Page 140 - Keys To Community College Success

revisit RISK AND REWARD

What happened to Joe? The stress of what Joe had left thought would not allow
behind motivated him to move ahead. Driven to succeed, him to achieve the rewards
Joe prioritized his work—and earned the reward of a 4.0 in he valued. Think about an
his first term. The pressure of maintaining that success pre- environment, person, or
sented a different sort of challenge, to which he responded situation that presents a problem for you
by taking two distinct risks: Putting an enormous amount and prevents you from living the way you want to live.
of time and effort into the rest of his experience, and refus- Think through the problem. Assess its causes, determine
ing to drink and do drugs. He socialized “strategically,” the reward you aim for, and come up with potential risks
making friends in groups that he joined so that he could you could take that might move you in that direction.
have fun and accomplish something at the same time. He Evaluate the pros and cons of each solution. You may not
finished community college, transferred to the University of choose one right away, but commit to taking action on
West Florida, and graduated at the top of his class with a this problem soon.
bachelor’s degree.
What risk may bring reward beyond your world? One
After college, a motivational speaker helped him real-
person making positive changes sets an example for oth-
ize he could make a living by communicating ideas to
ers, and can have an effect that stretches through many
students growing up in poverty. Now, having earned
different networks of people. Joe Martin’s website (www.
master’s and doctoral degrees and spoken to more than a
rwuniversity.com) is his way of putting his positive
quarter of a million people about student success through
changes out there for others to consider. Risk making a
courses, speeches, books, and recorded programs, he can
change that your friends will notice—a change in how
reach students all over the globe through his website, Real
you spend your time, study, stay well, or anything else
World University. As a professor and educational consul-
that can improve your day-to-day life. If anyone questions
tant, he takes risks every day for the reward of helping
your choice, let that person know what you are doing
students make the most of their gifts and talents.
and what reward you seek. Maybe you will inspire others
What does this mean for you? Joe worked hard to move to think, and even to follow your lead.
away from environments, people, and situations that he

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