When Success Starts to Shift
In high school, success often means earning good grades, joining clubs, and crossing the stage to receive your diploma. Everything you do is supported by familiar faces, your family, teachers, and friends who celebrate your achievements along the way. But when you get to college, that definition starts to shift. The milestones look different, and the sense of validation you once relied on begins to come from within.
Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone
In college, you’re stepping out of the comfort zone you’ve always known. You don’t get to see your parents every night to share stories about your day, sit in your favorite teacher’s classroom, or hang out with the same friends who’ve known you for years. That familiar bubble of support and routine is gone. Success no longer looks like a proud report card on the fridge, a teacher’s praise, or your friends cheering you on at every milestone. In college, success takes on a new meaning and it’s up to you to define what that looks like.
Redefining What Success Really Means
College is so much more than just showing up to classes, getting good grades, and earning a degree. Real success in college comes from discovering who you are beyond the classroom. A study conducted at San Francisco State University found that students define success in many ways, through their personal growth, their ability to balance academics with life outside of school, their persistence through challenges, and how they apply what they learn to move closer to their professional goals.
The Real Measure of Success
College success looks different and that’s a good thing. In college, achievement isn’t just about earning high grades; it’s about what you gain along the way. You walk away with lasting friendships, real-world knowledge, and the resilience that comes from learning to navigate life on your own.
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