Seven Habits of Highly Effective STEM College Students

INTRODUCTION

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens is a revolutionary book composed by Sean Covey. By allowing yourself to be a highly effective individual, the STEM field and college life in general can seem a little less daunting. By realizing these skills are critically important for building a successful career, you will be able to articulate a compelling reason for being in college.

HABITS 1. Be proactive. Take initiative, carry your own weather, use proactive language, grow your Circle of Influence, break neg-

ative cycles, and avoid addictive behaviors. These are all positive steps towards becoming a proactive individual in your professional and personal careers.

“If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place.” –Nora Roberts

2. Begin with the end in mind. Identify your dreams and goals by discovering your own personal compelling purpose for attending college and attaining your degree. Practice goal setting and decision-making methods to get in the habit of communicating with others and simplifying processes in your coursework.

“The big secret in life is there is no secret. Whatever your goal. You can get there if you’re willing to work.” –Oprah Winfrey

3. Put first things first. Prioritize schoolwork, social life, and personal time, and manage your time accordingly. Being able to distinguish between activities that are either truly important or just urgent will help you gain control of your weekly schedule and establish a routine.

“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” –Martin Luther King Jr.

4. Think win-win. Developing strategies for dealing with peer pressures and interpersonal conflicts can help you balance your courage and consideration in relationships, whether it’s with friends or professors. Work on keeping a positive mind-set by building healthy relationships and repairing any that are damaged. By having that extra weight off your shoulders, you will be able to apply critical thinking skills to both life challenges and course work.

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless” –Mother Teresa

5. Seek first to understand, then to be understood. By establishing common barriers to typical communications, you can more easily overcome them. Practice listening to and trying to understanding the emotions and viewpoints of people you communicate with. This helps overcome differences and leads to open and respectful relationships. Once you are able to do this you will be able to connect with those around you.

“All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them” –Galileo Galilei

6. Synergize. Identify and recognize the talents and strengths of those around you. This open-minded attitude fosters an environment of teamwork and leads to communication and creative problem-solving.

“Alone we are smart. Together we are brilliant” –Steven Anderson

7. Sharpen the saw. Understand that you must take care of yourself in order to be successful. By allowing yourself the proper rest, nutrition, and exercise, your body and mind can recharge and remain sharp and focused for the challenges ahead.

“Nourishing yourself in a way that helps you blossom in the direction you want to go is attainable, and you are worth the effort.” –Deborah Day

SOURCES

More information and links to study tips can be found on the STEM Study Skills website, www.uwplatt.edu/ems-success/stem-study-skills.

http://7habitscollege.com/

http://7habitscollege.com/sample/7_Habits_Collegiate_Marketing_Sample.pdf

NOTES

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The College of EMS Study Skills project and its activities are supported by grant funding from the National Science Foundation STEM Talent Expansion Program Grant #1161180.