5 Reasons Persistence Pays Off in Your Online Degree Program
Last week's edition of TGIF Video Friday featured a fearless feline, who apparently didn't believe it was a death wish to toss lightning-quick jabs at an alligator. Either that or the cat truly thought he had nine lives.
How good would that be? In this life, I'm going to see if I can joust with an alligator. If it doesn't turn out, oh well. I have eight of these bad boys left.
At any rate, we've already highlighted a few comical animals in our end-of-the-week blog series. Current tally: a penguin, a bird, a lion and a cat.
Someone passed me in the hall at work the other day, and while this isn't an exact quote, the remark went something like this: I've enjoyed the Friday videos that feature funny animals. But really, no dogs yet? Come on.
Fear not, dog lovers. This week's TGIF Video highlights a Jack Russell Terrier who's famous for being in the Guinness Book of World Records.
For what, you ask? Popping balloons at an extraordinary rate (you can get in the Guinness Book for just about anything, apparently).
Pretty wild. Anastasia the dog wastes no time, as evidenced at the 0:01 mark when she bull-rushes the balloons like she's Bo Jackson in Tecmo Bowl.
The video above was just practice for the Guinness record of popping 100 balloons in 44.49 seconds in 2005.
Anastasia is one persistent dog; much like many students we come across in online degree programs.
Persistence is an essential component of juggling important priorities. Take school and a full-time job, for instance. Without persistence, the quality of your efforts takes a nosedive and the results will reflect as such. In order to be a successful online student in the current economy, a certain vision is required. Without a plan, you may not advance as far as originally intended. Stay as persistent as possible with your end goal in mind. How do online students do that?
Here are the top five ways to show persistence in your online degree program:
1. Study ahead of time.
This prevents information overload. If you wait to study an hour before your test, you won't remember a majority of what you cram into your mind, and the content won't resonate if and when you attempt to apply it to your personal life. Don't deny yourself this opportunity.
2. Be punctual on assignments and papers.
If a deadline for an assignment is 11:59 p.m., and you submit your work three minutes after midnight, you may think, "What's the big deal?" Answer: Everything.
Students enrolled in online degree programs while serving in the military can appreciate and understand strict punctuality. As you prepare for a job after school, think about what kind of habit you want to establish. You wouldn't want to arrive five minutes late to a job interview, or five minutes late to a meeting. Treat your assignments the same way. If you hand in assignments on time, every time, your professors will notice.
3. Utilize your Student Advisors and Admissions Representatives.
SAs and ARs are there to help you along your academic journey. Don't miss out on their knowledge and expertise. And, more importantly, don't be afraid to ask for help.
4. Think of what you want to get out of your classes.
You won't be able to relate every online class directly to your current or desired job. But think of possible connectors. Is there a skill-set you will learn from class that will assist you in being more efficient at your job? Always have the bigger picture in mind.
5. If your online degree program has a Career Center, utilize it.
Career Centers are vital for students to craft their resume, prepare for job interviews and search for job openings. You're paying for your online education. Utilize all of your available resources.
Photo credit: stock.xchng
About the author: Eric Sorrentino joined Grantham University as Social Media Manager in October 2011. Prior to his current position, he blogged about the Big 12 Conference for KUsports.com and was a sports copy editor for the Lawrence Journal-World. Eric received his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Journalism from the University of Kansas.
