Successful Students

Success Topics

Becoming a successful university student is a process of development and growth. It is the next phase of your life journey in which you bring your personal story of success and failures, your repertoire of skills, experience and knowledge, and your personal motivational styles, priorities and life plans to your educational pursuits. If you are like most students, this is the first time in which you are taking charge of your own future. As you assume personal responsibility for your success, your choices and your destiny, like each of your fellow students, your goal is to develop the five arenas of personal mastery that are the basic ingredients of university achievement.

The five arenas of personal mastery are self-management, self-awareness, skill development, stress-management and social relationships. With them you become a self-reliant learner and a self-confident student. Although each of these arenas are essential to becoming a successful student, the journey of discovery and mastery of these arenas is an individual endeavour. Your journey will take you to various viewpoints at different times during your university experience. You will experience peaks and valleys; times when you feel exhilarated and excited, others when you feel lost, confused or uncertain. And you will learn that mastery comes with experience. You will also discover various tools and information that will make your journey easier and more meaningful. One of the resources which can help you successfully navigate this journey is the University of Manitoba Student Counselling and Career Centre. The sooner you discover the ways in which the information and guidance they provide can assist you, the more productive your journey becomes. Learn about the variety of services and programs provided by the Student Counselling and Career Centre which are designed to help you develop your five arenas of personal mastery.

On your journey of discovery, you will quickly discern that university is a novel learning environment quite different from other environments which you have experienced. Here you must become a self-reliant learner primarily responsible for your own learning. Because this is such a challenging aspect of university, there are credit courses available to assist you in developing the competencies that are the basis of successful self-reliant learning. (e.g. Introduction to University 99.111) Perhaps you are like many students who initially find the freedom and lack of structure so engaging that by the third week of class you recognize you are already behind in all your reading assignments. You may even feel that your tendency to procrastinate feels like being caught in quick sand, and you really are motivated to find ways to avoid this trap. You could begin by checking out the Student Counselling and Career Centre web page on Prorastination. Or you could attend one of the information sessions or groups that are advertised by the Student Counselling and Career Centre.

Already you know, there are courses you like and those you hate. Some of the courses are easy, others are difficult. You may have commenced university with a particular plan in mind about a career or you may have been unclear about your career direction. However, the experience of university is opening new vistas, so it is quite possible that you are now considering other career alternatives. For many students, exploring the world of careers feels daunting, for others it is exhilarating. Because it is easy to lose your focus or become confused, the Student Counselling and Career Centre has developed a variety resources to assist you. Begin by checking out the career web site.

This educational journey sometimes challenges you in unexpected ways. There may even be moments when you feel unsure, isolated or inadequate. Developing personal confidence to overcome disappointment, to change directions, or to learn from mistakes can be the basis for overcoming the barriers that prevent you from finding success. Request an appointment with one of the counsellors who can serve as your special guide in helping you discover your personal path for success.

As you continue in university, you will learn that you must add to the academic and personal skills you have thus far developed. Already, you may have identified some of your strengths and weaknesses in this skill development area. Perhaps you are interested in enhancing your communication skills or improving your academic learning skills so that you become a more effective and efficient learner. You may want to reduce some of the stress you are experiencing, learn ways to manage your anxiety, or cope with the text anxiety that prevents you from performing at your level of expectations. There are times when you may be feeling discouraged, unhappy or depressed and you need to find answers that help you. The Student Counselling and Career Centre can help you improve your skills in each of these self-development areas. You can consult with a counsellor, attend an information session, join a group or request information on useful books to read.

One of the challenges of university is managing the evolving aspects of friendships and relationships. Because you are changing and developing, your relationships with your families and friends are also changing. And you are expanding your friendship network. Though you may have taken your relationship building skills for granted, university provides an opportunity to improve your friendship-making and networking skills. There are usually groups available at the Student Counselling and Career Centre which help you refine your communication abilities. Check out the assertiveness groups, the educational sessions, and the exploration groups offered at the Student Counselling and Career Centre. If you are a single parent who would like to connect with other students who share your experiences, you may be interested in joining the Single Parent Support Group.

As you explore the paths on your personal journey of becoming a successful university student you will discover that you are not alone. You will learn that you can enrich your journey if you use the guides, (i. e. Student Counselling and Career Centre) and supports that are provided to assist you. Take advantage of those guides. And trust the process. This is your journey, take time to explore and to discover. Make it a journey that is memorable.