When I left home at 18 to attend college, my older brother gave me four aphorisms to live by that he received when he went off to college. He got them from Rocco Caponigri, a family friend, who got them from his father when he went to college. They were:
Carlo Rotella
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I have another for you "Be all that you can be....they drcide who you WANT to be " Education = options
I can't help but think of a certain senate candidate when I read the next to the last bullet point.
Loved it!
My oldest brother, Notre Dame grad,VP of his class, Medical school. While very involved in his residency, visited me at Indiana University one weekend my freshman year. His advice was simple."If you feel you are changing too much,have a sit down,with yourself." "Focus". My bride sent our two boys off to college with some advice too. One attended Penn State,the other American University in DC. 1.No contact with cops, campus or town, city, federal.The checks stop immediately if that happens. 2 No moving in with a girl while attending college. Same penalty. 3 You will graduate in 4 years or.. same penalty. Everything worked out fine for all concerned, and the guys are not carrying any loans. One just completed graduate school,aced his Praxis 1, and slammed the Praxis 2. The other has been on his way for years. Good luck to all of you on dorm move in day!
I think the key point for today's incoming college student is Ben Franklin's using leisure time wisely. In library I can clearly see the dividing line between successful and less successful students by looking at what they have on their laptops: diligent students have their coursework open and are busy studying. Less diligent students have Facebook open. The Internet's distraction potential is dangerously high for young people, those who learn to discipline themselves are those who are most successful.
there is one missing piece of advice: dont expect anyone in college administration to be helpful. as one who taught for years in a liberal arts college of high reputation, students were herded, handled and sometimes feared. the number one reason why college has become so ridiculously expensive is related to the explosion of adjunct (i.e. cheap) professors: the irrepresible need of college administrators to increase their numbers while doing less work. oh, and another missing "aphorism": expect great advice from those who actually teach at these institutions. they may not always deliver but the ones who do will change your life. this article is way too negative and preachy. success is more like being struck by lightning than resigning yourself to a treadmill. learning can and should be a mindblowing funfest. this sounds like advice for a retiree.