5 Personality Development Tips for
Students to Thrive in College and Beyond
If you’re planning to head off to college soon, it’s
important to know that college isn’t just about getting an education. It’s also
about shaping your character into the kind of person who will succeed in the
real world, which means developing your personality in several different ways.
Here are five tips on how to develop your personality to set yourself up for
success in college and beyond.
1) Keep
an open mind
1. Keep an open mind. Be open to new ideas and be
open to the perspectives of others. Sometimes, your point of view is shaped by
the person you are with or the people you surround yourself with.
Staying observant and paying attention to different opinions
can help shape your own thoughts when it comes time for you to make decisions
about who you want to be and what values are important enough for you hold
onto.
2. Study hard, but don't forget about yourself: One
of the most important things we can do as college students is find a balance
between our studies and ourselves (e.g., hobbies, relationships).
There's a lot of pressure on us all these days, so it's
crucial that we take care of ourselves too. Our health and well-being should
not be ignored because they're just as important as our academic success.
Whether it's going out with friends once in awhile, spending
time on social media, or taking up some type of hobby, always remember to give
yourself a break every now and then.
3. Get involved: When looking at colleges, one thing
you'll notice is that many have Get Involved pages where they list their
student organizations and other opportunities where students can get involved
on campus outside of their classes.
Weighing the pros and cons of each organization before
choosing one will allow you to find one which suits your interests best--and
this will lead to more positive feelings about your school experience overall!
4. Stay active outside of class
2) Stay
calm
1. Stay calm.
The first thing you need to do is take a deep breath, and
try to remember that this is just a piece of paper- one grade on an infinite
number of others- that doesn't necessarily define your intelligence.
Remember, one bad grade isn't the end of the world! That's
not true at all - if you don't get that A, you could lose your scholarship or a
scholarship opportunity or be barred from taking the class again when it
matters most.
But don't freak out until you know exactly what happened.
And once you're calm, find someone else to talk with about it: there's no shame
in getting advice on how to handle any situation as difficult as this.
You'll be able to bounce ideas off each other and work
together to figure out the best plan of action. It might even help to think
back on the time before you took the test- what did you study? What were your
test strategies? Who can answer those questions now?
2. Take care of yourself.
Your mental health will have a major impact on how well you
deal with setbacks like a low grade- so make sure to stay healthy, eat well,
and exercise regularly. Those are things that should be important regardless,
but they are especially crucial now!
3. Get enough sleep.
It may seem like an old saying or something your parents
would tell you, but sleep has been shown to help improve moods and focus among
many other things. Lack of sleep is linked with higher levels of stress
hormones which can make anxiety worse too!
3) Find a
support network
Being away from family and friends can be difficult at
first, but developing a strong support network on campus will go a long way.
Join clubs, student organizations, play intramural sports or just talk to other
students to create friendships.
With that said, don't forget about your family either! A
positive relationship with parents can give you motivation when it feels like
the going gets tough. Have parents call once a week during the first few weeks
of school so they know how things are going.
Share photos of friends, schoolwork and activities online so
that everyone is aware of what's happening throughout your day-to-day life on
campus. This openness not only helps motivate them but also creates a healthy
dialogue between you and your loved ones as you both share how everything is
going.
4)
Nurture yourself
Nurture yourself. Your schedule is hectic, the deadlines are
always looming, you’re running out of time. And this all builds up until you
just want to give up. But don’t do it! Take some time out of your day- maybe a
half hour or an hour- to give your brain a break from that 12 credit workload.
In these moments, try engaging in self-care; like deep breathing exercises or
journaling about something that made you happy today.
That’s one way to keep a level head while navigating college
life. Some other personality development tips for students: volunteer in your
community, take on a new extracurricular activity (maybe ones you never thought
of before), focus on getting enough sleep and exercise.
All these activities can help make you more mindful, kinder
to others, less stressed--and most importantly--enjoyable company. If any of
those personality development tips seem too hard at first glance, consider
starting with small things.
For example: how often do you say thank you? Say thank you
more often; how often do you smile? Smile more often. It's easier than it seems
to change small habits over time--and it will pay off in the long run!
5) Speak
up!
Starting college can be intimidating, especially if you are
anxious about being away from home. While feeling nervous is normal, there are
a few personality development tips for students that can help make the
transition easier:
1) Connect with your roommate - One of the best ways to get
out of your own head is by connecting with others. Ask your roommate how
they're doing.
Show them pictures from home if you want. Find out what
their interests are and have a conversation! By connecting with them, you'll
feel more comfortable exploring the campus and making new friends.
2) Go on a walk around campus - Taking time just for
yourself will allow you to reset. Take 20 minutes or an hour off of class to
explore! If you go during lunchtime, pack something to eat so you don't have to
worry about where to eat.
3) Make connections through extracurricular activities -
Once you start meeting people through your classes and dorms, it's important to
maintain those relationships outside of the classroom.
Whether it's an organization on campus or volunteering at a
nearby animal shelter, find something that sparks your interest so that you
continue building friendships outside of academics!
4) Spend time with close friends- Friends who know us well
provide emotional support when we need it most. But even if we don't see them
often, catching up over coffee (or FaceTime!) makes us feel like life isn't as
scary as we think it is!
If you liked our list of some Personality Development Tips for Students to Thrive in College and Beyond, Let me know in the comment section.
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