Stop making excuses, be responsible for yourself
The CSC faculty and staff have gone to great lengths to provide quality education for students both in and outside the classroom. Although I graduated from a more costly university, I would dare to say that CSC graduates will be superior to higher-cost colleges upon graduation if they take full advantage of additional resources being offered at CSC.
CSC graduates have the opportunity to learn the bulk knowledge of their selected academic field within the classroom and to learn the proper skills to search and secure quality employment.
CSC’s dedication to ensuring student success after graduation includes offering many free educational opportunities on proper job interviewing skills. For example, on Feb. 22, the college brought Olivia Weter, a professional fashion consultant, to campus.
Many students do not realize the high cost of professional advice—and here CSC is offering this knowledge and access to a professional at no cost to students. It breaks my heart to see the college go to such great lengths to offer value-added seminars and events, only to have a handful of students attend. Although more students attended the dining etiquette and résumé seminars offered by Deb Meter, there were many seats left unfilled.
While many students won’t learn the skills of searching for and gaining quality employment until graduation, wise individuals will fully utilize any training offered and fully prepare themselves well long before their graduation date approaches. Motivated and goal-oriented students will realize the importance of these types of individuals and will set themselves heads and shoulders above their peers as they enter into the job market.
For those who don’t realize or haven’t been told about the importance of these skills, let me be the one to tell you that in our country’s current economic situation these types of skills are more critical than ever. You do not want to try to learn these skills as you are going through the interview process.
If you choose to ignore these training opportunities, you have set yourself up for failure. With all the efforts that CSC is going to, no student can say the college failed to give them the tools to be successful in the career world. But just as you can lead a horse to water but cannot make him drink, CSC will present to you the tools needed for success but it is your job to utilize them.
The most successful of individuals often have two things in common. First, they are goal-oriented and understand the steps required to reach their. Second, they do not offer excuses for their performance.
I challenge every student to take a hard look at their future goals and ensure they know the necessary steps to reach them. If you fail because you do not know the route to your goals, it is not the fault of your parents, teachers, or employers, it is your own.
Our modern society has grown accustomed to offering excuses for failure before attempting to correct its problems. This may be caused by modern society’s need to fix blame for failure on someone. One of the most impressive ways to shine in this society is to not pass the blame. Accept responsibility for your faults and take actions to correct your failures.
Please understand that when your future employer asks a question, he/she will want a proper and informed answer. Respond appropriately to their answer, regardless of whether the response is positive or negative. If they want further explanation they will ask for it. Bosses do not want to listen to five minutes of excuses or reasons in answer to a yes or no question.
One of the best ways to prevent this situation is to keep everyone updated on your status. If you are going to miss a deadline either in work or at college, tell your boss or professor. As soon as you realize you have a problem, ask for help. Not only will it save you heartache in the long run, it will possibly allow you to gather the tools and resources necessary to complete your task.
If blame needs to be determined, only attempt to find the responsible individual(s) after you have completed the task. Otherwise, the delay may turn into an even bigger mess (e.g. BP’s oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico).
The moral here is that everyone ought to be awake and aware of the resources that are being offered. If you fail to take advantage of them, you only have yourself to blame. Your boss or professor does not have the task of pulling you through life. It is your job to utilize your own abilities and run your life.
Take pride in all that you do and you are guaranteed to be successful. Do you’re best and there will be no need for excuses. Don’t become a case of self-inflicted failure.