Page 46 - Keys to College Success

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ORGANIZE YOUR FINANCES

Avoid that situation when, buried in midterm work, you realize that you haven’t touched that stack of bills, statements,
and receipts in a couple of months. Set yourself up to stay aware and in control of your day-to-day financial activities. Per-
form the following actions:
1. Find a place to store f nancial paperwork, perhaps a f le drawer or f ling box, and set up folders for each category
(bank statements, tuition/f nancial aid, paid bills, and so on).
2. If you want to pay some or all of your bills online, set up online payments with those accounts. If you have the
ability to choose due dates, cluster your due dates together at the same time of the month so you can pay bills
all at once.
3. Make sure that you are set up to stay on top of tuition payments and f nancial aid responsibilities. Note payment
or f nancial aid f ling deadlines in your planner, phone calendar, or online calendar. Consider setting smartphone
reminders and alarms.

During college you can also prepare to seek and secure full-time employment.
According to the Adecco Staffing US survey, many graduates specifically indicated
they wished they had started their job search earlier (26%), spent more time net-
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working (29%), and applied for more jobs prior to graduation (26%). To earn
greater rewards and have fewer regrets, take these three risks during your college
years.
Challenging times have occurred in the past and there will be additional challenging
times in the future. The more willing you are to grow and to put yourself on the line in these
times, the greater your chances of finding reliable work, staying employed, and earning
a living.
Now consider a set of thinking skills that will be your essential risk-taking tools as
you build skills in the quest for employability and personal satisfaction.

talk risk and reward . . .

Risk asking tough questions to be rewarded with new insights. Use the following ques-
tions to inspire discussion with classmates, either in person or online.
■ When you are faced with a challenge, what is your modus operandi—your habitual
reaction to it? Do you risk dealing with it, run in the other direction, ignore it and
hope it goes away? What tends to result from your action (or inaction)?
■ What do you think about the “double whammy” of the high cost of college and
the difficult job market? In your opinion, what actions and/or resources should stu-
dents use to handle the situation?
CONSIDER THE CASE: Right after graduation, John Diaz wasn’t sure that college had
given him what he needed to succeed in the workplace. What reward do you need
from your years in college? As a student, what risks are you willing to take to become
more employable?

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