On The Journey

It is proven by positive psychology that achieving a goal provides life satisfaction for an individual. However, it is not the actual success providing the satisfaction. It is the journey of getting there. We are happiest when we are pushing for a goal and stretching our comfort zone to get there. Many people lose sight of this. They settle for mediocrity because they write off a goal before they even start. Yes, a goal creates a struggle to get there (if it doesn't, you're goal is not big enough)... and with any struggle comes frustration and disappointment but overcoming these obstacles and not giving up on something we dream of really makes us feel special. It makes us feel like we have a purpose (other than filing papers).

I encourage you to go for it. What have you been dreaming of?

My friend, Conor Spellane, has been dreaming of becoming a guitarist all his life and he is a phenomenal one at that. He wants to do it for a living. He started a band called Panic In Eden and they are just great. The best part is they are beginning to make some headway in LA! I am not saying they are big yet. They are not close yet. But I am sure Conor is truly feeling a wellbeing in his life despite the struggles and frustrations that come with being a rising musician.

Shoot for your dreams. A college degree is nice but do not just follow the rules of society. Do not just get a job that you hate so you can continue hating your job. Break the status quo. Do what you were designed to do! Do what you dream to do! Do it with passion! You can truly become remarkable. Just be yourself. Shoot for your own goals to find true wellbeing. It is about the journey of getting there.

Do you want a journey to a cubicle or a journey to your life's ambitions?

On Studying

I am currently studying hard for a math exam tomorrow that is the final and biggest exam in my career at PSU. To study, you need to get in the zone. I play light music on my headphones, something like Norah Jones, and just go to town! GET AWAY FROM COMPUTERS!!!!!! (I am leaving this computer ridden building in a minute.) 

I believe you can learn all the information in a very quick time. The key to taking an exam is getting enough sleep the night before because you learn in your sleep. Do not study within an hour before the exam and do whatever you can to relax and be confident. That is half the battle. I have been at my best when I go into an exam telling myself that I know everything (whether I do or do not.) I utilized this system to its fullest potential when I hit Dean's List this time last year.

Happy Studying and Good Luck!!

On College Degrees

A college degree is, indeed, important in society today. It represents the skill set one has acquired during 4 (or 5) years of college. However, I do not find it to be necessary. Often times, a young college student does not even realize what he/she wants to do for a living and graduates with a degree they do not even want to pursue. It is more important to acquire a growth mindset (Mindset by Carol Dweck is an amazing book). Most people are trained to have a fixed mindset (if I do not get a college degree, I will not get a high paying job). What one needs is a growth mindset (if I fail to get a college degree, how can I show that I have a good enough skill set to work?) The reason people like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Michael Dell, Richard Branson, etc. really excelled and changed the world despite having no fancy collegiate document to show their skill set is because they believed they could do it and they needed to figure out how.

Important but Not Necessary: college degree.
Necessary: Growth Mindset

"Energy and persistence conquer all things." -Benjamin Franklin