We can get much more from life if we pay attention
to our priorities…the choices belong to us.

The fall 2012 college semester is close at hand. Our classes at Florida State College at Jacksonville begin on August 27. That will mark the beginning of my 31^st year in the classroom.  As I stated in my blog post at the beginning of the 2011 academic year, “I think I’m starting to get the hang of this teaching thing!”

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Here are the main points I plan to pass along.

• Priority management.  The biggest adjustment for many college students is how they use their precious hours in a day. They need to differentiate between the negotiable and non-negotiable items in their lives and put their focus and actions on what will bring them closer to their goals.
• Critical thinking.   This vital skill set is in short supply. We need to help our students recognize their assumptions, evaluate information, and draw conclusions. Basically, they (like all of us) need to stop and think about their actions. We need to provide the tools for this thought process.
• Campus resources.  College students will (more than likely) never again be in a place with so many resources dedicated to their success. From advisors to counselors to tutors to financial aid officers to computer labs to student organizations to classroom instruction they have a lot to draw on at their college.  They need to take the time to learn about and use these opportunities.
• Professors. Obviously, this one is close to my heart.  I tell my students to “use me!”  Come to my office, call me, email me, come to class early—whatever it ethically takes, I want my students to use my experiences to help them reach their goals.
• H.T.R.B. If you have read this blog with any frequency you know that I have written about the need to “hit the reset button” from time to time. I will advise the mentors and family members to help their students find strategies to maintain a healthy balance in life.
• Positive influences. The choice of how we see the world is largely within our control.  We need to help our students understand what they surround themselves with (people and media for instance) will influence how they see and live in the world. It is their choice.

Video recommendation for the week:

And there is gold in each the above items for everyone of us. We can get much more from life if we pay attention to our priorities, critically think before we act, identify and use resources that will help us excel, find mentors to help us navigate life, care for all of our life dimensions, and surround ourselves with positivity (and limit exposure to the energy vampires  of life.) The choices belong to us.

Enjoy your week—and H.T.R.B.as needed!

REGISTER NOW for my September, 6 2012 P.D.Q. Webinar “Develop and Deliver POW-WOW-ERFUL Presentations!” Click here or paste this link into your web browser:  https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6414521493740300288

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog post. Please pass it (and any of the archived posts on this site) along to friends and colleagues. You can also follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. If you get a chance, visit my Facebook page and join in–or start–a conversation (www.facebook.com/stevepiscitelli). Also, if you have suggestions for future posts, leave a comment. Have a wonderful week!