By: Joey L.
What is success to you? Is it getting a better score on a test than your friend? Is it getting a passing grade in a course? When one hears the phrase "being successful", it is usually associated with earning money or being as close to perfect as possible. But does that really give you satisfaction inside? Money does not create happiness. It has been proven over and over again, and is visible in modern day politics; money creates greed and a sense of need. According to Princeton's Wordnet, the definition of success is something that accomplishes its intended purpose. The definition never says being better than someone else, or even being the best of the best. Success is accomplishing a task with the desired results.
Successes and failures can be applicable to all classes, but I find them to be much more apparent in online classes. By not having to sit in a classroom and have a professor lecture you, you have the freedom to learn at your own will. Take advantage of this opportunity. You can learn as slowly or quickly as necessary. Another advantage (or disadvantage) is the freedom to do your work whenever you want, as long as you get it in on time.
By this point, you have also probably figured out other things that relate to disadvantages of online classes. Yes, cheating is a DISADVANTAGE. You might ask, "Why? I get the good grades and I don't have to do much work. It's a dream come true." This is no lie, you will get the grades and you won't have to do the work, but what will you really have accomplished? You'll have used your parent's money (tax dollars) to sponsor an online class where you share your work with another student online or use the book during your test, not learning the material. Princeton's Wordnet definition of "fail" is to fall short in what is expected, and if you're doing these things, you fit the definition of a failure.
The point of this Tutor Talk is simply to reassure you that though things may be getting tougher as the semester and year progress, you can still be very successful by setting small goals and accomplishing them. You will be successful if you do all your work and follow the rules. Do your best on tests and don't worry about the grade.
I am confident in saying that if you follow the directions your online instructor gives you and complete all the work, your teacher or a peer tutor will be there to help you if you have trouble. Putting that kind of time and effort into it will make you a successful individual.
Studies show that individuals who are persistent at trying to grasp an understanding of a topic are smarter than those who gave up and waited for someone else to explain it to them. Grades don't represent knowledge well for all individuals because of how the modern American school system is set up, but that's an article for a different tutor talk. Just know that success is not getting the A+. It is simply doing the best you can do.
"Success means doing the best we can with what we have. Success is the doing, not the getting; in the trying, not the triumph. Success is a personal standard, reaching for the highest that is in us, becoming all that we can be." ~Zig Ziglar
Joey, This is a very insightful article. You have done an awesome job of defining "being successful." The definition helped to remind me that if I set a goal and I'm able to accomplish it, no matter the sized of the goal, I am successful. Thanks for emphasizing to students how important it is for them to simply do the best they can do. I really believe that "Success is a person standard."
ReplyDeleteGreat article! In Success 101, we teach that success means different things to different people. This is definitely a personal standard which only the individual can measure. Failure doesn't mean giving up. When you don't meet a goal, you pick yourself up, learn from your mistakes and try again. It makes succeeding that much sweeter when you work hard and make the effort to accomplish your goals and meet your standard of success! Keep the articles coming! They are very motivational!
ReplyDeleteI like how you point out that success is not defined by a dollar sign. It is, as you put it, "accomplishing a task with the desired results." You do a great job linking success with learning, as that is where it all begins.
ReplyDelete"Success is accomplishing a task with the desired results." I love it! You are so right. The problem I see with many online students is that they do not know what result they desire or they set their goal too low. Students should always challenge themselves to best themselves, not worry about besting others (like you said.) Thanks, Joey, for this reminder about what success really is!
ReplyDeleteGreat job! Success is achieving something for the sake of achievement and you talk about that well in your blog! We must all take responsibility for our own learning and your article reinforced that idea.
ReplyDeleteJoey,
ReplyDeleteYou said it so eloquently! Students need to remember that they get what they put into an online class. That is also the beauty of online classes. Online learners are responsible for the knowledge they gain.
You define success very well. All of us should remember that when we apply ourselves wholly and do everything we can do, we can be proud of our accomplishments. Online education gives a person more control over his learning than any other delivery system, so he is his own evaluator when it comes to effort. Well said.
ReplyDeleteJoey,
ReplyDeleteYou said that students can achieve success by starting with small goals and working to achieve them. This is success in every sense of the word. As students near the end of this school year, your encouraging words can inspire students to persist and, consequently, succeed in their endeavors.
Thanks for sharing this great article!
Melisia Gainey
Thanks, Joey, for a realistic summary of a successful online student. Grades are not the most important aspect of classes; it is learning the concept and how to apply it. I find that many online students do not take advantage of the excellent learning opportunities in their courses. I am going to send this article to all of my students. Thank you for sharing your observations.
ReplyDeleteFantastic post! I agree, money does not buy happiness but success does. Your article helps students focus on the big picture and not let end-of-year stress get in their way of successful learning. Very inspirational!
ReplyDeleteYou have captured the true meaning of success. Great article!!
ReplyDeleteThis article is awesome! As adults many of us, but definitely not all of us, have learned that money does not equal success. I believe making students understand this definition of success makes us successful as educators.
ReplyDeleteParticipation and effort, so simple in theory, so hard in practice.
ReplyDelete"Life's a journey, not a destination"- Aerosmith
ReplyDeleteThe exact same could be said about success. Excellent article!
I wish more students understood the real meaning of success. They might study differently and choose a career path differently!
ReplyDeleteGreat job Joey!!! Success has to be defined by your personal goals. Even as adults, we forget. Thank you for reminding us.
ReplyDeleteI love your article, and the quote from Zig. Success is defined by the individual, not society. If you work hard, do your best, successes come in small amounts, and then big ones come later. Thank you for your support to our courses. Michelle Bardsley, Small Bus instructor, NCVPS
ReplyDeleteJoey, what a great article! I loved how you helped to define success. It is not determined by how much money you make but by satisfaction of a job well done! Hence, you are a great model of success as you did a job well done!
ReplyDeleteI truly enjoyed this article. I will share it with my students! This sums up some of the lessons taught in this course. I like how you pointed out that if a student chooses to follow the disadvantages of taking an online course, they will suffer the consequences of the failure that goes with it. Success is always up to the individual to choose. Excellent article!
ReplyDelete