Succeeding in College

Below is an odd piece for Building Bravehearts. It is a piece I have been toying with to help address college success of students in Arkansas, where I live. I am convinced that academic ability is important, but more is needed to actually succeed in college. Notice that all seven qualities are themes throughout Building Bravehearts and can be used anywhere at no cost: character, service, passion, wisdom, mindset, relationships, and values. 

Your feedback is welcome as I refine the ideas!  

  Deep College Prep

            Only two states and the District of Columbia have worse college graduation rates than Arkansas.  Only thirty-nine percent of Arkansas students who begin a four year public college graduate within six years.

            What do we do about it?  How do we see more young people spend less time, less money, learn more, and graduate often?

I grew up in rural Kentucky with a suspect academic background.  Neither of my parents finished high school, my father only going through eighth grade.  He worked in a factory.  I should not have been one of those who graduated from college.  But, there are some reasons that I made it, reasons that go deeper than our traditional approach to increasing levels of graduation rates.  Reasons that will work for our children.

            The Department of Education has rightly focused on strengthening the quality of learning through elementary, middle, and high school.  The University of Arkansas system and other colleges are working with high schools, admissions, and incoming students to build their academic abilities.  These are needed and good.

            However, while increased academic quality is essential, we can’t stop there.  More is needed to succeed.  A student who has ability and has learned good skills and knowledge is like a basketball player who has natural ability and has been coached well.  The player needs that ability and those skills to play at a higher level.  But, he needs a lot more to succeed. He needs things like increased commitment, harder work, teamwork, coachability, and other personal qualities. A student going to college also needs ability and skills. But, the student needs strong personal qualities to actually make it through college and graduate.

            Below are seven competencies that will help any student succeed in college.  These qualities go deeper than academic ability alone.  When a student has them, the student more often succeeds and can even overcome a weaker academic background. With a good academic background and these deep college preparations, our students will have successful college experiences.

            First, a student needs strong character.  Character will keep the student making good choices when away from home.  Poor choices about time, money, and people lead to failure quickly.  Courage to do right can be learned.  Parents help children develop strong character by being examples and by making sure their children have other adults and peers who value positive character.  As parents live out good character, they should talk about what is important and why with their children, even teens.

            Second, a student should focus on others.  Learning to serve others will help a student fit into a bigger world.  If a student thinks that everything is about him and then runs into the realty in college that life isn’t that way, he crashes and gives up.  Families and schools can encourage students to meet needs in their community or further away. Becoming involved with people different than their family can help students prepare for the bigger world of college.

            Third, a student should have a passion for something important.  This passion will give him a direction in college and a reason for what he is doing.  While passions may change, parents who encourage children to pursue a purpose with heart will have children who expand their abilities, grow strong, and do amazing things.  Listen and encourage dreams.  Avoid telling a child it is impossible or that he is too young for something big.  Give him or her purpose.

            Fourth, wisdom will help a student gain respect and manage day-to-day life with friends and finances.  Wisdom is the practical application of things we know about people and life.  It says things like, “be slow to speak,” “be slow to anger,” and tells us that words are pretty empty without actions.  Expect children to pause before reacting, think about good ways to solve problems, and to treat people right.  Wisdom is a powerful gift to give children to prepare them for college success.

            Fifth, a student with a great work ethic will make good use of money and time in college.  Not everyone will be a scholar with straight A’s, but everyone can become the best they can be. Parents should not let children think that grades or honors can be bought or they deserve them.  Applaud effort, not grades or touchdowns scored.  Effort will serve students well in every situation, especially if things are hard.  A student with a mindset of working hard to make things better instead of giving up will do well in college.

            Sixth, good relationships are important for college success and life.  Lone rangers can get wrapped up in their own thoughts and not get the support that a college student needs.  They are at a great risk for emotional problems.  And, much of success in college and life depends on working with people.  Help children become involved in groups and activities in which they have an interest.  Be relentless to find a place and a group where children are doing something they enjoy with others outside of class in school, church, or the community.

            Seventh, a child who values education will find ways to get it and make it work.  Adults in children’s lives must value education and make sure their children know how important it is to them, both mothers and fathers.   While my parents didn’t finish high school, I knew all of my life that education was important to them, especially for my sister and me.  They taught us that education was the way to live a different life with opportunity that they didn’t have.  I valued it and that value kept me going.

            While these seven ideas for deeper college preparation won’t guarantee that children will succeed in college, they will give them a much better chance of a wonderful college experience that ends in graduation.  As parents, schools, and churches are intentional about preparing students in these areas, deep roots grow to support college success.  At little cost and possible for every child.

"Courage comes from not only know it is right to do, but knowing you are the right person at that time."

You have decided it is right to do, either because God's word is clear or you have concluded it is wise.

But, are you the right one, at this time?

In helping your child be a braveheart, she is learning to ask:
1. Is it right?
2. Is it wise?
The third big question for courage: Am I the one?

If a house is on fire and you know a fire truck is close because you are in the city, it might be right to rescue a sleeping child in the house, and needed. But, there is a better choice, the trained fire fighters will be there quickly and will be able to execute a rescue. It would be foolish, not brave to try with help close.

But, if the house is fifty miles away from a fire station and help is a long way off, you might be the one, since there is no one else to rescue the child.

There are many factors in moving from right to personal action. And, sometimes those have to be done quickly, without time to ponder. At other times, like choosing a career or ministry direction, there is time.

Am I the one?

Maybe the questions below will help. But, always with this caveat: if God calls you, no matter what the answers are to these questions, you are the one! He will give you what you need.

I remember my first job offer out of seminary to move to Iowa and serve as a principal of a Christian school. A wise and trusted professor told me I should not go, that I didn't have the right training. We went anyway and stayed for fourteen years. Theoritically, I did not have the specific skill set at that time, or experience, but I was the one because God called and paved the way. God's call trumps everything else.

Outside of God's clear call, how do you figure out if you are the one? What questions can you give your child to decide he or she is the one, the one who needs to step out in courage?

Lets try these:
* Is there anyone else around who can do the right thing, go the needed direction? Proximity plays into knowing if I am the one. A child being bullied needs someone to help: if your child is the only one there, it is time to step up.
* Is there anyone else with the appropriate gifts and abilities? There might be a crowd, in an emergency or conisdering a hard ministry. The person who has training, strength, or gifts to meet the need may be the one.
* Have you been selected by a group? By election, by acclimation of the group, by constant encouragment about your leadership or ability, by people just looking at saying, "You are the one."
* From a human perspective (remember, God's call trumps any of these) is there a reasonable chance of success? While it may be reasonable to attempt a fire rescue of the fire is in one corner of the home, it might be foolish if the house is already consumed in flames.
* Do you have the resources, the time, the energy, or the money to take care of the need or pursue the choice? Or, is someone else in a better place to meet the need?

I am sure there are other questions to figure out if "I am the one."

Don't let a lack of

Courage not only comes from knowing it is right to do, but knowing you are the right person at that time.
How do you know? How does your child know he or she is the one, for that time and place?

Coming up: "Am I the one?"