Page 81 - Keys to College Success

student PROFILE

Ming-Lun Wu

NATIONAL CHENGCHI UNIVERSITY, TAIPEI,
TAIWAN (GRADUATE); UNIVERSITY OF DENVER, COLORADO

About me: When I arrived in Boston for a study-abroad experience, I began
I grew up in Taiwan. After com- looking for opportunities to work on my language skills. I joined
pleting high school and my under- a Toastmasters club and an English training club that focused on
graduate degree in Taiwan, I leadership skills and public speaking. In the summer, I went to a
traveled to Boston, Massachusetts, for a summer ESL program and, Boston-based language school. Besides improving my language
later to Denver, Colorado, for graduate school. I’m currently skills, experiences like applying for my visa, finding a host family,
attending the University of Denver and am working on my mas- and scheduling trips around Boston helped me gain independence
ter’s degree in marketing. and confidence in a strange place.
I had to test both my language skills and my independence to
What I focus on: achieve my goal and succeed in the United States.

Growing up in Taiwan, I had a dream of experiencing education in
the United States. To me, American schools seemed more open- What will help me in the workplace:
minded than the schools I attended in Taiwan. That dream became Even though knowing the big picture is essential, understanding
my goal and I quickly started to pay attention to any information every baby step necessary to accomplish a vision is vital. And hav-
related to studying abroad. When I received a chance to make that ing the hands-on plan for moving toward that vision, little by little,
dream a reality, I jumped at it. However, even though I had my is absolutely essential.
chance, I knew I needed to improve my English immensely if I
wanted to succeed.

Time and Goal Management = Stress Management
Here’s the good news: Every goal-setting and time-management strategy you are read-
ing in this chapter contributes to your ability to cope with stress. Remember that stress
refers to how you react to pressure. When you make choices that reduce pressure, you
have less to react to.
In this chapter you have explored stressbusters such as how to:

■ Set productive, realistic goals based on what is important to you
■ Break your goals into manageable tasks
■ Make choices that take who you are as a time manager into account
■ Create and follow a schedule that helps you gets tasks done and get to places on time
■ Address your time traps by controlling distracting aspects of your environment
When you feel panic coming on, try to resist the urge to escape into a fun activity
and forget what’s causing you pressure. Instead, think: “How can I make a tradeoff
that reduces the pressure? What task can I take care of?” Goal-setting and time-
management skills are likely to bring you a more significant sense of calm and confi-
dence than a night out partying. Save the night out for when the responsibilities are
checked off and you can truly enjoy the rewards of effective self-management.

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