if you write important items down, you will remember them
better. On those days when you have a cold or are distracted, having a calendar can help you
stabilize your life. A wisely maintained calendar serves as your anchor when life begins to feel
overwhelming.

23

To Do lists work better when items are assigned a corresponding

time. Importantly, this will help you get things done.

Procrastination
Procrastination is a formidable foe. We often put off the most important items because they are
difficult to deal with. We may sit down to do an important task and immediately get up to make
a snack or do something that doesnt cause us stress . . . that distracts us. Another common
procrastination tendency is to wait for the right time. There is no right time; there is only now.
However, these are all natural tendencies that effect everyone (you cant be perfect!). The most
successful people learn to acknowledge their time-wasting tendencies and work to overcome them.
The first key to overcoming procrastination is recognizing it:

Know that often the most unpleasant tasks take a back seat; recognize the difficult tasks
you might face, but also consider their importance so you can make a smart plan for dealing
with them.
If you have perfectionist tendencies, know that you may often put things off because you
arent in the right frame of mind to do it perfectly.
With the most difficult tasks, often we just dont know what to do or how to do it. This
can overwhelm us and cause procrastination.

Procrastination is habitual, a part of our everyday behavior in many cases. Once you recognize
the degree (and reality) of your own procrastination, you are ready to start making yourself more
productive. Some tips:

Make rewards for yourself based on your difficult tasks. And, recognize how good it feels
to get a difficult task completed. The rewards for hard, smart work arent always tangible,
so it is important for us to appreciate our own work, relish the positive feeling hard work
provides.
Ask people to check up on you. Research shows us that peer pressure helps us accomplish
things!
Recognize the unpleasant realities in not doing your task.
Focus on one task at a time. This creates more efficient use of your time and can cut down
on that overwhelming feeling when our lives get busy.
Plan, schedule, and set goals . . . (we will get to this shortly!)

24

Time Stealers
One thing to consider before we look at how to set good time management habits is to look at our
time stealers. Take a hard look at how you actually spend your time. Consider your cell phone,
your friends and family, your shopping habits . . . all of the items that make up how you actually
use your time. Which of these gives the time away? Can you point a finger at any of these Usual
Suspects?

Social Media- Spending countless time texting, face-time has you captivated, hooked on
Instagram, Pinterest has your interest.
Television- You promised yourself you would only watch one episode of your favorite
showhowever you managed to binge watch the entire season!
I cant say no!- Every time you say yes to an additional commitment you must be able
to balance it with something else already on your plate. When you say yes, you either need
to drop or complete an equivalent project, or be prepared to allocate more time for the new
one.
Procrastination- The biggest time stealer, as mentioned above, is not decision making but
it is the avoidance of making a decision. By reducing the amount of procrastinating you
do, you can increase the amount of time to complete all that you need to do. Remember,
we all get the same 24 hours in a day. How will you decide to use yours?
Lack of priorities/objectives- This is probably the biggest/ most important time thief. It
affects all we do academically, professionally and personally. People who accomplish the
most in a day know exactly what they want to accomplish. Unfortunately, too many of us
think that goals and objectives are yearly things (big picture ideas) and not things we need
to consider daily. This results in too much time spent on minor things and not on the things
that are important to our lives.

Here are some strategies for defending your time against the time stealers:

You dont have to answer the phone Do not jump every time someone decides they
want to buzz you and talk about things that are not a benefit to your success! Remember
your phone is for your convenience. Otherwise people will steal your time when it is
most inconvenient.
Block your time This is a very powerful strategy for reclaiming your time, both school,
work, and personal. Try blocking your time by scheduling yourself for time periods that
you need to keep for yourself, your projects, or whatever. Ironically, it is not kind to say
to a classmate, I cannot talk with you because I have something more important to do,
but it is ok to say, I have another commitment at his time. You dont need to reveal
that the commitment is with yourself.
Avoid those who waste your time Many people believe it is important not hang out
with toxic people. This needs to include those who waste your time. You will find that a
specific subset of people are responsible for the majority of time-wasting. Avoid
associating yourself with them too much or you will find yourself hanging out for hours
to discuss last nights TV shows or stupid behaviors of other people.
Set Expectations If you set expectations that your time is valuable, then other people
will start to value it also. Your behavior will actually train those around you as to what is
acceptable by example. It is your timeguard it carefully!
25

Goal Setting and Planning

Goal setting is something all successful people do. Professional
athletes, business owners, musicians, even good parents create goals.
Consider the following for practical advice in creating smart,
realistic goals:

Step 1:
Before you start setting goals it is useful to consider your recent past. Consider what
youve accomplished, what disappointed you, what you learned, and the limits you put on
yourself. Refer to the assignment at the end of this chapter for help in goal setting.

Consider what you want to achieve, why you want to achieve it, and when you hope to get
it done.

Consider the steps needed to get this done. Who/what can help with these steps? What
obstacles will you face (internally and externally?)? And finally, what are the solutions to
these steps?

Step 2:
Start big! List your lifetime goals in increments of time throughout your life (2-year goal, 5-year,
etc.). Consider your education, career, finances, attitude, family life, values, artistic achievements,
public service, entertainment and personal health.
When you are in your golden years, how do you want to look back on your life? It is important at
this point in your life to make sure you are honest with yourself, not relying just on what family
members or society tells you is a good goal. With this in mind, know that your goals would (and
should) change over your lifetime.
Step 3:
List short term goals with a calendar. These smaller steps are extremely useful on a day-to-day
basis. They should help us accomplish tasks that lead to shorter term goals and life-term goals.
Refer to the assignments at the end of this chapter to get started.
A common element in goal setting is to consider the SMART goal anagram:

Specific and/or Significant: Who? What? Where? When? Why?

Measurable and/or Meaningful: If you cant measure it you cant manage it.
Attainable: These are Action steps!
Relevant and/or Rewarding: Realistic? Is it doable?
Time Bound and Trackable: Is it traceable and able to be tracked?

26

In addition, consider your own energy and when you are best prepared to handle different types of
tasks. For example, if you are not a morning person, dont sign up for a Math class at 8am! Dont
try to figure out your financial aid before you eat breakfast! Schedule easy work at times when
you arent at your peak energy. Schedule your most difficult tasks when you are at your best.
Planning your weekend and leisure time is important as well. It may seem strange (or even wrong!)
to plan your leisure time, but research shows that you are happier when you plan your free
time. Indeed, doing nothing doesnt lead to happiness (when we have the time we tend to
gravitate towards doing nothing). If you plan your leisure time to some degree, it will be more
memorable and generally more enjoyable. In fact, studies show anticipation of actually leads to
happiness. Obviously, if you dont plan, you cant anticipate and you lose out on the fun of looking
forward to something you really want to do.

Stopping Bad Habits and Creating Good Habits

We know from many years of research that two of the most important qualities to possess in
order to achieve your goals are perseverance and the ability to delay gratification. In plain
English, perseverance means the ability to stick-to-it, to not give up, to keep working hard. Delay
of gratification means that you are able to hold off on that pleasure you might love to have right
now because you know you have important work to do first. Follow this link to see an example
of the classic Marshmallow Experiment that was initially done 40 years ago.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mWc1Y2dpmY
You will laugh hysterically while you observe the young childrens struggle with trying not to
eat a marshmallow right now, so they could earn two marshmallows in the future. While you are
laughing, you will also recognize that we all have this same struggle every day, just not with
marshmallows. Deciding not to go to a party right now so you can study for a Math test
tomorrow (and as a result earn a higher grade in Math at the end of the semester), is just as
tough for us as delaying eating the marshmallow was for the preschoolers.
Know that delay of gratification paid off for the preschoolers who were able to hold off, and it
also pays off for us. The higher willpower children later scored higher on their SATs, had better
BMIs thirty years later, and forty years later still tested higher in delay of gratification, which
demonstrates willpower. If you would like to read a very short American Psychologist article
describing these facts, follow this link:
https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/willpower-gratification.pdf
If you would like to work on improving your willpower, or "harnessing" it, follow this link for
concrete suggestions:
http://apa.org/helpcenter/willpower-harnessing.aspx .
If you have trouble with these two important qualities, know you are in good company. Here are
some suggestions for stopping bad habits and creating good, new habits. These suggestion can be
found at:
http://www.lifehack.org/articles/featured/18-tricks-to-make-new-habits-stick.html .
27

With a small amount of initial discipline, you can create a new habit that requires little effort to
maintain. Here are some tips for creating new habits and making them stick:

1. Commit to Thirty Days Three to four weeks is all the time you need to make a habit
automatic. If you can make it through the initial conditioning phase, it becomes much easier to
sustain. A month is a good block of time to commit to a change since it easily fits in your calendar.
2. Make it Daily Consistency is critical if you want to make a habit stick. If you want to start
exercising, go to the gym every day for your first thirty days. Going a couple times a week will
make it harder to form the habit. Activities you do once every few days are trickier to lock in as
habits.
3. Start Simple Dont try to completely change your life in one day. It is easy to get overmotivated and take on too much. If you wanted to study two hours a day, first make the habit to
go for thirty minutes and build on that.
4. Remind Yourself Around two weeks into your commitment it can be easy to forget. Place
reminders to execute your habit each day or you might miss a few days. If you miss time it defeats
the purpose of setting a habit to begin with.
5. Stay Consistent The more consistent your habit the easier it will be to stick. If you want to
start exercising, try going at the same time, to the same place for your thirty days. It is easier to
make them stick when cues like time of day and place and circumstances are the same.
6. Get a Buddy Find someone who will go along with you and keep you motivated if you feel
like quitting.
7. Form a Trigger A trigger is a ritual you use right before executing your habit. If you wanted
to wake up earlier, this could mean waking up in exactly the same way each morning. If you
wanted to quit smoking you could practice snapping your fingers each time you felt the urge to
pick up a cigarette.
8. Replace Lost Needs - If you are giving up something in your habit, make sure you are
adequately replacing any needs youve lost. If watching television gave you a way to relax, you
could take up meditation or reading as a way to replace that same need.
9. Be Imperfect Dont expect all your attempts to change habits to be successful immediately.
It took me four independent tries before I started exercising regularly. Now I love it. Try your best,
but expect a few bumps along the way.
10. Use But When you start to think negative thoughts, use the word but to interrupt it. Im
no good at this, but, if I work at it I might get better later.
11. Remove Temptation - Restructure your environment so it wont tempt you in the first thirty
days. Remove junk food from your house, cancel your cable subscription, throw out the cigarettes
so you wont need to struggle with willpower later.

28

12. Associate With Role Models - Spend more time with people who model the habits you want
to mirror. A recent study found that having an obese friend indicated you were more likely to
become fat. You become what you spend time around.
13. Run it as an Experiment - Withhold judgment until after a month has past and use it as an
experiment in behavior. Experiments cant fail, they just have different results so it will give you
a different perspective on changing your habit.
14. Swish - A technique from NLP. Visualize yourself performing the bad habit. Next visualize
yourself pushing aside the bad habit and performing an alternative. Finally, end that sequence with
an image of yourself in a highly positive state. See yourself picking up the cigarette, see yourself
putting it down and snapping your fingers, finally visualize yourself running and breathing free.
Do it a few times until you automatically go through the pattern before executing the old habit.
15. Write it Down A piece of paper with a resolution on it isnt that important. Writing that
resolution is. Writing makes your ideas more clear and focuses you on your end result.
16. Know the Benefits - Familiarize yourself with the benefits of making a change. Get books that
show the benefits of regular exercise. Notice any changes in energy levels after you take on a new
diet. Imagine getting better grades after improving your study habits.
17. Know the Pain You should also be aware of the consequences. Exposing yourself to realistic
information about the downsides of not making a change will give you added motivation.
18. Do it For Yourself - Dont worry about all the things you should have as habits. Instead tool
your habits towards your goals and the things that motivate you. Weak guilt and empty resolutions
arent enough.
(adapted from http://www.lifehack.org/articles/featured/18-tricks-to-make-new-habits-stick.html)

Heres what you can learn about time management from very successful people:
1. Do a time log. See how long things take and when your best windows are.
2. Plan the whole week. Focus on your core competency and what makes you happy.
3. Have a morning ritual that gets you closer to your long term goals.
4. Set 3-5 anchor events for the weekend.
5. Plan something fun for Sunday night. (from lifehack website listed above)

29

ctivities

Activity 1: Academic/Personal calendar creation

Go to the calendar in the student handbook, your phone or a digital device, or some other calendar
(that you will see every day!). Utilizing the syllabi from all your courses, mark in test dates and
project/paper due dates. Mark in your final exam times and other college activities you are
interested in. In addition, write in your work schedule, family activities, social activities, and really
any relevant plans.

Activity 2: Goal Setting

Go to the Blackboard website for this activity about overcoming the Big Rocks in your life.
Dr. Steven R. Covey Article and YouTube Video:
FYE\Big Rocks of Life.htm

Big Rocks YouTube Video

Activity 3 (walkabout): What Time is It?

Students will seek out faculty/staff and ask them questions about how they manage time (faculty
would identify willing faculty/staff participants).

VS
30

Activity 4: Whats My Motivation?

Having desired goals to reach is a commonality that we all share. The important piece is taking
our goals from a notion to reality. General goals may be stated as I want to be financially
secure, or I want to be happy. But just like one would need the GPS to be specific on a journey,
goals should be specified as well, to guarantee a timely arrival. For example, saying I want to
earn my Associate of Science degree within two years, and transfer to a four year college to major
in Pre-Physical Therapy, versus I want to get a good education. A powerful process in achieving
desired goals is to plainly write them down.
1. Make a to do list for the rest of the day. You may include tasks like Return a friend or
family members phone call. Keep it simple and prioritize (realistically) items youd like
to accomplish.
2. Set one or two short term goals to be completed within a week. Most productive people
keep some type of written record of what they would like to accomplish. An example may
include I will clean my car out.
3. Contemplate on and write down up to three midterm goals that can be fulfilled within the
next 1 to 3 years. The objective can be educational, financial, or personal.
4. Envision and list your top 3 to 5 long term goals. One that will be achieved in the next 5 to
10 years. How you see your life in the larger scheme of things will guide what you list here.
Remember to make it meaningful, as you consider your internal values.

31

hapter 5: Making the Grade

While your primary goal in education is to learn, grades are the most obvious measure of your
success. Reevaluating and considering how you can get the best grade possible is only common
sense. This chapter will help you with practical advice on improving and/or maintaining good
grades.
You've got to show up and engage with the right disposition in order to make the grade. Mentioned
previously in this text, it bears repeating . . . creating a pathway for success involves quality
engagement with your instructor and the right attitude. However, your sustained academic success
involves earning high marks in the classroom.
This chapter provides a basic introduction to the importance of syllabi, some fundamentals of
critical thinking, gives practical tips on the most common class assignments including writing
essays and taking tests, and provides you with a list of the most essential programs at Tri-C that
directly help you in your studies.

Importance of a Syllabus:
Imagine a classified document that contains all of the secrets to being successful in your college
course. Envision it as an exclusive file, distributed just to a select group of students. The only
individuals that have access to this document are the students that have expressed a sincere
desire to pass this class. Would you want to join this private number of people? We have good
news for you you are a part of this group! The selected students are the individuals registered
for this class, and the top secret document is your syllabus! The syllabus is a road map designed
by your instructor that contains the components to excel in a given course. That aspiration
should lead you to stay well connected with this roadmap.
A syllabus is an excellent tool that communicates course content, course methods and goals,
what is expected of you as a student, and how you will be graded. Earning a satisfactory grade is
among the most important objectives to you as a student, and the syllabus will outline the criteria
to do just that. Although there is a general consensus as to what you will see in your syllabi in
each of your individual classes, there are as many different approaches to creating syllabi as
there are instructors. Items such as instructor contact information, learning objectives,
homework assignments, and test dates are all basic items that you will find in most syllabi.
Important projects, dates, and attendance policies are other helpful pieces of information that you
will need to know. Think of your syllabi as valuable guidelines distributed to you for your
success because thats precisely what they are!

How do I calculate my grade?

In case you need to brush up on how to calculate a GPA, and also in case you want to practice
calculating what it takes to increase your GPA, follow this link:
http://gpacalculator.net/college-gpa-calculator/
32

Introduction to critical thinking:

Critical thinking is a vital skill in a variety of ways. It helps us determine right from wrong. It
helps us make good decisions about our lives and families. It helps us determine if the
information we are presented with is true or not. Modern research tells us employers value
critical thinking as much as any other skills. Critical thinking is also crucial to academic success.
The discipline of philosophy is concerned with the search for what is true. Critical thinking is a
subset of philosophy which concerns itself with evaluating arguments. Modern society offers
many competing viewpoints and arguments on how to live, think and act. To be a functioning
member of society one must have the ability to discern and judge these viewpoints. Your parents
and past teachers have undoubtedly worked to teach you good critical thinking skills. Your
college professors will help you to develop those skills even further. Be sure to apply your
critical thinking skills to everything you see, hear, and read. You will then be better able to judge
the value of the input you are bombarded with daily. Once you apply your critical thinking skills
you will determine some views are more informed than others. Critical thinking is a process of
open-ended inquiry in which viewpoints are judged based on their logic and how they relate to
the outside world, not based on popular opinion or an overbearing authority figure. Everyone
has an opinion on a topic but some opinions are better based on the quality of the evidence.

The process of critical thinking

Open-ended exploration is your friend. No idea is a bad idea in the brainstorming phase.
Discuss the topic in a small group. Jot down ideas. Make a list. Also, when you are initially
collecting research do not judge the information. Sometimes in a research paper you will need to
present both sides of the issue. Therefore an opinion you dont agree with can still be valuable
for your research. One of the best ways to win an argument is to know the other side as well
as your own.
Once you have scoured your own brain for ideas, you will begin to join the conversation about
your topicand begin your road to scholarly research. Your original ideas are important,
however, you want to know how they fit into the larger conversation the world is having about
your topic.

33

What is a research topic?

In many college courses you are asked to prepare a research paper or speech on a complex issue
or topic. Finding a focused topic that fits the required assignment length is important. A topic
such as the death penalty might be too broad to cover in just a few pages whereas an
investigation into whether or not minors should be subjected to the death penalty may be
possible to cover in a shorter span.
Common Research Topics in the Academic World

Health and Medicine

Euthanasia (or Assisted Suicide)

Legalization of marijuana (medical and/or recreational)

Society and Culture

Abortion
Affirmative Action
Gay Marriage (or Same Sex Marriage)
Gun control
The Death Penalty (or Capital Punishment)

Energy and Environmentalism

Climate Change / Global Warming

Fracking

Try picking one of the focused topics that you generate and then complete the Amazing Library
Race assignment (Chapter 3; Assignment 2).
English and Writing: From Short Answers to Essays

Most academic majors and programs require satisfactory completion of ENG 1010 and ENG 1020.
These are fundamental courses in the academic world and transfer broadly to other institutions of
higher learning. While you work toward passing these "gateway" courses, whether you need some
developmental coursework or not, some practical guidance to writing may serve you well.

34

The reality is high quality writing and reading is fundamental in the academic world and the skills
involved transfer broadly to the working world, to real life. In your classes you will be asked to
read and write in abundance.
Generally, writing is a skill but also a craft. As such, it takes working at the craft of writing to
become a better writer. Many people have strong blocks to become a better writer. For example,
they think Im not a good writer and immediately handicap themselves. Other people experience
writers block and use this as an excuse to procrastinate.
For writers block, try the following tips:

Just write/type whatever is in your brain. Let your fingers move and create words. Know
that you will erase most of these words, but you are just working to get at your good
ideasyou are doing this to clear your mind, reduce clutter, and get more focused.

Change your environment. Many people find that they work best in loud areas, quiet areas,
or while listening to music. Change up your situation!

Type instead of using a pen/pencil or write longhand instead of typing. This simple switch
can help get you over the hump, get you started.

Make a list of ideas in bullet form rather than using full sentences. This can take the
pressure off of having to have each sentence perfect when you first sit down to write.

In fact, you know how to write already. All you are doing in college is working to become a better
writer and learning the type of writing used at a collegiate level (including improving your research
skills). This takes time.
Becoming a good writer also means reading as a writer. When you read, try to figure out how
and why the author organizes their work in a certain way. Learn from how they use punctuation,
quotes, or other writing craft devices. For example, if you dont know how to write dialogue, pick
up a novel or two and see how they handle the back and forth of conversations.

Common Collegiate Writing Assignments:

Short Answers and Essay Exams:
Read the question carefully. Consider the key words that you may address and the specific point(s)
to be addressed. Directly address the question in your response (don't get caught up writing
"anything you know" about the contents of the question). Note how the question is framed and
whether the question is asking for your opinion, a definition, or asking you to synthesize several
ideas.
Don't rush! Gather your thoughts on a separate page. Don't start writing on the exam itself (online
or on paper) until you have framed your answer.
Craft a topic sentence that directly answers the main question and includes the appropriate key
words. It is normal to use language from the question in your response (key words).
35

Depending upon the length required by the question and the complexity of the question, craft
supporting sentences. These should explain key concepts, provide direct evidence to your
answer/topic sentence, and generally support your topic sentence. If your answer is more than 34 sentences in length, consider a concluding statement that reinforces your main point(s).
Essay Writing:
Engage. Engage. Engage. Too many people think writing a paper and learning to write, are
isolated activities. This doesn't have to be the case. In fact being more open with your writing
process will help you learn faster and create better papers. Below are some practical ways to make
writing essays more engaging, manageable, and help you make the grade:

Read the assignment sheet carefully: Ask your instructor for clarification and further
guidance if an assignment isn't clear.

Go to the writing center! Each campus has a writing center that you should familiarize
yourself with.

Discuss the essay with your peers.

Start early. Make a plan to complete a full draft of the paper well before the due date. In
a best case scenario for your important papers, you should spend as much time revising
and editing as you do creating the first full draft.

Pay careful attention to any remarks you might get from your instructor about your writing.
If they have written "comma splice" on your paper over and over, seek help with comma
splices! If you pay attention to the repetitive errors you are making, your writing will
improve drastically in a short period of time.

Guide your writing with an introduction that addresses the purpose of your writing directly
and outlines how the paper will proceed. Allow supporting paragraphs to support your
purpose (often called a thesis). This is a basic formula for essay writing and you should
pay attention when and how an assignment deviates from this basic formula.

Let someone else read your paper and suggest changes. A second pair of eyes is essential.
You may choose to adopt their changes, or not, but inevitably a fresh pair of eyes will catch
some typos you missed.

Revise writings, especially the papers that most profoundly impact your grade. Revising
doesn't just mean re-reading the paper for small errors. Consider each element of your
assignment carefully. Try different methods of careful reading and editing, including
reading out loud (this slows you down, allowing you to see more mistakes).

Don't wait until the last hours to write your papers! This is a terrible habit for your growth
as a writer and your grades. The reality is that, even if you "work best under pressure,"
you won't get the best quality writing and you won't learn as quickly waiting until the last
minutes. If you need help with your writing skills, don't shy away from the challenge. If
you enjoy writing and have gotten "pretty good grades" to this point, you still have room
to grow. Again, writing is a craft. It takes time to perfect.
36

Test Taking:
Test anxiety is real for many people. You probably know if you are a good test taker or not. If
you are a good test taker, keep doing what you are doing! If not, consider the following to help
abate the stress of exams which will allow you to focus and test at a higher level:

Develop good study habits.

Take and review class notes.

Eliminate/control lifestyle distractions.

Organize your class materials (find a good strategy and stick with it!).

Study with a group or partner and utilize the colleges writing center, math lab, and tutoring center.

Dont be afraid to ask for help!

Add study time in your personal calendar.

Organize the material you need to cover. Create a step-by-step guide to be studied and learned.

Avoid dwelling on outside pressures: grade, graduation, peer pressure, family pressure, etc.

Review your past test performances and learn from them!

If you know the type of exam you will be taking, try a practice test so you are comfortable with the
procedure.

Approach the exam with confidence in a positive frame of mind (it is obviously much easier to do
when you have prepared well).

Choose a comfortable test taking spot.

Allow yourself the full time allotted.

Avoid planning for the cram session; this heightens anxiety.

Exercise can help with your concentration and sharpen your mind.

Dont go to an exam on an empty stomach and take a snack; sugar levels have proven to vastly
effect mental performance.

Read the test directions carefully.

If you draw a blank skip the question and go back to it.

Change body position to help yourself relax.

If you get really anxious and overwhelmed, choose one question and start writing what you know.
This can help trigger better answers.

Dont panic when other students start handing in their papers. There is rarely a reward for
finishing first.
37

Public Speaking, Performance, and Special Projects

racticing and Delivering a Speech

There are two points of interest that must be focused on when preparing a
speech: your audience and YOU. Lets begin with the audience Imagine
if you were the person acting as the observer. Would you want to sit
through your speech? Design it so that your answer is an emphatic YES! You want to
let your audience know how this information is useful to them. You can do that by relating
the topic to something your listeners already know and care about. Your audience does
not have to particularly agree with your topic, so when you acknowledge differences of
opinion, do it tactfully. For the listeners that do not have any interest in your topic, be
sure to highlight how your speech can help the listeners gain new insight. Now lets get
specific on the three most important phases of speech presentation.
1. Organizing your presentation
Write the introduction
Develop the main body
Construct the conclusion
Create speaking notes and supporting visuals
2. Practicing your presentation
Use your speakers voice before the big day
Listen for repeated phases i.e. (Um. Kind of. Ya know?)
Practice in the room you will deliver the speech
3. Delivering your presentation
Dress for the occasion
Make eye contact
Acknowledge nonverbal communication (nail picking, posture, etc.)
Project your voice
Have fun!

Performances and Special Projects:

38

The key to large projects utilizes many of the same skills as test preparation and completing long
papers. Organize your work, stick to your deadlines, read and understand the assignment carefully.

ctivities

Activity 1: Good Behavior?

Make a list of the types of behaviors you have observed in successful students (how they act in the
classroom). Make a list of the types of behaviors that are disruptive in the classroom atmosphere.
As a class, make a collective list of these opposing behaviors. Which of these behaviors give you
the best chance for success?

Activity 2: Syllabus Quiz (requires preparation)

Bring in syllabi from all classes. Note the differences and similarities in the following important
class components for each syllabus. How do you make the grade for each course? What is the
policy for granting Incompletes? What are the differences in the way the instructors describe their
preferred mode of communication? What are the policies for make-up tests?

Activity 3: Sudden Speech

You have five minutes to prepare a 30 second response for and against a topic provided by
your instructor. Make sure to have a representative to speak on either side. Review the tips for
writing a good speech in this chapter. Note how good preparation leads to higher quality.

Activity 4: Sands of the Hourglass

Based on your instructors prompt, write a timed-essay using the skills presented in this chapter.

39

hapter 6: Planning Your Career Path

Choose a job you love and you will never

have to work a day in your life.
Confucius (559-471 BC)

Finding the right job and career is probably an important part of your reason for being in college.
Finding the right job can often feel like a job itself . . . it should! It takes hard work, understanding
of self, diligence, and preparation to land the career and job that best fits you.
This chapter will outline a strategy for success in formulating a smart plan to getting that job,
starting that career. It will also provide a plan for those who just dont know yet what career would
work best for them.
Being undecided in college is normal, but it also means you have some extra work on your plate.
As a Tri-C student, you have access to the following resources that guide you through designed
action steps toward your career path.
The Career Center is here to connect you
with employers and career-related
resources during your education and after
degree completion.

An Academic plan will provide an outline of

courses for each semester to help you to be more
successful, and help reach your goal of
graduation.

MyPlan is a self-assessment that helps students and

professionals plan more fulfilling lives by making
well-informed decisions about their education and
careers.

40

Step One: My Plan/Self-Assessment

MyPlan is a computerized self-assessment that helps students and professionals plan more
fulfilling lives by making well-informed decisions about their education and careers. The program
gives an objective take on aspects of yourself most important to academic major decisions and
your fit in the workforce. Whether youre deciding on what college to go to, choosing a major,
planning ahead for your first career, or thinking about making a career change, MyPlan evaluates
the following four areas:

Values - helps identify your underlying work needs and motivations to be successful in
your career
Interests - helps you find out what your interests are and understand how they relate to the
world of work
Personality - provides insight to help you understand what careers are right for you
Current Skills - is a profile used to identify your skill set as it relates to chosen selected
career

Whether you complete a MyPlan in class or on your own at the Career Center website, be sure to
meet with a Counselor for interpretation of the results, in order to make the most of the information.
The MyPlan website is located below:
http://tri-c.myplan.com/

You may also find this online video, by Tri-C faculty member Dr. Michelle Nicopolis, helpful in
that it takes you through the process of completing MyPlan and helps you understand how to
interpret the results:
http://oxygen.tri-c.edu/presentations/Nicopolis,%20Michelle/MyPlan_Overview__Flash_%28Large%29_-_20130505_09.54.00AM.html

Step Two: Counseling/Academic Plan

Creating an academic plan is one of the most important tasks for college students. A good plan
will provide an outline of courses for each semester to help you to be more successful, and help
reach your goal of graduation. Here at Tri-C, My Academic Plan (MAP) is a tool we use that
equips you with specific, long-range, and accurate plans for the completion of your academic
goals. Academic plans should be reviewed and revised with the assistance of a Tri-C Counselor.
In the event you decide to change your major, or transfer to a different college than your original
plan; MAP should always reflect any changes (refer to chapter two for counseling services
description). After completing the interpretation of the self-assessment using the MyPlan and
meeting with an academic counselor, you will want to investigate and utilize career services to
help you transition into the working world.

41

Step Three: Career Center/Job Search

The Career Center is committed to providing a variety of free services to support and prepare
students, alumni and community members for a successful job search through workshops and
individual career coaching. They can assist you with identifying co-op/internship or full-time
employment through job fairs and on campus recruiting activities. They are here to connect you
with employers and career-related resources during your education and after degree completion.
Knowledge is power. Knowing what your skills and interests are will help you find a good career
match.
A Career Center is located on each campus. The Career Center online can be found at:
http://www.tri-c.edu/career-services/
While self-assessment and understanding your academic path is crucial to complete first in your
college journey, the career center should be utilized to assist you in this search. You can easily
peruse their website (URL located above) to get information on employers, job search engines and
job fairs, interview tips, and workshops. It is also recommended that you stop by and engage with
Career Center staff so that they can provide individualized assistance based on your needs.

42

ctivities

Activity 1: MyPlan
Complete the MyPlan assessment online. Set up an appointment with an academic counselor to
help interpret your results and how they might help you clarify your academic and career goals.
Prepare 3 questions about your results and your path forward through academics and into the
workforce before you go to your counseling appointment.
Write a summary of what you learned after the appointment and create a plan of action for utilizing
career services/putting yourself in the right spot in your career field. This plan of action should
contain a list of action items that will get you to your clear goals. This may include job
shadowing, internships, co-ops, etc.
Activity 2 (walkabout): Meet and Greet
Meet with a faculty member in your chosen discipline (if you have one) and have one or more
specific questions prepared about the academic and vocational sides of your field of interest. In
one-page of writing, describe what you learned.
Activity 3 (walkabout): Moving on up . . .
Sit in on an upper level class in your prospective major or a field of interest. Write a page about
your observations from the experience and discuss the biggest challenges you foresee in your path
to success in your chosen field.
Activity 4: College Central Network
Sign up for the college central network: www.collegecentral.com/tri-c. Once youve signed up,
write a paragraph describing the general services provided by the website and which might be most
useful to you.

Success is often the result of taking a misstep in the right direction.

Al Bernstein

43

hapter 7: The Whole Self

I keep fit, I work out, I eat pretty damn well, I dont drink like a fish, and all
of those things are tempered with a holistic mind-set that you need to damn
well respect the vehicle that youre walking around in. Mick Fleetwood

Balance isnt only about eating right and keeping an open mind. All of lifes experiences over
time contribute to establishing balance. Living with a healthy spiritual understanding, fostering
fruitful relationships, establishing a fulfilling career, finding emotional stability, and increasing
our knowledge and fostering wisdom are all great challenges. Finding the balance between these
important elements of healthy living can help us reach our goals, provide for our families, and live
to our potential.
Imagine you are a bicycle wheel, full of air, working properly and
efficiently, rolling along as any good wheel would. As you are
traveling along your path, you hit an object that punctures your well
balanced wheel. What happens to that wheel? Yes, you are correct .
. . the wheel is now flat! As you may have guessed, a punctured
wheel does not roll well. The image of a wheel is you and how you
balance all areas of your well-being. As a college student your health
and wellness are essential to your academic success. One of the most
important things you can do a college student is taking responsibility
to make choices that will help you maintain all aspects of your well-being. Wellness can be defined
as a purposeful, enjoyable deliberate lifestyle choice that promotes balance through healthful
practices and attitudes.
There is more to life that just sleeping,
exercising, and eating right. Living a
healthy well balanced life as a student
involves all aspects of you and your wheel:
emotional, physical, spiritual, social,
intellectual, environmental, and
occupational.
Lets take a closer look theses seven areas
of your wheel and ways you can maintain
and enhance for your optimal success.

PHYSICAL (body)
The ability to maintain a healthy quality of life
that allows you to get through our daily
activities without fatigue or physical stress.
1

Recognizing that your behaviors have a significant impact on your wellness and adopting
healthful habits while choosing to avoid destructive habits.
o eating a nutritious breakfast every morning
o exercises at least three times a week
o makes good decisions concerning risky sexual behavior
o chooses to avoid or restrict the intake of harmful substances

INTELLECTUAL (mind)
The willingness to open your mind to new ideas and experiences that can be used to help make
good personal decisions, enhance group and relationship interaction, and improve your
community.

The desire to learn new concepts, improve skills and seek challenges in pursuit of
lifelong learning. Engaging in creative and stimulating mental activities to expand you
knowledge and skills to share with others.

Welcomes and accepts challenges as an opportunity for growth

Reading often for the enjoyment of it
Willingness to listen to ideas other than his/her own
Curios about the world around them
EMOTIONAL (feelings)
o
o
o
o

The ability to understand ourselves and cope with the challenges life can bring. Being attentive
to your thoughts feelings, and behaviors whether positive or negative.

Having the ability to express emotions appropriately, adjust to change, cope with stress in
a healthy way, and enjoy life despite its occasional disappointments and frustrations.
o Takes action to control stress (running, journaling, yoga, kickboxing, etc.)
o Calmly and openly discuss your feelings in a respectful way with someone you
trust
o Has a conscience and considers how actions and words affect others
SOCIAL (family, friends, relationships)
The ability to relate to, connect to, and interact with a diverse range of people. The ability to
communicate well both verbally and non-verbally, having meaningful healthy relationships, and
having respect for self and others.

Establish and maintain positive relationships with family, friends and classmates. Can
balance time and prioritize academics with friends/family.
o Able to adjust to changes in relationships in a positive manner
o Evaluates and reevaluates current relationships
o Explores interacting with people from different cultures/ways of life
o Works to decrease violence and handles conflict in a positive way
o Demonstrates basic social etiquette and good manners (i.e. says thank you, excuse
2

me/pardon me, good morning, etc.). Good manners are a way of showing people
you respect them.
SPIRITUAL (values, purpose, intuition, vitality)
A personal matter involving your spiritual connection defined by you. The sense that life is
meaningful and has a purpose including the ethics, values and morals that guide us and give
meaning and direction to life. Showing and exercising compassion, forgiveness, love, joy and
fulfillment.
The process of discovering meaning and purpose in life and demonstrating values
through behaviors. For some college students, spirituality can be a source of comfort and
strength as well as an aspect of wellness
o One who meditates or prays on a regular basis
o A person who takes time to enjoy beauty (nature, art, music, etc.)
o A person who loves life and is free of self-destructive behaviors and people.
o Exploring your current faith or a different one
o Exploring your faith in a like-minded group
OCCUPATIONAL (career, skills)
The ability to achieve balance between work leisure, work stress, and co-workers. It focuses on
the search for personal fulfillment from your job or our chosen career. It may involve exploring
new options that are a fit based on you interests, values, skill and personality.

Our desire to contribute in our careers to make a positive impact on the organizations
(school) we work (study) in and to the community
o One who believes that school work and formal education is meaningful and
allows for personal growth.
o Able to balance work with rest and play
o Someone who continues to do the best he/she can do when working
o Finds career fulfilling and rewarding and has a positive attitude about their career
o One who continues and seeks to learn best practices in their chosen field
ENVIRONMENTAL (air, water, food, safety)
The capability to live in a clean and safe environment that is not detrimental to
health. Understanding the impact of your actions on your surroundings and taking steps to
protect and minimize the threats to it.

The quality of today's environment has a direct effect on personal wellness. To enjoy
environmental wellness we require clean air, clean water, quality food, adequate shelter,
satisfactory work and learning conditions, personal safety and healthy relationships.
o Maintaining a living space that is conducive to good physical and mental health
(i.e. de-cluttering your living space, maintaining a safe and clean living area)
o One who recognizes his/her impact on the environment
3

o Reduces, reuses, and recycles and realizes that there is no away when he/she
throws things into the garbage
o Recognizing personal steps to maintain and enhance your personal health through
your surroundings
In this day of technology and mobile accessibility, resources are easily available at our
fingertips. Diet and exercise routines are available online or at the swipe of a finger. You can
download apps to help track your nutrition information and physical activity and sleep patterns.
These are just a few examples of the many wellness resources that people have access to.
As a college student, personal wellness resources are readily available here at Tri-C for you. It
can be even easier to access wellness resources. Our campus recreation facilities offer personal
training, exercise classes, and nutrition guidelines. Opportunities for personal health education
courses care for your body while the Counseling/Psychological Department on each campus care
for your mind. There are many opportunities for socialization, entertainment, recreation, and
involvement available. Campus police help keep you safe and street-smart. Your nutritional
needs can be met by the dining services at each campus. Although the specific wellness
resources offered will differ from campus to campus, these are some of the common types of
resources you can expect to find at Tri-C.

TYPES OF WELLNESS RESOURCES

Tri-C provides the following types of resources to help students maintain their health and
wellness while enrolled:

Counseling Office
Student Life office
Exercise facilities
Physical education classes
Recreation facilities and recreational
activities
Police/public safety officers
Educational programs on health
issues
Student organizations (including
social, athletic, recreational, support,
spiritual/religious, etc.)
Dining services and other on-campus
eateries

YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOURSELF

Meditate
With the constant external stimulation we encounter, it is essential to quiet your mind
regularly. You may choose to empty your mind and enter a peaceful state as a focus, or
you may choose a meditation that has a concentrated intention, such as improving selfconfidence, or attracting a specific desire. If you are unsure of how to start, there is an
abundance of guided meditations available on YouTube. Most of them are accompanied
with peaceful music, and words of affirmation. Alternatively, you can find a quiet space
where you will remain undisturbed for at least 20 minutes, and sit peacefully in a
comfortable position. Pay attention to your breathing, and do your best to clear your
thoughts. Remember to be patient with yourself. It takes practice!

Practice Self-Affirmation
We all have enough outward forces sending the message that we arent good enough. To
top it off, we can be quite hard on ourselves. Protecting the image of our personal
integrity takes practice. Examples may include saying to ourselves things like, I am
capable and I am hard-working. Of course, it is essential to be honest with yourself.
You want to use affirmations that are accurate. If there are areas in your life that you
desire to improve, utilize specialized affirmations with intention. More specific
affirmations may sound like I will encourage my children today or I will manage my
money carefully and wisely this month.

Review previous accomplishments and list your assets

You are so busy being you that you have no idea how utterly unprecedented you are. John Green, The Fault in Our Stars
How would you improve upon your foundation if you arent well aware of what stuff
the foundation is made? Take some time to review past moments of victory: honors,
awards, milestones, and proud moments. You may have forgotten how much youve
done! Reminding yourself of previous achievements can inspire you to do even more
along the road ahead. In addition to reviewing previous accomplishments, it is important
to be familiar with your unique assets. A clear understanding of this part of yourself can
benefit you in a variety of circumstances, such as job interviews, networking events,
dates any situation in which you need to represent yourself well!

YOUR SURROUNDINGS

Take a break from Social Media

Constant connection with the alternate reality that we call social media can make you
jaded. Those that balance their time spent on electronic devices/social media are less
likely to become depressed or increase depression. Consider other activities like exercise
or meeting with people face-to-face for a more balanced social well-being.
44

In addition, you want to make sure that you arent pulled into believing everything you
see online. This may seem obvious, but if you live in a world long enough it will
drastically affect your own vision of the world. Take for instance, images in print media
are heavily altered with programs like Photoshop to depict false perfection. It would not
be fair to use these illustrations as a measuring stick in which to compare yourself. The
image that others portray online are often exaggerated. Take a break from time to time,
whether its 24 hours, a week, or a month. We must remember that our life awaits us
outside of cyber space!

Purge your environment

Clean house literally. As time passes, we can begin to accumulate needless clothing,
paperwork, household items, and even outdated personal hygiene products. Cluttered
surroundings can sometimes equal a cluttered mind. Set aside time to go through your
closet, cabinets, junk drawer, car, and even your refrigerator! You may be surprised to
see how much youve been holding on to. You may old and outdated items that should
have been pitched ages ago. Purging can give you a fresh outlook with an added sense of
accomplishment. Keep the flow fresh. Out with the old and in with the new!

Get outside!
Winter, spring, summer, fall we all have our favorite season, but communing with the
great outdoors should be practiced year-round. Many propose that being in nature can
connect you with your spirituality. To behold natural creation is a grounding experience.
There is an energy of vitality and perfection that nature carries with it, and its worth
connecting to!

YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS

Learn what you can and cannot give

Oftentimes, we subconsciously expect that others will adjust what they withdraw in
relationships based on how much they know they are able to deposit, much like a bank
account. An individual who is a natural giver may not notice an imbalance until they are
near depletion. Establish boundaries. Learn how to say no without guilt, and be free!

Forgive with intention

Make it a point to forgive those whom you feel have wronged or offended you. Have you
ever heard that we judge others based on their behavior, but assess ourselves based on our
intentions? Bring balance to your outlook. Every individual should be extended the
same grace that you would like to have. Harboring un-forgiveness can also block
positive energy. It is a dark emotion that holds a negative charge and focuses on what
cannot be changed the past. Remember, forgiveness is never for the other person as
much as it is for you. Let go of the burden of resentment and set yourself free!

Remove the pressure to please all the time

The disease to please affects the best of us. Many can relate to valuing the acceptance
and affirmation that comes from approval. Dont get too disappointed in yourself about
45

this. We were raised in a society that teaches us to thrive of recognition, from the
elementary award assembly to pats on the back in the office. Of course you are to put
forth your best effort in every endeavor, but you must not operate under the consistent
construct of making sure everyone is satisfied with your performance. Some of the
greatest contributors to history were not understood until after their lifetime! As long as
you are at peace with your decisions, and you feel that they align with your hearts
purpose, you can be sure you are doing the right thing. Trying to make everyone happy
is a sure way to disrupt that inner harmony.

PRACTICE PERSONAL PRESERVATION

Take a Biology class on you!

Our nutritional and health needs can sometimes be as unique as we are. A one size fits
all approach may not be the best method when it comes to properly fueling our bodies.
Talk to your doctor about your specific body type and your family history. There may be
a specific recommended diet that will assist you in looking and feeling your best! Also
keep track of your health visits. Keeping in tune with our high and lows in personal
health produces a detailed and informed outlook for the years to come.

Sleep
Really, its as simple as that. Getting less than six hours of sleep per night can increase
your risk of acquiring an illness. Sleep deprivation can also contribute to stress, heart
attack, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Adequate amounts of sleep can reduce
stress, enhance the nervous system, and is believed to assist in significant weight loss.

Go into airport mode

Do not simply silence your phone the call and text message alerts still appear on your
screen. This will definitely serve as a distraction. You could find yourself engaged in a
thirty-minute text conversation before you know it! Stop that train before it starts. Carve
out a reasonable amount of time regularly to switch your phone to airport mode. This will
allow you to redirect your attention elsewhere (family, friends, projects, etc.) without
interruption.

MONITOR YOUR MESSAGE CENTER

Visualize
If you can see it, you can achieve it. There is power in visualization. The practice can
truly attract the things that you want, right to you. Keeping these desirable images in
your mind causes you to react favorably emotionally, sending out a ripple of results.
Holding positive images in your mind subconsciously and consciously affects your
decisions and behaviors, successively leaning you to your goals.

Journal
46

Another therapeutic and cathartic activity is journaling. Document as much as you can.
Its amazing to look back on your process of growth through sincere journaling. Also,
free write. This means sitting down for a period of time and writing simply whatever
comes to mind. Many innovative ideas and/or discoveries of hidden emotions are derived
from this activity.

Evaluate your mental health

It is essential to have regular checkups with your dentist and general health care provider.
What would make you think that your mental health is any less important? Sometimes,
the subject of mental health can be viewed as a taboo subject. You wouldnt be
embarrassed to see your dermatologist for eczema, or a respiratory care therapist for
asthma and you should not feel ashamed for seeking help to balance your mood,
emotions, or thought patterns (your brain is a body organ too!). If you feel that you may
be experiencing an imbalance in any of these areas, please see your health care provider
or stop into the counseling office on campus. There are also simple, self-guided
assessments you can take online as a first step.

47

ctivities

Specific-who, what, when, where, why

Itisimportanttorememberthatyourgoalorobjectivemustbetothepoint.Itmustdefineaspecific
outcome.Agoalsetas:Iwanttobehealthieristoovague.Whatarethespecificsofthisgoal?Doyou
wanttoincreaseexercise;increasevegetableintake?Bytheendofthissemester?*Aspecificgoal
wouldbe:"Iwanttowalkfourdays/week.

Measurable-if you cant measure it, you cant manage it

Goalsmustbemeasurable.Ifyoucanexperiencesuccessinreachingagoal,itwillleadtomotivation
anddeterminationtodomoreortodobetter.Ifwetakethegoalasstatedabove:"Iwanttowalkfour
days/week.Itismeasurableintheaspectandcanbeevaluated,butyouneedtostatehowmuchyou
wanttowalk.*Ameasurablegoalwouldbe:"Iwanttowalkfourdays/weekforatleast30
minutes/day.

Attainable- action bound steps

Anygoalmusthaveactionstepstotakeinorderforyoutochallengeyourselfandattainthegoal.Soitis
importanttoknowyourself.Whenyouputtheworkinassmallstepswithrewards,youwillbe
motivatedtocontinueworkingtowardalongertermgoal.StategoalsinPOSITIVEwordingsothatyou
willalreadybeonthewaytosuccess.*Anactionorientedgoalwouldbe:"Iwillwalkfourdays/week
foratleast30minutes/day.

Realistic-is it do-able
ThemeasurablepartsofagoalmustNEVERbetooeasyortoodifficult.Again,youshouldhavetopush
yourselfsomewhattoachievesuccessinordertofeelasifyouhaveaccomplishedsomething.Dont
forgettoreassessgoalsfrequently.Someadjustmentsmaybeneeded!*Arealisticgoalforsomeone
whoismoderatelyactivewouldbe:"Iwillwalkfourdays/weekforatleast30minutes/day.

48

Timely-traceable & time-bound

Everygoalmustbelinkedtotime.Ifthereisnotimeboundtoit,therearenodeadlines.Settimesthat
aremeasurable,attainableandrealistic.Goalscanbeshortterm(daily,weekly),intermediate
(monthly,quarterly),andlongterm(1/2year,yearly).Settingadeadlineforprocessgoalscan
increasemotivationandaccountability.Reassessifnecessary,stillfocusingontheprocessandnotthe
outcome.Rememberlifehappensandthingscanchange!*Atimeboundgoalwouldbe:"Iwillwalkfour
days/weekforatleast30minutes/daystartingthisFriday.

49

GETTING BALANCED
DevelopaSMARTgoalforeachoftheareasofwellnessyouwouldliketoenhance.

MySMARTIntellectualgoal:

_____________________________________________________________________
My SMART Spiritual goal:
_____________________________________________________________________
My SMART Occupational goal:
_____________________________________________________________________
My SMART Environmental goal:
_____________________________________________________________________
My SMART Physical goal:
_____________________________________________________________________
My SMART Social goal:
____________________________________________________________________
My SMART Emotional goal:
_____________________________________________ _______________________

50

hapter 8: Money Matters

It can be argued that money is the most important tool of our age. Providing
basic needs, services, entertainment, access . . . there is no denying the power
of money in our world.
Yet, many of us don't manage our money well. Money management can sometimes prove to be
stressful, so many of us ignore or postpone important financial decisions. For this and many other
practical reasons, money management deserves a lot of thought. Not managing your money can
start you down a path of debt where you have far less control of your own income! You dont
want to ignore this part of your educational and personal journey. The reality is that your financial
situation will exist whether you pay attention to it or not.
This chapter will discuss basic concepts and best practices in personal finance. In addition,
important academic financial information will be covered to help you understand college finances
including scholarships and loans.

Personal Finances
The Art of Budgeting:
Where does the money go? is a common dilemma faced by many individuals and households
when it comes to budgeting and money management. A personal budget is a financial plan dealing
with your income, expenses, savings, and debt repayment and can help figure out where and how
your money is actually spent.
There are a variety of resources to help with your personal finances. Check out Personal Finance
for Dummies or any variety of practical personal accounting books and websites that can help with
your understanding of how to make your money work for you most effectively.

Effective money management starts with goals and a step-by-step plan for saving and spending.
Financial goals should be realistic, be specific, have a time frame, and imply an action to be taken
(refer to S.M.A.R.T. goals in Chapter 7). It will take time and effort to develop your personal
financial goals and budget. However, once you gain a better understanding of your financial
matters, you will learn to get the most out of the money you have coming inyour earnings or
51

income. This knowledge and your practice of your own money management will serve your for a
lifetime (we all figure this out at some pointyou can either be proactive in your money
management or wait for a debt collector to knock at your door).
The activity listed at the end of this chapter will help you create and understand a basic budget.
This can give you valuable information about your spending and allow you to reach certain goals
faster. Pay particular attention to the spending aspect of your budget as it often reveals the ways
you might be able to save money and/or lessen headaches from improper spending and borrowing.
Creating a budget isnt rocket science! However, many people dont like to look at their spending
habits and are afraid to see their true financial situation because it isnt where they would like it
to be. Analyzing spending and possibly cutting back on items or purchases isnt fun for most
people. Again, ignoring your finances will most likely make them worse.
The following is a template for a common budget:
College Monthly Budget Worksheet

Income

$Budgeted

$Actual

Grants
Scholarships
Loans
Job (your salary)
Parents Contribution
Other Income

$
$
$
$
$
$

$
$
$
$
$
$

Academic Expenses

$Budgeted

$Actual

$Difference

Tuition & Fees

Books & School Supplies
Miscellaneous (i.e. postage/ etc.)
Computer (paper/ disks/ etc.)

$
$
$
$

$
$
$
$

$
$
$
$

Living Expenses

$Budgeted

$Actual

$Difference

Rm. & Board/Rent

Utilities

$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$

$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$

(water/electric/heat/air cond.)

TV (cable etc.)
Phone (hookup/ monthly)
Insurance (medical/ car/ rental)
Food (dorm meal plan)
Food (other than dorm meals)
Loan Payments
Credit Card Payments
Transportation (gas/bus/etc.)
Trips Home / Vacations

$Difference

$
$
$
$
$
$
TOTAL INCOME $

$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
52


Other

Personal Expenses

$Budgeted

$Actual

$Difference

Personal
(toiletries/hair care/etc.)
Entertainment
(music/video/movies/games/etc.)

Clothing/Shoes
Savings (amount you put away)
Other

$
$
$
$

$
$
$
$

$
$
$
$

TOTAL Expenses $
Your Income minus Your Expenses=Your NET $
Even if your class doesnt choose to create a personal budget (see the activity at the end of this
chapter), you should consider creating one for your own personal understanding.

What is Credit?
In today's world, credit is integrated into everyday life. From renting a car to reserving an airline
ticket or hotel room, credit cards have become a necessary convenience. However, using credit
wisely is critical to building a solid credit history and maintaining fiscal fitness. While most
students have a general idea about the advantages and disadvantages of credit, this lesson provides
an opportunity to discuss these issues in more detail.
Credit cards are the most common form of credit and are used by many people in a variety of
marketplaces. Credit cards are a loan! As they are a loan, not only do they need to be paid back,
but because they are risky loans the lender often charges annual payments and interest which
makes the actual cost of the money you are using much higher.
Because credit cards are relatively easy to get, some people think of them as easy money. It is
easy money! It can allow you to purchase what you want in the short term, but the cost of this
becomes much greater the longer you dont pay the bill. Read the following story online. It is a
story that is all-too-common and a situation which can often be avoided.
http://www.christiancollegeguide.net/article/credit-card-nightmare
Unless you have an emergency that requires money, consider getting a debit card rather than a
credit card. This will allow you to only use money you have to pay for things, rather than money
you wish you had.

What is My Credit Score?

A credit score is a three digit number that combines a variety of financial data to determine your
approval and the terms of credit cards and other types of loans. Your credit score will come into
play when you seek a better credit card, home loan, or even a car loan. Some practical advice for
53

maintaining a good credit score are as follows.

Keep your credit card balances low

Eliminate small balances on credit cards or small loans
Pay your bills on time
Dont remove good credit history from your credit report
Dont obsess over your credit score. Maintain balanced spending.

You can check and monitor your credit score on a variety of websites including
www.AnnualCreditReport.com and www.CreditKarma.com

Some other important financial matters to consider:

Interest: Fees charged by a lender for the use of borrowed money. This is usually expressed in an
annual percentage of the principal balance. This is what you pay for borrowing money!
Interest is also expressed as money made on investments.
Saving and Investing: Saving and investments are an important, mature part of your financial
situation. When you save, you have the option of not just holding onto your money but letting
it work for you, making more money. This is investing. There are a variety of safe and risky
options in saving and investing and you should carefully consider where you store your money for
the future.
Phishing: Weve all heard stories of con artists attempting to steal personal information and
financial information. This information is often used or sold to make money. There are many
forms of phishing online and to avoid having information stolen try the following:

Be wary of emails asking for personal information, especially financial in nature

Be aware of website privacy policies
Watch out for generic-looking requests for personal information
Dont get pressured into providing personal information. Scare tactics are common
including threatening to disable an account or withhold services.
Never submit forms with embedded email messages
Never use direct links in an email. Open up the new site in a new browser window.
Maintain effective security software

How to Get Help for Financial Troubles?

If you are in big trouble with your finances, dont hide from it! Project Go! is a service at
Cuyahoga Community College that partners with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
(ODJFS), the Ohio Benefit Bank (OBB) and the Cleveland Food Bank to break down barriers to
college completion. The program, called Benefits Access/Project GO! provides support and help
54

ease students financial challenges to education through utilities assistance, food assistance, and
health care while working toward their educational goals.
This grant funded program utilizes Tri-C staff and interns as benefit coaches for students. Students
are able to determine eligibility and apply for public benefits from the four main campus locations.
Students can get more information, or get started by going to . . .
http://www.tri-c.edu/paying-for-college/financial-aid-and-scholarships/benefits-accessprojectgo.html

College Finances
When it comes to planning your financial future, how to pay for college may be at the top of your
list. Factoring in tuition, general fee, and books..it is worth the effort to evaluate the many
opportunities available to you to meet theses cost head on! Cuyahoga Community College
continues to keep tuition cost at a reasonable rate despite the rising cost of education. But
regardless of the cost, it is wise for you as a student to develop a plan to pay for the cost of your
education. Paying for college isnt easy for most students. However, when you crunch the numbers
a college degree pays off in big ways (see chart in Chapter 1). This, however, doesnt change the
fact that many of you need to pay for college now! The following options are available to help
students pay for college. Information about each of the following can be found at the Financial
Aid Office on your campus or at the website below:
http://www.tri-c.edu/paying-for-college/financial-aid-and-scholarships/index.html

GIFT AID- such as grants and scholarships, which is free money that does not need to be
repaid. These funds are awarded on the basis of need, merit, skill, or unique characteristic.

STUDENT EMPLOYMENT- such as part-time work-study jobs, which lets you earn a pay
check as you learn.

STUDENT LOANS- which is money that is repaid over several years, usually with interest.

MILITARY STUDENT AID- such as ROTC and the GI Bill, where you earn money for your
education in exchange for service or for service rendered in the United States Armed
Forces. Information can be found at Veterans Services Offices on each campus.

*And obviously a personal budget that takes into account your income, expected income, and
spending is extremely useful when trying to determine your college finances.
**The videos on this website may prove useful when making decisions about your academic
finances: www.tri-c.financialaidtv.com

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Federal Financial Help

The first step in completing and understanding your college finances is to complete the FAFSA
(all of you should have done this or should do it in short order!). The Federal Application for
Student Aid is a crucial piece in getting money that you might be eligible for. It is a tool that
determines if you are eligible for financial aid, which covers the cost between college and what a
family/individual can afford to pay. Approximately two-thirds of undergraduate students receive
some form of financial aid.
Financial aid comes in three main forms: Loans, grants and scholarships, and employment
programs such as work-study.
Loans have to be paid back! While the terms of federal loans are often good in terms of the loan
marketplace, they still add to your debt. You can face serious consequences with future credit
rating from non-payment of student loans.
A variety of loans exist from the Federal Government and other sources. You will want to consult
Tri-Cs financial aid office with your questions. You should also work to understand these matters
on your own. Funding Your Education: The Guide to Federal Student Aid and the Federal Student
Aid Handbook are two resources that can help you understand academic finances.
These websites might also provide practical advice for helping pay for college and are published
by the U.S. Department of Education:

Federal Student Aid: good starting place for planning for college and looking for financial
aid.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): takes students line-by-line through the
financial aid application process.

Financial Aid Overview: links to many useful sites on this topic.

Information for Financial Aid Professionals (IFAP): consolidates guidance, resources and
information related to federal student aid.

Tri-Cs Student Financial Aid and Scholarship Office

Each Tri C campus has a Student Financial Aid and Scholarship Office that is your main point of
inquiry about your college finances and financial aid. They also have a variety of online tools that
can answer some of your questions and give you more information so communication with the
Financial Aid personnel is as efficient and productive as possible.
This office is dedicated to helping students navigate financial aid options for paying for their
college expenses. Students can meet with a Student Financial Aid Advisor to obtain information
about various financial aid options, which includes grants, scholarships, student loans, and public
benefits.
56

The Student Financial Aid and Scholarship Office and website helps with the following:
http://www.tri-c.edu/paying-for-college/financial-aid-and-scholarships/index.html

Applying for Financial Assistance

Explaining Financial Aid Policies
Applying for Scholarships
Applying for Student Loans
Lists Important Financial Aid Dates
Facilitates Work Study Programs/Jobs

Student Financial Aid & Scholarships:

Phone: 216-987-6000, Option #2
Email: [email protected]
School Code: 003040

Campus Locations:
East: Enrollment Center Room1602
Metro: Student Services Room 209
West: Student Services Room224

Corporate College West: Room 108

Westshore: Enrollment Center
Brunswick: Room 117

Finding Work Now!

The Career Center is a Tri-Cs best option for help with finding a job or career after you graduate.
However, they can also help you find a job, internship/externship, or give help with interviewing
tips and resume writing. Numerous students utilize the Career Center to help them find jobs,
opportunities, and begin working in their field quickly (even while still gaining their degree!).
Stop by the career center on your campus or set up an appointment online or via phone:

http://www.tri-c.edu/career-services/
Phone numbers for each campus career center are on the first page of the website listed above.
The key service at Tri-C that helps you make this transition to your new career is the Career Center!

57

ctivities

Activity 1: Personal Budget

Fill out a personal monthly budget (you can use the template in this chapter or find another that
you see better). Be as specific as possible, especially with your spending habits. Write a page
reflecting on the following:

What did you notice about your spending patterns?

What habits do you want to keep? How might these habits change over a yearly budget?
Do you have big expected expenses in the coming months other than college and monthly
bills?
What spending habits do you need to change?
Are you able to save any money in your budget? How?

Activity 2: Dear Money

This is a letter of reflection and projection about your personal connection with
money. Genuinely contemplate the relationship between the two of you.
What has it been like over the years? Where would you like to see the relationship go
in the future? Include responses to thoughts such as:

I knew I needed you in my life when

This is what I already understand about you
What I dont understand about you is
This is how Ive mistreated you
This is how Ive respected you
These are some exciting plans that I have for us

Activity 3:
Financial Aid facts vs. myths: A
True/False activity

52

All funds received from Financial Aid must be paid back.

T/F

There is small fee for submitting the FAFSA (Financial aid application.)

T/F

Work-study money is earned through a job on campus while attending school.

T/F

Parents can also apply for financial aid to support their children in school.

T/F

Community colleges are usually more expensive than 4-year schools.

T/F

Financial Aid limits the funding that a student can borrow at a 2-year college.

T/F

A subsidized loan has interest that is paid by the government while a student
is in an in-school, grace, or deferment status.

T/F

It is ok to temporarily ignore default notices from your loan servicer.

T/F

Male applicants age 25 & under must register with Selective Service
(potential military draft.)

T/F

The Financial Aid application must be completed every year.

T/F

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