Have you thought about what it takes to be a successful student? If you have, then keep on reading because this article is for you. The formula for college success is not magical. It simply follows few basic habits that, when nurtured and consistently applied, will help any student achieve his or her academic goals. By now you might be asking: What are these habits? Steven Covey, the author of the Seven Habits of Highly Successful People explains these habits that provide a road map to college success.

Habit 1: Begin with the End in Mind: Standing where you are now, project yourself into the future and see what doors your academic accomplishment will open before you, five, ten, or even twenty years from now. Once you visualize the benefits of your academic accomplishment, then you will begin to take baby steps to align your current academic progress with your long term vision.

Habit 2: Be Proactive: This means that you remain in charge and responsible for your academic performance. Since you are the master of your own success, to be proactive means that you think and plan ahead before each course, assignment, or class related project. One way to be proactive is to begin each course by introducing yourself to the faculty, choosing the best seat, coming to class on time, and be organized. To be proactive simply means that you plan to take your academic journey by its horn.

Habit 3: Put First Things First: This habit calls for balance as you seek to prioritize your responsibilities. To prioritize, mean to approach your school work with diligence, motivation, and ambition; it means to be enthusiastic, industrious, and dynamic. Start by prioritizing your daily activities to align with your academic vision. One way to Put First Things First and to balance your course work, jobs, family, and social life is to use time management skills, planners, calendars, or better yet use your IPhone; however, not in class.

Habit 4: Win-Win: This habit reflects the student’s character and his or her attitude about collaborating with faculty and other colleagues. While collaboration between a student and faculty can be approached in unproductive ways: Win/Loose, Lose/Win, and Lose/Lose, a Win-win attitude positions you for success. Approach your faculty and colleagues with a Win-Win attitude keeping in mind that your faculty is also interested in your success.

Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, than to Be Understood: Successful students utilize and constantly cultivate four methods of communication: Speaking, writing, reading, and listening. Listening is the most important key to understanding. Listing is the key to understanding someone else’s communication. To cultivate your listening abilities start to pay attention to your faculty’s instructions and guidelines and watch as you reap the benefits of his or her attention.

Habit 6: Synergize: The dictionary defines synergy as the “interaction of elements that when combined produce a total effect that is greater than the sum of the individual elements, contributions.” To synergize your college success, become a team player willing to work with your faculty and colleagues. Open yourself to their energizing influence and exponentially see your academic achievements materialize.

Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw: According to Covey, to “sharpen the Saw means preserving and enhancing the greatest asset you have--you. It means having a balanced program for self-renewal in the four areas of your life: physical, social/emotional, mental, and spiritual.” Taking care of yourself first is the key to your academic achievements.
These seven habits could transform your academic and personal life. Apply them daily and reap the personal, relational, social, and financial benefits of being a successful student.