Before We Start.

Classes wont be back in regular session for a few weeks yet. You might still be finishing up a summer course or working the extra hours or the extra job or jobs you need to be prepared for Fall. Planet College regularly reminds students of the basics of finishing the requirements. Due to the busyness of everyday life on Planet College students often find this reminder useful. So here we go for the next term.

First of all, attend. Don't miss class. Students who graduate attend class regularly. The one sure path to your degree is attend your courses.

Second. Have a grade goal for each class.  By now you understand the value of goals and a grade goal helps you focus. Remember a grade of C is a passing grade. You can, depending on your major, finish and graduate without ever achieving a grade higher than a C.  This can help take the pressure off.

Stop occasionally and look around at where you are, both on campus and in your life. Are you where you want to be? Probably not yet. But are you on your way? Probably yes.

Third, got a problem? Ask for help. Class problem, money problems, roommate problems, even legal problems, there is probably a resource on or near campus which can provide some assistance. All you have to do is locate them, they are there, and ask. Just say, " I need some help."

There once again are the basic which can significantly assist through college and back to earth with a real job.

I Want To Be A Fireman.

Remember that way back when, a long long time ago?  When someone asked you "What do you want to be when you grow up?" What did you say?  A standard answer and still surprisingly common is "Fireman." Not surprising. They get to fly through traffic lights in bright red loud trucks and wear pretty cool helmets.  Impressive, especially for a young child.

Along the way things have changed, lots of things. You have grown up and now are aware of more choices available.  This is common and useful. Still, if you look back, back to those answers you may have given about you and your life when you were very young there may be some characteristics which are still basically true. Fireman, for example, get a lot of recognition.  The are recognized as helpers protecting individuals and the community from danger. Heroes in a word.

What about your choices now? Fireman may not be on the list of your ambitions but it is likely that your intentions for your life still contain some basic values you had experienced about yourself when you were very small. While then you were not capable of articulating your urges as values now you can.

So this is an essential question Planet College is presenting for your examination. Do you still want to be a fireman?  Maybe not, but, more basically are your choices, career and personal, reflecting your values?  Are they?  If your answer is "Yes" then you are qualified to pass self-awarness with a grade of A.  If you are not sure or don't know it might be time for a little studying. A brief self reflection which scans your current practices and habits, friends and work life, classes you enjoy and never miss, will quickly show how close or far from your basic values you are currently.

If, even more basically, you don't know what your basic values are it is time to find out. And you can. It wont take long at all. Just ask yourself, "What in my life means the most to me?" There. There it will be. Is it family, money, recognition, achievement, friendship, loyalty, humor or any one of a myriad of qualities?  Go ahead. Ask your self. And listen carefully to your answer. What ever it is. That will be the basis for your choices for most of your life.

And, most importantly, if you still want to be a fireman, there is still time.

Help May Be Closer Than You Think

Advancing toward  career goals while trying to stay current or even awake while completing college courses is a challenge most students face daily.  In this busy often frenzied milieu any kind of help is always welcomed.  Sometimes with a bit of diligence a student can assist themselves handily and make a worthwhile gain.  All it takes is asking for some help and often all that takes is finding the right person to ask.

Amy learned this through a tip from a friend, another student, followed through, and got some real help for her work search. Amy had been working on campus in the bookstore but was nearing the end of her third year and felt it was time to move on to a job in 'the real world' whatever that might be. Amy was explaining to another student, her friend Becky, that she had gone to the career center on campus to get some interviewing tips and a resume critique. These are part of the services that are available, along with job leads, at the center located in the student activities building near the center of campus. Amy complained that the center is staffed mostly by students like herself who don't really know much more about resumes or interview techniques than she does.  Becky listened and then told Amy about another resource on campus she knew of that might be helpful.

Becky's mom worked on campus as a secretary in the Geography Department.  She had been interviewed and subsequently hired several years before through the university's human resources department located in the school's administration building.  Becky suggested that Amy go to that office and make an appointment with one of the staff members who works there.  Becky thought that a worker, one who regularly reviews applications and interviews candidates for school positions, might have some practical knowledge and useful tips which could aid Amy's job search.

Amy thought it was worth a try.  She went to the human resources office in the administration building and requested to see an interviewer.  When Amy explained she was not really applying for a job she was just looking for some practical advice, the receptionist said she would see what she could do.  While Amy waited,  the receptionist used the phone and in a few minutes told Amy she would have a regular appointment and an interview with one of the professionals who staffed the office.

A few days later Amy returned for the appointment. The staff worker greeted her, showed her to an office and began a brief interviewing session as though she were there for a real job.  After  completing the interview and reviewing Amy's resume the worker spent a few minutes explaining some of the basics of job seeking and interviewing. She told Amy always know what exact job you are applying for and always know something about the company, at least what they do. She also told Amy to arrive a few minutes early, dress like you are ready to go to work that day and smile when speaking with the interviewer.  Amy also got some useful tips about her resume. The main thing the interviewer emphasized is the company wants to know what you can do for them. Most interviewers understand that college students and recent graduates often do not have a great deal of business or work experience.  What students lack in experience they usually make up for in enthusiasm and willingness to learn.

This was a valuable experience for Amy. She put the advice to good use and followed through. A few months later she was hired as a part-time  assistant in the events planning office of a municipal center near where she lives. This is a big step for Amy and she has been learning a lot and enjoying the experience while she finishes the requirements for her graduation.

If you are a little overwhelmed with the whole job-seeking, career planning, what-am-I-going-to-do- after-graduation dilemma maybe a visit to the hiring office, the real hiring office, on your campus could help clarify your next move. Worth a try, yes?

Designs On The Spirit Of Your Career.

Recently The Sartorialist, a site dedicated to Fashion and Photography, published a photograph of a young design student working in class.  The photographer used this shot because the subject is dressed fashionably.  Not high fashion but appropriate for herself, the place and the work. The moderator of the site, who is also the photographer, captioned the picture by saying, 'It was so nice to see fashion students that actually dressed like they wanted to be in the fashion business.' You can see the photo here.

This post promptly got major flak largely from students who complained they should not have to dress like they are working in a business just because the are studying to work in that business.

The moderator's reply was thoughtful and informative. You can read it here .

His reply is worth you consideration.  Basically he said that ' Yes he understood that busy students don't have time to get 'dressed up' for school'. He had been one and he understood that part of the complaints.

However, he pointed out, if you are dedicated to achieving a place in an industry it is helpful to consider when you will be ready and how you will know you are ready for your career? College teaches the essentials, basics critical to your work. Schools rarely teach the many other elements which will make up your career. Managing your time, bookkeeping, promoting yourself in your industry, all must be done by you for you to obtain a place in your profession.

Right now there is only so much you can do, you really are busy trying to complete your degree. But consider putting a little care and time into your appearance. Whatever your career designs dressing the part is a useful step toward your career.  Give it a try.

Rear-View Mirror Check.

Automobiles are equipped with rear-view mirrors to provide drivers with information about what maybe approaching from the rear.  Drivers on Planet College find rear view mirrors particularly useful for keeping track of approaching law enforcement.  An occasional check in the rear view mirror while driving keeps drivers on track and generally legal. This habit, acquired from driving, can be useful in other areas of life.  For example, am I on track to get where I want to go? Planet College exists to remind and re-remind average college students that the goal of their quest is graduation. A diploma. To assist that quest Planet College  offers a brief survey of past posts.

If you are planning on travel this summer and your plans are not set this report from could be informative.

Planet College emphasizes and re-emphasizes the importance of how you spend your time and this post explains that basic concept in detail.

Summer is the optimum time to increase earnings. More work means more more money and what student on Planet College doesn't need more money?  Additionally as Jacob learned and is reported here more work could mean unexpected trouble.

And finally, for graduates exclusively Planet College has this.

This has been a brief review of Planet College previous post.  Although students often need little reminder to have fun during this time at the risk of being redundant if not superfluous, Have Fun This Summer!

Maybe You Can Too.

The busy demanding day-to-day atmosphere of Planet College provides many opportunities for enterprising students to put their skills and ingenuity to work to benefit themselves and other students.

One such example occurred at a large urban west coast university recently. The link for the story is here.  If you read the story you will learn that a frustrated student, frustrated with the whole bookstore routine, found a partner and proposed a solution. As you can read that simple act generated benefits for the partners and many other students as well.

Their actions are laudable, commendable and will likely benefit themselves and other students for sometime to come.

Which brings Planet College to you.  What have you seen? What have you thought of that you haven't given a serious try to? Anything? Something?  If there is a notion, a concept or a germ of an idea occasionally on your mind why not give it a try? Whatever it is, get a friend, get a partner, make a simple plan and try.

The students reported in the article are probably not much different than you. They made an effort and that effort made a difference.

Maybe you can too.

Attention Graduates; This Is Water.

This is an animated sound recording of the commencement address given by the American Author David Foster Wallace to the graduation class of Kenyon College in 2005.  Planet College regards this address as essentially helpful and useful for graduates and others on Planet College as well. Please regard Mr. Wallace's words carefully and take them with you when you leave campus.