Judy May Murphy, a success coach and author of Your Life Only a Gazillion Times Better, wants college students to ask themselves these questions because the answers can help change their life for the better.
Murphy said students need to have bigger expectations for college than to get through classes with good grades.
"Habits start here (in college) to develop an amazing life." Murphy said.
Having bigger goals for yourself helps to develop a better attitude. Murphy gave the example that most people come to college with the goal of not gaining weight, the dreaded "Freshmen Fifteen." Rather than focusing on what you dont want to happen, Murphy suggests thinking about what you want. Say that you want an incredible body and work toward it.
"In college you are dreaming too small for your day," Murphy said. "Focus on making the day as magical as possible and you can have a completely different day."
Many students make excuses for not working out, doing their homework, or participating in something because they think they are too busy.
"Its not even that you are too busy. Your day feels busy because you are not excited about what you are doing," Murphy said.
As a life coach, Murphy notices that when people are weak in a subject they tend to avoid it, it gets harder for them and the problem gets worse. To counteract the problem you should get excited about it.
"If you have to take a science class or math class and you hate it. Go to the professor and let them know that math isnt your thing and ask what are the best courses or the best way to do it." Murphy said. "Professors want you to learn!"
Murphy also suggested seeking out people who are good in math but struggling in English and see if you can tutor each other (or vice versa). In other areas where you are struggling, go to the person whos the best _ whether in sports, math, managing money or making friends and "find out what you can do to achieve the same thing."
The same philosophy can be applied to life after graduation. Most people who graduate
or are planning to ask themselves how they are going to get a job and pay off
their loans. Murphy suggested taking an alternate route by asking, "How can
I live the most amazing life and contribute to society?"
Rather than going on an endless circuit of interviews to jobs that you arent
excited about, you will be doing something you enjoy. Murphy gave the recent success
story of the inventors of Google as an example: "They met in college doing
what they love. When they graduated they didnt say we graduated now
we have to give this up and get real jobs," Murphy said.
"Focus on how to leave college out of debt and in great shape physically, spiritually and emotionally. That way you wont panic when you leave." By working on making your life amazing in college, Murphy said you will be ready to continue it once you get into the real world.
Murphy gave this advice for college students to keep in mind: "Remember when you leave college anything is possible. You get to design your life!"
© 2005, Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service
Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.