Stop looking at the end game

Regardless of the steps you plan to take next in your academic or professional life, when pursuing a goal, do not make the mistake of only looking at the end game. When you attend school, for example, don’t think about the piece of paper you will get. Instead, focus on the journey you are taking, learn to survive, and adapt.

While it’s positive that you will graduate, you lose the experience of that time because all you did was rush to get that degree, and it’s difficult to reflect on what you obtained, how you matured, and the friendships you made, if all you did was focus on that end game.

Rather than viewing college as just a process, or your graduation as just a next step before moving on to something else, take advantage of all the benefits a university or place of employment offers you. Create friendships and relationships with faculty and colleagues. Develop and reflect on strengths and weaknesses and enjoy your education and life experiences. In the end, you will become a different and better person as a result.

Even in the online learning environment, there are clubs, virtual clubs, alumni clubs, career clubs. These clubs, these student organizations, and the events they host, could be life changing because you can learn something outside of the classroom. If you leave and have this piece of paper but have not changed, then you have not truly gained anything.